Table of Contents
Bowl games, once revered as showcases of college football, are losing meaning.
Last year, Florida State went 13-0 in the regular season, but then hordes of its players opted for the “portal” and FSU was embarrassed by Georgia in its 63-3 bowl game.
Several bowl games were affected by this last year and many expected the NCAA to move the portal entry date to mid-January to counteract this fiasco, but inexplicably, they didn’t?
This year, the same maneuvers in free agency have several schools decimated by portal mania before the bowl game. Bowling games used to be a reward and a source of pride. Now, many bowl games are simply meaningless exhibition contests in which the second, third and fourth players take the field. This travesty is presented by clueless NCAA and college athletic administrators who have severely damaged the enjoyment and credibility of college football.
Tom Trumpler
Camarillo
::
So college coaches like Brian Kelly, Mike Gundy and Mike Norvell are paying their school’s NIL to save their jobs.
The hunch is that some USC athletes will see bigger checks very, very soon.
The NCAA has ruined college sports.
Fred Wallin
west lake town
::
I have a big idea for USC coach Lincoln Riley: renegotiate his contract. You make 10 million dollars a year. He is asking for $7.5 million. Take $2.5 million and use it to try to save your defections. Pay for them out of pocket if necessary.
Didn’t Tom Brady take a pay cut to win a Super Bowl title or two?
Jeff Hawley
saint clement
::
I’m a fan of USC’s tradition of not putting player names on the back of their football jerseys, but until the NCAA figures out this NIL and transfer portal disaster, the Trojans might need to put the names on t-shirts just so you know. Who’s still there?
Ted Bartscherer
Pasadena
painful times
The Lakers have been downhill since Phil Jackson left, since Jerry Buss died, since they ignored Jerry West and hired Rob Pelinka.
You can’t blame the players. They did not form this team, but Pelinka. For years, he’s been trading his good young players and draft picks for a dream.
The Lakers management made a ridiculous offer to Tyronn Lue, not allowing him to choose his own coaching staff. They passed on Jayson Tatum for Lonzo Ball, who had the worst shooting form in the world, and passed on Jaime Jaquez Jr. for someone no one ever sees. The many good young players they let go are excelling on other teams.
The Lakers could be more entertaining and competitive; They are not fun to watch. It’s painful to look at them. But they are gaining new fans…for the Clippers.
Steven Lee Jacobs
Oxnard
Win the offseason
While everyone is distracted with Steve Cohen and the Mets grabbing Juan Soto, the Dodgers are raiding the free agency kitchen.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way to get a fourth former MVP into the lineup or another former Cy Young Award winner.
I don’t hate the Dodgers. I’m jealous that my team is called the “Evil Empire” for all their spending while the Dodgers get a free pass from the payroll police.
Adam Silbert
New York
Let him play ball
Prestige to referee Benny Gallo For staying true to your beliefs! I also felt the same way about not wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine but fortunately for me I was already retired and I didn’t have to go through what he went through. Hopefully some MLB team will give him a job.
Felipe Trujillo
ontario
There is no second chance
I am very upset to read that Michael Vick, who was found guilty of horrific abuse, including torture and killing of several of his “fighting” dogs a few years ago, has been hired to coach football by Norfolk State.
This is not one of those “everyone deserves a second chance” scenarios, like reformed drug addicts or formerly incarcerated people who made bad decisions and are now rehabilitated. Anyone capable of committing the atrocities Vick was responsible for is beyond redemption. What a shame for the state of Norfolk.
Glenda Laguna
Highlands
Loading forward
After all, it appears the Chargers were looking beyond the Tampa Bay game to the divisional game against the Broncos.
David Hardenberg
Westwood
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all points of view. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They can be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. No pseudonyms will be used.
Email: sports@latimes.com
This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.