Question: What's your interest level in college football right now?

[AWRTR]

I have noticed a trend on many threads where long time posters I've read posts from for years seem very disillusioned with college football. It seems many die hard fans that would never miss a game are quickly losing interest. I know I have lost quite a bit of interest since the transfer portal, NIL, and conference realignment madness have all happened. I'm just curious to see how the board feels.

 

[Cruloc]

If we win, great.
If we lose, oh well.

Won't recognize some rosters from year to year. Billionaires can bring in whomst they want to the programs they support.

The overall product on the field is diluted. Play isn't as sharp. Coaches and players jumping all over the place repeatedly.

What's their to be loyal to anymore.....or have more than a passing interest like I do with some NFL games. I'll turn them on if I happen to see one, but I don't care whomst wins or whomst loses most of the time.

I'm sure the folks in Indiana are ecstatic about everything right now. Texas Tech too.

Conferences are too big. We reward G5 teams just because someone agreed to it. Playoff committees are a joke.

 

[Methylred]

It's become the NFL, only with relatively poor quality of play, terrible officiating, a nonsensical playoff system, and a complete lack of salary/transfer guardrails.

Hard to stomach, honestly.

 

[Tidewater]

I was speaking to Mrs. Tidewater about this last night.
I remember Lane Bearden punting with a torn MCL. He could barely walk, but his team needed him and he could punt. Watching him limp off the field darn near brought tears to my eyes. I miss that level of altruistic selfless devotion to the team and the university. Today's players are mercenaries by comparison.

 

[Con]

I love football. It is a lot of fun to see how teams/players/coaches adjust to things during the year. I always hope that we adjust properly but it doesn’t always work out that way.

 

[Cruloc]

I forgot to add the fact that players don't like doing the difficult things anymore. A lot of them, not all.

When things get tough, they transfer.

When things aren't tough, they don't grow....as a man or a football player.

It doesnt just hurt the product on the field. It hurts the young mens' lives as well.

Saban always said a kids level of success is greatly diminished every time he transfers. He had it down to an exact percentage I cant remember.

 

[22Musso22]

It's declined and is about ready to go off the cliff.​

 

[Power Eye]

My interest in the game has not declined yet, though if changes aren't made to the sport in the near future, it will probably begin to. My frustration level, however, has skyrocketed. Again, I'm holding out hope that there will be changes to the game, but if this coming offseason doesn't result in some major movement, then my interest will most likely begin to decline.

I guess I knew this would happen once the perfect storm of expanded playoffs, NIL, and relaxed transfer rules came into place around the same time. A fantastic sport is on the verge of being ruined because it went from one extreme to another with no one taking ownership or responsibility for anything.

I realize that we are also coming off a very special period in Alabama football, so I do wonder if that impacts our view, but I am curious how fans of schools that haven't had the recent success we have feel. The viewership numbers and money support for college football does not suggest a decline in interest.

 

[Tide&True]

Que the Pink Floyd song Money.

 

[BamaFossil]

My prediction is that unless NIL guardrails are put in place, then after a few years of NIL growing pains, the schools with seriously rich alumni (Texas, aTm, Stanford etc.) will dominate college football - and all other sports. Alabama alums are not in that stratosphere of wealth. Most schools aren't. So I'll enjoy Alabama sports, but recognize we aren't going to have the money to consistently compete with the top-money schools.

But for now, we have an outstanding coach. I hope we can keep him! We have some pieces in place to have an excellent team. I hope we can keep them!

And no, I don't know how to put NIL guardrails in place that would withstand legal scrutiny.

 

[BhamToTexas]

Que the Pink Floyd song Money.

It's a gas

 

[bamaga]

It's a gas

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

New car, caviar, four star, daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team


Seems appropriate for the times!

 

[DzynKingRTR]

It's become the NFL, only with relatively poor quality of play, terrible officiating, a nonsensical playoff system, and a complete lack of salary/transfer guardrails.

Hard to stomach, honestly.

The NFL playoffs are dumb too. There is a chance that a sub 500 NFC South team will not only make the playoffs but host a home game.

 

[dayhiker]

If I wanted to watch pro sports then I'd watch the NFL.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

It's getting harder to watch as Parity=Mediocrity IMO. True upsets are hard to come by since it's becoming a case where almost any team can beat any other team on a given Saturday so not much is shocking anymore. I'm glad for the Pick'em contest we have here as in some cases it causes me watch a game I would otherwise not be interested in.

 

[The Ols]

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

New car, caviar, four star, daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team


Seems appropriate for the times!

Soccer in this case?

 

[denver]

Checked out the bowl games and they are terrible for the most part. I used to enjoy watching them and filling out the Capital One Bowl mania form to see how I did...the second year of the CFP has proven that the sport is in flux right now....not all leagues are equal but are treated equal, not all rosters are equal because money talks...I saw that Indiana spent $30M this year on their program..so the narrative that this is some coaching miracle is a bit flawed. I still love to root for Bama but my enthusiasm is definitely beginning to wane. I was a huge CBB fan from the late 80's...but now I barely watch any of that...and I'd say its a few years ahead of CFB in terms of it going towards semi-pro and having brand new rosters every season vs returning players

 

[Cruloc]

I love the fact that we have 2 playoff games with G5 teams where they are 17+ point underdogs.

No playoff game should be like that....its ridiculous.

Wonderful, those two teams have an opportunity to play in a playoff. Whoop-de-doo.
1. No one outside their fanbase will watch
2. Neither team can win the national title......because
3. Yes, sure, one of these teams may win at some point, but there is no way a team like Tulane or James Madison wins multiple games against the caliber of competition they would be facing.

 

[BearFoot]

Me:
-Bama Alumnus ‘93
-never missed a televised game in 30 years (even had a TV
set up at my wedding reception for the game)
-Daniel Moore Paintings framed and hanging on my wall:
Goal Line Stand (artists proof)
The Sack
Liberty
The Kick
The Catch
The Legacy Continues
(many others in boxes)
-2009 National Champions helmet signed by Saban
-2009 National Champions signed hat collection

I HAVEN'T WATCHED ONE SINGLE GAME IN TWO YEARS.

I was a regular on this forum for years…but now only pop in occasionally because I still have a slight Crimson pulse to keep a finger on…and some of you folks are like family to me…

…but from what I’ve seen recently, some of y’all have upped-your-crazy in an effort to match the current landscape of college football…because there’s a segment around here right now that’s downright LOONEY TUNES

 

[RdunawayTX]

NIL/Transfer Portal have killed it for the most part for me. I took a nap during the 1st half of the Georgia game. I no longer make sure I'm home for the Alabama game on any given Saturday. It's not dislike, more like apathy. I just can't be bothered to care anymore.

If it's convenient, I'll watch the Alabama game. It it's not, I won't.