NFL or NCAA?

[Positive Talk]

Are you as fans more into the NFL or NCAA football? Why?

[elganned]

I would have to say I follow NFL and CFL football, but not college.
There are at last count, what...200 some 1A collegiate programs? And nobody really plays in college for more than 3 years--who can keep them all straight?

So I follow the pros. Fewer teams and players to keep track of.

[stick man]

Their are 119 1A Schools. And almost all players stick around for at least 4 years, quite a few stick around for 5 or 6 years with redshirts and transfers.

I am more of a college fan. I like the fact that their are big time favorites and big time under dogs. It makes for good drama. I also like the way that every game matters in college. Unlike the NFL where you can lose 6 games like the Steelers did and still start over at square one once the playoffs start. I like the fact that the Champions are not the hottest teams at end of the season, but rather the team that has the best body of work throughout the season.

Not only that, I like the strategy better. In the NFL, everybody pretty much does the same thing in a particular situation. In college you have numerous styles of offenses and defenses. Look at teams like Florida, Navy, Nevada, Oregon and Hawaii.

Also, what do you do in the NFL if the game is not decided in regulation? You have sudden death overtime. The team that wins the coin toss has a decided advantage. NCAA does it the right way.

Players play harder and with more emotion in college. I am not blaming the NFL guys. I would not play so reclessly if I had millions of dollars on the line in case of an injury either. It's not their fault. It's not anybodies fault really, Pro football just got too popular for its own good in my opinion. That's why you see a lot more guys sitting out in the pro's for rediculous injuries. Because they have the next 10 years to worry about where their next check is coming from. College guys are still hungry, trying to get that check.

Just my .02. I'm looking forward to this thread to see what everyone else thinks.

[vic4hogs]

I love the game but I'm not a fan of neither one NFL/NCAA I don't like the NFL, because I believe its nothing but slavery all over they treat the players like a piece of meat. The combine reminds me of an old slave trade, checking body fat, how much you lift, 40's, and ect... Also these are grown men who put their life on the line every time they play yes its their choice, but I feel if they can put their life on the line each week they should be able to celebrate how they want and also be able to live a life without holding things back. Cause it seems to me they always are politically correct knowing that is not what they want to say. They are basically puppets. As far as the Game goes what happen to the QB it seems like none of the QB's of today can read a defense are the Defenses of today to hard to figure out or are the QB ill prepared I don't know but its hurting the game.

Oh! the NCAA lets not even talk about them bigot's who run NCAA most which never played college football. Trying to run a sport they know nothing about. The kids are who the sport is supposed to be about and it seems to me the game is all about the money and not the players. Anytime a parent listens to a coach for hours about how he's going to be a father figure in your kids life for the next 3-5 years and how he's going to make sure your kid is well taking care of. Then all of a sudden you get a call saying that coach has taking a job across the country. Leaving you kid stuck because he cant transfer closer to home or to the school of his choice with the fear of being ineligible. The game is not football anymore I would rather watch Semi- Pro where the players actually get to play for the love of the game. Just my opinion. The college game is exciting and I love the fact that its a playoff every week in the NCAA but I would also like to see the kids be able to express themselves a lot better, No I'm not a fan of meeting at the 50 yd line and wolfing. But if a kid wants to get in the End zone and dance, strike up the band, dive, flip, or back in to the end zone they should be able to. Why? These are kids having (FUN)! as people we are so worried about what people are going to think and say: we forget that these are kids and to allow them to have fun and celebrating isn't going to kill no one. My take is if you don't want the other team to celebrate stop them. As far as the game goes I love the spread and I think its the best thing to happen to college football since the wishbone. Even though it is hurting the growing process of college QB's.

[slaves]

I didn't know slaves got paid millions of dollars? Bro, do you have any idea how stupid you sound right now? Not tryin to get on you man, have your opinion, but just use better judgment.

[educate yourself]

I didn't know slaves got paid millions of dollars? Bro, do you have any idea how stupid you sound right now? Not tryin to get on you man, have your opinion, but just use better judgment.

Huh Bro, as you put it, do you have any idea how stupid YOU sound right about now?!? The man above you was TOTALLY right. Money means nothing when one is relatively unfree, having his social and psychological autonomy circumscribed by his "handlers" if you will. And one mustn't ignore the destructively disharmonious dynamic that STILL exists between black and white. As black athletes become richer, they disappointingly lose power and social influence, or they choose to avoid polictical matters all together, at a point when the African American nation is in dire need of cutting edge leadership. You are seeing more Tiger Woods's and Micheal Jordan's, and less Jim Brown's and Muhammed Ali's. Sure in the common colloquial sense of the word "slave", slaves aren't defined as millionaires. But there are such a vast juxtapostion of symbols and metaphors within contemporary sports that depict a slave master/slave dichotomy in an historical sense that the claim made by my WCW brother can not be denied. To make "slaverly" strictly a monetary issuse is to drastically shortsight the complex conundrum of modern day sports. The way the black body has been commoditized in present day certainly likens to captured Africans on a trading block centuries ago! Now how is that for EDUCATION??? And I could get "deeper" but why bother. . . Unfortunately most of you will never understand.


But seriously, if anyone reading this post whats to get an in-depth perspective on this, I strongly urge you read a book entitled "40 Million Dollar Slaves" by William C. Rhoden.

[Wannabe slave]

Um, are you kidding me?? First, how did this turn in to a black and white issue? Second, and along those lines, there are quite a few white kids playing college football as well under the same governing body so that kills an argument about color.

Now, throwing out the label "slaves/slavery" is laughable. I mean I respect your opinion etc. but the examples being used can be applied to any job or organization. Each and every person going out to get a job has to be meet certain measured requirements and is constantly monitored, told how to behave, and so on or they can go looking for a new "slavemaster".

Additionally, those "slaves" in college ball at least wind up with an education and a "higher value" due to the time they put in "slavery" as they can have a degree, unique and valuable contacts, etc., etc. If that's slavery or abuse we should all be so lucky to be enslaved.

In short, this was simply started as a topic about entertainment and your preference. Why not keep it that way? Especially if you would otherwise wind up going off on a strange and divisive tangent such as black/white issues or slavery.

Oh, and for the record I prefer college ball or, like Elganned, CFL. Fast paced and players playing with passion and something to prove. NFL is too much about the money and product than the game and entertainment.

[Clayton]

What the F.U.C.K are you guys talking about, SLAVERY and FOOTBALL have nothing to do with each other. Actually none of you have anything to do with slavery either. Cause your black you have this inate connection huh??? Yes you may have ancestors and what not, but as long as you keep rehashing and blaming some one for something you'll never over come and persevere, plain and simple. Why would you try and compare something as awful to the NFL. I bet if you propossed that question to half the players in the league you fools would be laughed right out of the interview!
Then to say black men loose there credability as they become richier. WOW What a crazy statement this is. To be truely wealthy, one doesn't revolve around money but I guess you really don't understand wealth. Go read some books by Robert Kyosoki(sp) and try and understand. How are black men LESS influential when there "rich"?? Troy Vincent runs a construction/developement program for disadvantaged individuals through Philly, W. Dunn builds a house every year for a family around the holidays, many donate tons of money to different organizations every year. You just mean they don't seem as in fashion on the street as they once did to someone who isn't motivated and won't due for themselves.

[observer]

vic4hogs said:

I love the game but I'm not a fan of neither one NFL/NCAA I don't like the NFL, because I believe its nothing but slavery all over they treat the players like a piece of meat. The combine reminds me of an old slave trade, checking body fat, how much you lift, 40's, and ect... Also these are grown men who put their life on the line every time they play yes its their choice, but I feel if they can put their life on the line each week they should be able to celebrate how they want and also be able to live a life without holding things back. Cause it seems to me they always are politically correct knowing that is not what they want to say. They are basically puppets. As far as the Game goes what happen to the QB it seems like none of the QB's of today can read a defense are the Defenses of today to hard to figure out or are the QB ill prepared I don't know but its hurting the game.

Oh! the NCAA lets not even talk about them bigot's who run NCAA most which never played college football. Trying to run a sport they know nothing about. The kids are who the sport is supposed to be about and it seems to me the game is all about the money and not the players. Anytime a parent listens to a coach for hours about how he's going to be a father figure in your kids life for the next 3-5 years and how he's going to make sure your kid is well taking care of. Then all of a sudden you get a call saying that coach has taking a job across the country. Leaving you kid stuck because he cant transfer closer to home or to the school of his choice with the fear of being ineligible. The game is not football anymore I would rather watch Semi- Pro where the players actually get to play for the love of the game. Just my opinion. The college game is exciting and I love the fact that its a playoff every week in the NCAA but I would also like to see the kids be able to express themselves a lot better, No I'm not a fan of meeting at the 50 yd line and wolfing. But if a kid wants to get in the End zone and dance, strike up the band, dive, flip, or back in to the end zone they should be able to. Why? These are kids having (FUN)! as people we are so worried about what people are going to think and say: we forget that these are kids and to allow them to have fun and celebrating isn't going to kill no one. My take is if you don't want the other team to celebrate stop them. As far as the game goes I love the spread and I think its the best thing to happen to college football since the wishbone. Even though it is hurting the growing process of college QB's.

Assine statement in regards to "slavery" so following rules is slavery now, sign a contract for 30 or 40 million is slavery. heres a hot newsflash, i can't do everything i want at work either, i have to follow rules as set down by my employer, if I want to be paid, i follow rules and regulations as a condition of my employment and if i don't like those rules and regulations, i go somewhere else or quit. Being in the NFL or NBA or NHL or MLB is highly compensated employment but employment nevertheless, and just like employment anywhere else you follow the rules or move on. heres another tidbit of real life info, there is no total freedom, you pay taxes, you follow and have to abide by laws, and you can't do whatever you want when you want and your accountable for your actions and the consequences they bring. so the statement about not being able to do what you want as the equivilent to "slavery" is idiocy.

[Yowsers]

WOW! I have rules at my place of work. I can't even use a cell phone at work. I'm not supposed to be posting right now. Those darn slave drivers. They only pay me $38k a year.

You have a choice in what you do with your life. If you don't want to be poked and prodded and don't want someone telling you what you can and can't do, then start your own business or pick a different line of work that better suits you. The NFL isn't forcing the players to play NFL football. They utilize their FREE WILL to sign an NFL contract and, by doing so, agree to abide by NFL rules and regulations or face the consequences.

As for the topic at hand, I choose NFL. Easier to follow, established fantasy football, easy to follow a limited number of teams, easy to know who's going to play for the championship, etc.

[elganned]

vic4hogs said:

Oh! the NCAA lets not even talk about them bigot's who run NCAA most which never played college football. Trying to run a sport they know nothing about. The kids are who the sport is supposed to be about and it seems to me the game is all about the money and not the players.

I won't touch on the "bigots" part, as I don't think it has any relevance to the discussion. But I did want to comment on the people who run the NCAA and college football in general.

Just because you've never played football doesn't mean you don't know how to run a business. And collegiate sports is a business; don't let anyone tell you differently.

It is all about the money. Always has been. But it's not about the money in itself; it's about the marketing.

Football is just one big promotional tool for the school, a weeks long advertisement if you will. Yes, they want to make the money--but they want to make the money so they can have a bigger and better program so they can do a better job of marketing the school.

If you doubt it, just ask yourself who would have ever heard of Notre Dame if they hadn't had Knute Rockne to put them on the map? Yes, they are a good school with strong academics, but so are a lot of other schools who never get their name in front of the public because they don't have a nationally recognized sports program.

So, it's not about the kids playing the game. It's about the dollars and the publicity. That doesn't mean that good football doesn't take place, but as far as the school is concerned everything is secondary to having a winning program and state of the art facilities, thereby attracting the best athletes so they can remain in the public eye. Othewise why fire a coach who's helped graduate 80% of his athletes but who has had two losing seasons?

Football and basketball (and to a lesser extent hockey) are in reality just part of the school's marketing department. It's never presented that way, but look at it with an unbiased eye and you'll realize it's true.

It's not about the players. It's never been about the players. Get that idea right out of your head. It's about marketing and money.

And lest you think I'm just picking on college sports, the pros are just the same, only they're not marketing anything but themselves.

[Optimus Prime]

I love the game of football on every level, but college football is my favorite. College football has every part of the game, that game exciting. The fans are crazy fun to be around and watch, the entrances of the teams before the game "exciting", young fellas really enjoying the game (not that NFL guys don't), competition, togetherness, brotherhood. College football is GREAT.

[whitelightning]

i like college better. Seems to more effort going on.

[educate yourself]

First off, i respect everyone's opinion so I don't want to make this a personal thing but i don't believe you'll fully understand the intricacies and linear history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave
Trade, the development of sports on American plantations, and the multi-billion dollar sports product of today. There is a serious linkage between the three. You'll simply don't know your history, or don't have the wherewithal to comprehend it's present day manifestations. As far as making this a racial issue, all things relevant today has racial underpinnings due to the linear result of merchant capitalism and European colonial endeavors, which set in motion the construction of the stratified world-system we live in today. Sure whites play sports as well, but due to the individual (although interpolated) histories of blacks and whites respectively, from a pragmatic standpoint, each race defines "things" (slavery) unique to there circumstance. Its different for one group as it is for another; Are hockey players treated the same as basketball players (hint hint, i wonder why)? The black body as a commodity has been negotiated on the marketplace in the most savage of ways, in complete contrast to the white experience.
Capitalism is innately oppressive and some (those with power) will have you believe that suppression is necessary for order. But it(capitalism) will soon crumble under the weight of its own inequities and contradictions. This is far beyond cell phones at work, or applying for a 9 to 5. Exploitation is exploitation, and sports is exploitation of the worst kind. Blacks have amassed serious amounts of money, and in some cases wealth. But wield no substantial social or ECONOMIC influence on the underclass. And to contracdict what one person said, its not about blaming whites for our (i am black,FYI) problems its.......... man nevermind, i'm getting a headache and i get the feeling nobody really cares! This topic is far beyond the capacity of this board.


I LIKE THE NFL. PEACE

[swamee1]

vic4hogs said:

I love the game but I'm not a fan of neither one NFL/NCAA I don't like the NFL, because I believe its nothing but slavery all over they treat the players like a piece of meat. The combine reminds me of an old slave trade, checking body fat, how much you lift, 40's, and ect... Also these are grown men who put their life on the line every time they play yes its their choice, but I feel if they can put their life on the line each week they should be able to celebrate how they want and also be able to live a life without holding things back. Cause it seems to me they always are politically correct knowing that is not what they want to say. They are basically puppets. As far as the Game goes what happen to the QB it seems like none of the QB's of today can read a defense are the Defenses of today to hard to figure out or are the QB ill prepared I don't know but its hurting the game.

Oh! the NCAA lets not even talk about them bigot's who run NCAA most which never played college football. Trying to run a sport they know nothing about. The kids are who the sport is supposed to be about and it seems to me the game is all about the money and not the players. Anytime a parent listens to a coach for hours about how he's going to be a father figure in your kids life for the next 3-5 years and how he's going to make sure your kid is well taking care of. Then all of a sudden you get a call saying that coach has taking a job across the country. Leaving you kid stuck because he cant transfer closer to home or to the school of his choice with the fear of being ineligible. The game is not football anymore I would rather watch Semi- Pro where the players actually get to play for the love of the game. Just my opinion. The college game is exciting and I love the fact that its a playoff every week in the NCAA but I would also like to see the kids be able to express themselves a lot better, No I'm not a fan of meeting at the 50 yd line and wolfing. But if a kid wants to get in the End zone and dance, strike up the band, dive, flip, or back in to the end zone they should be able to. Why? These are kids having (FUN)! as people we are so worried about what people are going to think and say: we forget that these are kids and to allow them to have fun and celebrating isn't going to kill no one. My take is if you don't want the other team to celebrate stop them. As far as the game goes I love the spread and I think its the best thing to happen to college football since the wishbone. Even though it is hurting the growing process of college QB's.

I will say what everyone else wants to say...

dumb a.s.s......