There’s an old saying that any publicity is good publicity. I’m not sure I buy that.
That adage might hold true for some sports leagues, like the NFL, which is why there’s an event every month talking professional football.
The NFL Draft has become an event. Reporting to preseason camp is even news. I’ll even go so far as to say that the NFL doesn’t mind some bad publicity, such as its players running afoul of the law. At least they’re talking, right?
Maybe that works for the NFL and other leagues, but I’m not so sure about college football, which has now become a year-round sport with the transfer portal being very alive and kicking.
Tennessee fans know that all too well. With spring practice just days away, the Vols now have to deal with a key player, cornerback Ricky Gibson III, entering the portal. Is that good publicity? I don’t think so.
Professional leagues are all about putting the best athletes on the field in a cut-throat business. Free agency is a means to an end to make that happen. Fans have long since accepted that. I doubt that will be the case at the college level.
College football is all about heritage, but it’s becoming all about business. That’s not good, and fans are speaking out. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from fans that say they’re casting college football aside because of the players’ ability to get paid and transfer on a whim. It’s hard to root for someone if they’ve flirted with other teams, as Gibson is doing.
This unique sport seems to be trying to compete with the NFL. That’s not a good strategy. After all, the NFL took Sundays away from God. Battling the most successful sports league in American history will leave you bruised and broken.
There are some that will tell you that college football is about to grow at a very rapid pace. While that may be the case, it’s only hurting itself now, and that’s not going to change until there’s a resolution between schools and players. The rules are just too loose right now.
Things need to be tightened up as soon as possible. If not, college football may still hit all-time highs, but it may need to do so with a new fanbase.
