The 2013 College Football Thread.

[BigTyla]

How on earth are you certain cecil didnt profit?

...because his son didn't go to Mississippi State?

I mean, I know it's been two years since this whole fiasco started, but your memory isn't THAT bad, is it? Go look back at the "evidence" and see which schools he reportedly shopped his son to, then tell me if you see Auburn on that list. People ASSUMED he must have taken money from Auburn because they got a little eager to jump to conclusions. Off the top of my head, Miss St and OU affiliates had reported that Cecil shopped Cam around to play for their schools.

It is possible, but highly unlikely, that Cecil took the money from that Miss State dude and ran, but I'd think the guy would have raised a lot more hell about it if that were the case. He'd also be labeled an idiot for giving the guy money before securing his LOI.

[AdamVR4]

...because his son didn't go to Mississippi State?

I mean, I know it's been two years since this whole fiasco started, but your memory isn't THAT bad, is it? Go look back at the "evidence" and see which schools he reportedly shopped his son to, then tell me if you see Auburn on that list. People ASSUMED he must have taken money from Auburn because they got a little eager to jump to conclusions. Off the top of my head, Miss St and OU affiliates had reported that Cecil shopped Cam around to play for their schools.

It is possible, but highly unlikely, that Cecil took the money from that Miss State dude and ran, but I'd think the guy would have raised a lot more hell about it if that were the case. He'd also be labeled an idiot for giving the guy money before securing his LOI.

Ok, so you're still not certain of anything but continue to pass off your assumptions as facts. Fair enough. Frankly, I don't care and think these players should be able to freely profit if people want to pay them. This whole amateur thing, especially since it's virtually required, is essentially slavery, and needs to end.

[sergechronos]

I just want to see him play again to see if they can duplicate last seasons success.

I wish everyone would get off A&Ms nuts though. They forget that in 2011 A&M lost almost every game close, and blew leads in almost every one of them. Sometimes big leads. It's not as though A&M really was an awful team in 2011. And they returned a lot of those players for 2012. Their schedule for 2013 looks pathetically weak, I expect them to end up with 3 losses and miss out on the BCS bowl games. I figure losses at Bama, at LSU and at Ole Miss or another team that people may not see coming. I just don't see it happening again. People have tape on Manziel, and they lost several key players to the draft.

[AdamVR4]

Check this hilarious article -
http://deadspin.com/the-long-con-how...ica-1040593220

[BigTyla]

Ok, so you're still not certain of anything but continue to pass off your assumptions as facts.

On the contrary, Adam. I'm operating only on the evidence that was presented in the case. At no point did I pass off any assumption in my analysis. In fact, I conceeded that it was entirely possible that Cecil DID profit. Nevertheless, the onus is on the prosecutor to back up charges with facts. I'm not sure how you can accuse me of passing off an assumption as a fact (which was clearly not the case) when you did exactly the same thing two posts ago. Hypocrisy is not a good way to get one's point across.

Frankly, I don't care and think these players should be able to freely profit if people want to pay them. This whole amateur thing, especially since it's virtually required, is essentially slavery, and needs to end.

I agree that there should be some reforms to the system, but the schools all agreed to play by the same set of rules by forming the NCAA bylaws. Whether you like them or not is irrelevant.

[BigTyla]

Another thing to consider: recall the whole T-Town Menswear scandal with Alabama a couple of years ago. Droves of pictures and videos of Alabama players signing autographs in front of the store, wearing the suits, etc, and no penalty from the NCAA because there was no evidence of money changing hands despite the players knowing their autographs would be sold for someone else's profit. I'd say they set a dangerous precedent in doing so, and if they nail Manzeil for doing the same thing the whole system will turn over on itself.

[AdamVR4]

I wish everyone would get off A&Ms nuts though. They forget that in 2011 A&M lost almost every game close, and blew leads in almost every one of them. Sometimes big leads. It's not as though A&M really was an awful team in 2011. And they returned a lot of those players for 2012. Their schedule for 2013 looks pathetically weak, I expect them to end up with 3 losses and miss out on the BCS bowl games. I figure losses at Bama, at LSU and at Ole Miss or another team that people may not see coming. I just don't see it happening again. People have tape on Manziel, and they lost several key players to the draft.

You dont see it happening again? Thats essentially a repeat of last year. Their schedule was dog shit in 2012 too. Muschamp made 2nd half adjustments to beat manziel in game 1. Was that insufficient tape for the rest of the sec?

[AdamVR4]

I realized it was hypocritical, but the point still stands. Cecil may have profited to the tune of $100k+ off his juco transfer son. Manziel may have profited ~$20k from his heisman signature. The latter is not 'more damning' than the former. Perhaps im misinterpreting how you used the word damning. I hate posting from my phone.

Another thing to consider: recall the whole T-Town Menswear scandal with Alabama a couple of years ago. Droves of pictures and videos of Alabama players signing autographs in front of the store, wearing the suits, etc, and no penalty from the NCAA because there was no evidence of money changing hands despite the players knowing their autographs would be sold for someone else's profit. I'd say they set a dangerous precedent in doing so, and if they nail Manzeil for doing the same thing the whole system will turn over on itself.

I'd fogotten about that. Good point.

[BigTyla]

Having tape on Manziel makes no difference. What does is that they have to replace their entire OL this year, and everyone and their mother wants to cream Manziel in the backfield. Even if they reload instead of rebuild the OL, can Manziel handle all the scrutiny? Can he play the game both mentally and physically this year?

[BigTyla]

I realized it was hypocritical, but the point still stands. Cecil may have profited to the tune of $100k+ off his juco transfer son. Manziel may have profited ~$20k from his heisman signature. The latter is not 'more damning' than the former. Perhaps im misinterpreting how you used the word damning. I hate posting from my phone.

What I mean is that there's a lot more things going on in this case that sets off alarm bells. In the Newton case, it turns out that (at least as the NCAA describes it) Cecil was shopping his son behind his back. The supposition in the Manziel case is that Johnny himself was directly profiting from these autograph sessions.

But that's not all. The Manziels freely admitted to having Johnny sit down for autograph sessions so his father could "give out" memorabilia. Johnny's therapist told him to limit his sessions to 30 minutes a week so he wouldn't be so overwhelemed. His close friend dropped out of college to be his personal assistant, and he's just another story himself. The whole thing raises the eyebrow a bit more. It's weird as hell.