Today's college football is looking all too much like the pros, and even worse. With transfers, NIL paychecks, players sitting out bowl games, and just the entire degradation of the sport, a conversation needs to be had about how the NIL era -- where players are allowed to make money from their name, image, and likeness -- has changed things.
Northern Illinois University's football coach is bringing a little bit of common sense to the table on this very issue. Here he was answering a question as to the challenges faced when your best players transfer out of your small-name school to the more recognizable schools.
I enjoyed my college experience, I didn't get one dime, but the lessons I learned was more valuable than any money you could ever pay me. And I appreciate that, because that is long term.
People are losing the fact that [college ball] is short-term. I coached in the National Football League for 5 years ... don't lose focus of the long term. Get your degree, learn valuable lessons that's going to help you in the long term of your life. That's the whole purpose.
This is a transition of being a kid to a grown up, and I hope people don't lose focus of that.
Coach Hammock nails it. College athletes can't simply be focused on the next paycheck, their playing time, or their next commercial. They have to be thinking "what is going to do me the best 40 or 50 years from now."
More from Coach Hammock, who had 15 guys transfer out in the offseason, about half of whom transferred to some of the most competitive schools in the nation (which explains the "Let's see who plays" line).
I would do it again for free. For free. Because of the things I learned. That's why I'm standing here today because of what I learned in college. Not because of how much somebody gave me ...
You need to learn things in college to get you prepared for life to be a father, a husband, to work, everything else.
Hammock, a Northern Illinois alum, led the Huskies to an 8-5 record last year, their biggest win coming against #5 Notre Dame on September 7. They also beat Fresno State, who later "stole" two of NIU's defensive backs in the transfer portal, in the Idaho Potato Bowl.
I'll leave this right here:
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Not the Bee or any of its affiliates.
