Bateman opting out of 2020 Football Season

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Good luck in the NFL Rashod. He chose to be Golden over SEC offers in his own backyard.

True test of his impact will be seen now he is gone - combined with a great receiver coaching team, he was a possible factor in us getting some high potential receiver recruits; they are going to get chance to play now.

Also pleased Rashod announced this before we’ve gotten too far into workouts for other kids not to get reps.

Keep Rowing!
 


Absolutely devastating as a fan. Totally understandable as a human. COVID-19 really, really sucks, but it puts things into perspective a bit. There are more important things than football. It just doesn't FEEL that way on Saturdays :)

Good luck, Rashod. Thanks for the memories. Just wish there were more to come in maroon and gold!
 

Bateman will be missed, but I don’t foresee a season. And I don’t blame college athletes for opting out this season. Especially ones that have potential to be drafted as professionals. Does anyone know if the “Loss of Value” insurance that some athletes take covers COVID?
 



I was wondering what he was doing out in LA when it looked like the team was practicing in MN. This makes sense. If Minnesota wants to be a great program then losing players to NFL prep is the best way to lose them.

Wish him the best. Super looking forward to CAB, DD, and the new receivers having a great year. Fleck has put his fair share of players into the NFL, including two high-caliber receivers, in a very short time. Bateman will be the third, and he won't be the last.
 
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That sucks, but I can’t blame him, there are so many unknowns with this virus.
 

Sucks as a fan, but under the circumstances, I don't blame him. He's probably a top 10 pick.
 






FredCoxRocks said:
My opinion...If there's no Covid, he is still here. Covid has definitely been screwing up peoples' short term and long term plans and as we know, trying to figure out what is going to happen with this virus is a crapshoot and a deluge of "we don't know". So, in that respect I don't blame him for the decision he has made, and I think if there even is a season this fall, it will be just a shell of what it should be.
Best of luck, Rashod! You played a huge role in bringing back Gopher football fans and it will never be forgotten!
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It changes the risk-reward calculation a lot. There's a decent chance the season won't happen. If it does, there's a good chance it won't finish. Meanwhile you're taking the risk of getting infected or suffering a major injury, whatever level that risk may be, with an uncertain reward for doing so. 10 months working with a trainer is a relatively certain prospect.
 




I can't stand players skipping bowl games in their last season but given the circumstances, I'm not mad at all. I'm sad that we won't see him play for the Gophers ever again but I completely understand it and don't blame him. A player refusing to play a normal scheduled bowl game is completely different than a player opting out of a season with no schedule, no set plans of how to keep players safe, nothing close to a guarantee that the schedule will be fully played (if we even get a schedule), and a potentially increased risk of long term injury/illness that will impact their career.
 

I certainly pined for any number of "would'a, could'a, should'a" scenarios when Maxx departed the team early too. That was different though...Maxx declared immediately at the end of the season.

Certainly absent covid we'd have every expectation of #13 playing on Saturdays. That does make this particularly bittersweet. Still wish the kid good luck.
 


BleedGopher said:
Wow. Just deplorable.

Go Gophers!!
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If there's one thing that the COVID situation and the events that took place in Minneapolis back in May have shown me, is that there a lot of people that completely lack empathy for other human beings. The banned poster is a great example of that.
 


Word said:
If there's one thing that the COVID situation and the events that took place in Minneapolis back in May have shown me, is that there a lot of people that completely lack empathy for other human beings. The banned poster is a great example of that.
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It explains how some people vote the way they do.

“Personal responsibility” is just code for “I have no empathy for any other humans”.
 

As for Bateman....it sucks.....but he's doing what he believes is right for him. And that's fine. We're going to miss him greatly....but even after only two years....he's done great things for the program.....including sticking to his commitment here when the SEC (including his homestate Georgia Bulldogs came calling. Kiper has him as his EIGHTH best player as of right now! Just getting drafted that high will give the program a major boost.

It'll be tough to replace him....but I trust that CAB and other unknown guys will be fine. Fleck knows what he is doing with his WR corp.
 

Maybe somebody can tell me what advantage Rashad gains by making this announcement?
He could wait and see what the situation is first unless he is trying to be part of a movement to
get the season postponed.
I'm not optimistic there will be a fall college football season. As I said a month ago, I believe it'll be moved to the spring.
Each player can make their own decision. I have no problem whatever anyone decides to do.
I just don't see how it helps him to make the announcement now, either with his Gopher teammates or future NFL employers. Opting out of spring football I can see for him but that announcement could be months away.
Best of luck to him.
I think coaches are going to lose about 10 years of their life. There are just so many things right now that you just can't plan for. I was just worried whether there would be a season. Wasn't thinking guys wouldn't want to play.
 


FredCoxRocks said:
It's Nnamdi Adim-Madumere time!...(I guess).
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Yep, with CAB and Douglas both set to see serious playing time there is plenty of room for 2 guys to really step up. I'm also thinking Daniel Jackson could see some serious minutes as a true freshman.
 

60's Guy said:
Maybe somebody can tell me what advantage Rashad gains by making this announcement?
He could wait and see what the situation is first unless he is trying to be part of a movement to
get the season postponed.
I'm not optimistic there will be a fall college football season. As I said a month ago, I believe it'll be moved to the spring.
Each player can make their own decision. I have no problem whatever anyone decides to do.
I just don't see how it helps him to make the announcement now, either with his Gopher teammates or future NFL employers. Opting out of spring football I can see for him but that announcement could be months away.
Best of luck to him.
I think coaches are going to lose about 10 years of their life. There are just so many things right now that you just can't plan for. I was just worried whether there would be a season. Wasn't thinking guys wouldn't want to play.
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Speculation was already happening on this board due to him being in California. That growing and going unaddressed would only be a negative for the team. Also, I'm sure Rashod is also supporting the Pac 12 players' union movement on some level.
 

Ope3 said:
Umm, the derogatory statement directed at Bateman was indeed ban worthy. No question.
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Spoofin like mjfelton (hard right winger) due to his OTB thoughts. Otherwise he probably wouldn't be defending that post.
 

It's the right thing for him to do.

Good luck to Bateman.
Thanks for the two years!
 

60's Guy said:
Maybe somebody can tell me what advantage Rashad gains by making this announcement?
He could wait and see what the situation is first unless he is trying to be part of a movement to
get the season postponed.
I'm not optimistic there will be a fall college football season. As I said a month ago, I believe it'll be moved to the spring.
Each player can make their own decision. I have no problem whatever anyone decides to do.
I just don't see how it helps him to make the announcement now, either with his Gopher teammates or future NFL employers. Opting out of spring football I can see for him but that announcement could be months away.
Best of luck to him.
I think coaches are going to lose about 10 years of their life. There are just so many things right now that you just can't plan for. I was just worried whether there would be a season. Wasn't thinking guys wouldn't want to play.
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I would guess the advantage is to open roster spots.
Let the team adjust.
Remove any question of it as rumors start.

There is so much fluid about this situation. Some people think we'll be dealing with the pandemic for 2-3 years yet.
 

I'm looking at football having a change much like the basketball one and done. I'm thinking that more players may opt out once they have proved themselves by staying healthy, getting stronger etc., at some of these work out places. Probably more so in the area of wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks yet other positions will come as well if injured.
 


I wouldn't call the decision cowardly, but how is that worthy of a ban? There have been plenty of derogatory statements on this board directed to the likes of Joey King, Jerry Kill, Tracey Claeys, Mitch Leidner, Michael Hurt, and on and on that didn't result in bannings.
 

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