By Marty Gordon
Clemson is the new king of college football. While I might not have liked the results of the final four as my Notre Dame Irish was knocked out in the first quarter of the semis against the Tigers, I do believe Clemson’s win is good for college football as a whole.
Alabama has become the New England Patriots of the college ranks, and we need different teams hoisting up the trophy. Fans seem to agree.
Already pundits are saying it will again be the same two teams in next season’s national championship game. I hope not.
I say no to expanding the CFB playoffs. Four is enough. Adding another one or two games would definitely be bad for college athletes. We already saw many upperclassmen opting out of their team’s bowl games. The players are thinking about their future job in the National Football League and that comes down to money—big money. But it also means losing some of the luster the regular season had set us up for.
Can you imagine what West Virginia could have done in their bowl game with quarterback Will Grier. WVU might have even paid their head coach to stay in Morgantown.
The bowl landscape was littered with players not even being with their teammates on the sidelines. Instead, they sat at home and watched the games with all of us.
On top of the players, it was amazing to hear the bonuses coaches would be receiving for reaching such high levels. Again, it comes back to money—big money.
I’m not saying there are coaches out there cutting corners or cheating, but we’re talking about money. Look what we now know happened with college basketball.
There is no way it is not happening in the football ranks too, and why not? With all the dollar signs flashing in the eyes of coaches, players and school administrators, they will do whatever they have to do to win.
In addition, coaches are being pried away from other schools with ridiculus money being thrown around. This includes several of those schools pulling out all stops and paying off the coach’s buyout at their former schools.
Where does it stop as money is the bottom line for college sports?
I was so happy to hear about a Colorado college coach for not accepting his bonus for this season. Not many other coaches would do that especially in this day. I say it again, big money.
Virginia Tech’s season did not end the way they had hoped, but at least one coach was celebrating. Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster is now engaged. Congrats coach.
School officials remain mum on what health problem Foster was dealing with for the final three regular season games and bowl contest. He moved to the booth and stayed there for over a month. There has been speculation that Foster was dealing with a very serious health issue.
Also, more news on two Hokie basketball players. Coach Buzz Williams said Landers Nolley nor Chris Clarke will play this season. Nolley is still dealing with an issue by the NCAA on his senior ACT score. Clarke’s issue has never been made public. Both have missed the entire season, and it’s not known, if and when, we could see either in a Hokie uniform.