In a very recent interview on Barstool, former USC running back Lyndal White admitted to receiving $150,000 at USC. He said he entered his apartment and the money was there. My first thought was that this is greatest burglary in history wherein the burglar leaves money.
My second thought was whether we can ever admit that every single great college football and basketball program of the past 40-50 years (yes that include UM‘s dynasties) was built on money/services/gifts being provided to players. I do not believe there is a single exception amongst the championship winning teams, not one.
Now I am a proponent of college players making money but I am tired of the narrative of how school X just has a great coach or program or S&C or Nutrition program which account for the success. Sure it helps to have Saban as a coach, but he was not a good coach with the Browns and dolphins, only better than average with MSU. All of a sudden he’s the greatest coach at LSU and Bama? Nonsense. What Saban has is the biggest budget, over and UNDER the table (now NIL).
So when Steele and Mario say they learned how to do things at Bama, I believe they are not just talking about training and culture, but more so about paying for the best players. Long and short of this rant is that UM needs to go full Texas A&M to win big. Bring in Joe Brady and Rex Ryan as coordinators next year and it won’t mean a thing if we don’t have much better players. Bring in the studs up and down the roster and we win with Gattis and Steele.
My second thought was whether we can ever admit that every single great college football and basketball program of the past 40-50 years (yes that include UM‘s dynasties) was built on money/services/gifts being provided to players. I do not believe there is a single exception amongst the championship winning teams, not one.
Now I am a proponent of college players making money but I am tired of the narrative of how school X just has a great coach or program or S&C or Nutrition program which account for the success. Sure it helps to have Saban as a coach, but he was not a good coach with the Browns and dolphins, only better than average with MSU. All of a sudden he’s the greatest coach at LSU and Bama? Nonsense. What Saban has is the biggest budget, over and UNDER the table (now NIL).
So when Steele and Mario say they learned how to do things at Bama, I believe they are not just talking about training and culture, but more so about paying for the best players. Long and short of this rant is that UM needs to go full Texas A&M to win big. Bring in Joe Brady and Rex Ryan as coordinators next year and it won’t mean a thing if we don’t have much better players. Bring in the studs up and down the roster and we win with Gattis and Steele.
