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Mike Leach Has Blunt Message For College Football Players Opting Out Of Bowl Games

by Larry Leo

December 13, 202156 Comments

Mike Leach Has Blunt Message For College Football Players Opting Out Of Bowl Games

Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach is letting it be known that he isn’t a fan of players skipping bowl games...

quote:
“You’ve got an obligation to the place that helped build and develop you and finish it out in the bowl,” Leach said, told the Clarion-Ledger.

“That’s part of it. You owe it to your team, you owe it to your fans, you owe it to your coaches and it’s the most bizarre thing in the world to me.”

“Somebody says, ‘Well, I can’t play one more game,’” Leach continued. “They think they’re going to have a storied 10-year NFL career, and then they can’t play one more college game. Well, that’s ridiculous.”
...
“I mean, guys will go to the NFL, they’ll make the Pro Bowl and then they’ll play in the Pro Bowl. It’s one of the biggest absurdities that I’ve seen, and it’s selfish, too.”

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56 Comments

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ouflak•28 months

Yet how many coaches have the players watched leave their teams before finishing the post-season? It's been in all of the headlines. He's got a point, but many of these kids are clearly being led by some obvious leadership examples.

eugene1928LSU•28 months

Just use Devin White as an example on what to do. STUD

Rza32•28 months

If the player has a legitimate shot of being drafted and is not in the playoffs, why risk injury?

VerlanderBEAST•28 months

Using that logic why play in any game after your draft stock reaches a certain point

FaCubeItches•28 months

Why risk two chances of getting hurt in the playoffs as opposed to one chance in a nonplayoff bowl? It's not like the NFL cares about NCAA titles.

PeleofAnalytics•28 months

But most players care about National Championship more than random bowl games. The constant push for playoffs over the past decade or more has convinced most of these kids that only the NC matters and anything below that is meaningless. It has been drilled into their heads. The kids want to risk it for a NC because they want to be remembered that way. They don't care to risk it for a Outback Bowl trophy.

Gorilla Ball•28 months

I agree it’s ridiculous- it’s one game

YNWA•28 months

And what about all these coaches ditching their teams before bowls and possibly playoff games? Screw you Leach.

theBru•28 months

I agree with the Pirate...these bigness decisions are going to hurt the business.

bigman334•28 months

frick off Leach

evil cockroach•28 months

Until the NFL punishes these players, they’ll continue to skip.

eugene1928LSU•28 months

Truth, speak it Leach. The generational XYZ young ones don't get that.

lsu1919•28 months

I've been told repeatedly on this board that LSU is the product and people are watching LSU and therefore the players shouldn't get paid. So if LSU is the product then players can opt-out and we are watching LSU no matter what, right?

PeleofAnalytics•28 months

I think as the NIL stuff evolves, these opt outs may go down a bit. Maybe NIL deals will start having language that have escalators for post season games. A clause calling for a renegotiation based on the bowl they go to. And I understand Leach's position but not every situation is the same? Are teammates cool with a player opting out when they have a sick parent? Take a chance on losing millions that could put them in a top of the line hospital is not something anyone should begrudge a kid for doing. Every situation is different and sometimes these kids are playing for their family as much, if not more, as they are playing for their teammates.

Breauxsif•28 months

The Pirate is a national treasure

QJenk•28 months

I partly agree with him here. Players should finish the season out, and not quit on the team. At the same time, I don't think we should hold players to a standard that we don't hold coaches to. We just benefitted from a guy who ditched his team who was potentially headed to the playoffs. I'm excited to have Coach Kelly with us. But I still think it's shitty to leave your team before the season is over with.

TygerDurden•28 months

You’re damn right Mike!

cssamerican•28 months

These kids participated so that they could have an NFL payday. They are doing what guarantees them that payday. It’s the smart move, college is supposed to set you up for you career, now we are complaining because someone is thinking about their career?

PeleofAnalytics•28 months

Nothing guarantees a payday. You can blow your knee out training. Hell the Broncos had 2 this year. DaeSean Hamilton tore his ACL and JaWuan James tore an Achilles.

Geauxldninja•28 months

What he says about the pro bowl is right.

LSUrme•28 months

Players quit "playing" in the Pro Bowl years ago. It's glorified, full pads pitch and catch now.

Datbayoubengal•28 months

Yep, but I say if a kid is injury prone and/or has had lingering injuries all year, he should opt out of the smaller ones. All these super healthy kids opting out are doing it because others have done it. It's hilarious how people on here get on Fournette who was injured all year when he opted out, but said nothing about a supremely healthy Christian McCaffrey opting out. McCaffrey is the one that started this mess.

burke985•28 months

The players are going to get paid to play then I need to play all the games. Opt-outs should come with NIL penalties.

PeleofAnalytics•28 months

Likely up to the business they sign the NIL with. The NCAA wants nothing to do with the mess they would get into by taking away a kids NIL money.

GB1017LSU•28 months

He’s spot on!

JackieTreehorn•28 months

The scholarships should be adjusted and the players who decide not to play should have to reimburse the school a certain percentage of money.

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