Tally of Starters Opting Out

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BilldGopher

BilldGopher

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As noted by our VT guests, they are having to process what looks like a lot of potential opt-outs for the bowl game due to the Portal. We have this potential issue plus both teams may have players who opt out to prepare for the NFL.

Does someone know offhand how may starters have said they would not play in the bowl game for whatever reason? I believe this is a short list for us (thankfully so far). Focusing on starters to keep it simple.

Thanks in advance.
 


Opting out due to the portal is crazy. I can understand if you're a higher NFL prospect.
 

mcal24 said:
Opting out due to the portal is crazy. I can understand if you're a higher NFL prospect.
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Well, if you are going to be in the portal - you want to get there ASAP to catch on somewhere else prior to spring semester and spring practice. If you know you are going to be in the portal, you probably don't want to sit around an extra month to practice and participate with a team that you are going to leave. To me, that makes more sense than opting out as an NFL prospect. I understand why NFL prospects opt out, I'm just saying I understand it MORE if a player is headed for the portal.
 

Schnauzer said:
Well, if you are going to be in the portal - you want to get there ASAP to catch on somewhere else prior to spring semester and spring practice. If you know you are going to be in the portal, you probably don't want to sit around an extra month to practice and participate with a team that you are going to leave. To me, that makes more sense than opting out as an NFL prospect. I understand why NFL prospects opt out, I'm just saying I understand it MORE if a player is headed for the portal.
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Fair point.
 


mcal24 said:
Opting out due to the portal is crazy. I can understand if you're a higher NFL prospect.
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I saw the SMU backup QB jumped in the portal. He was the starter last year. It didn't take long for playoff teams to have players jumping early. I can't fathom being a portal man during a playoff run.
 

Panthadad2 said:
I saw the SMU backup QB jumped in the portal. He was the starter last year. It didn't take long for playoff teams to have players jumping early. I can't fathom being a portal man during a playoff run.
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Sounded like he's both in the Portal and also finishing out the season at SMU? Haven't heard of this being done before, but the CFP's duration may open this path for more guys.

I would expect all the Gopher starters to play the bowl game except perhaps Ersery who's a likely first rounder and was injured in the Axe game.
 

Panthadad2 said:
I saw the SMU backup QB jumped in the portal. He was the starter last year. It didn't take long for playoff teams to have players jumping early. I can't fathom being a portal man during a playoff run.
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It was discussed that some playoff players might be able to go into the portal and still play for their team as long as they stay committed to their squad until the playoffs are done. Seems like it would be a really strange situation but I guess it may be happening in some cases.
 

To the OPs question. I don't think any of our guys have said they aren't playing yet as far as I am aware. But could have missed it. Ersery would seem like the most likely to sit out, Brosmer and Carroll have both said they are playing, and obviously the guys already in the portal are done (but none of them were regulars).

We tend to not have very many opt outs and my guess is that this year will be the same.
 



Even playoffs are just a speed bump to the portal now. And for NFL prospects opting out... it really feels like the expanded playoff along with the recent "opting out" trend - the days of the blizzard of bowls have to be numbered. I guess they will continue to wring out the wet rag of meaningless bowl games as long as money drips out.

I always argue a bit with people when they say "meaningless bowl games" by the way. As long as it is NOT considered an exhibition and it counts on the season record - I argue there is no such thing as a meaningless game. But, when the games begin to look more and more like NFL strike scab games - I get it how the term "meaningless" can be used.

On one hand I miss the BCS era when there weren't wholesale transfers and the portal, or even many/any NFL opt outs. Bowl games like the Citrus Bowl, Outback, Alamo, etc. really were must see TV and I really enjoyed bowl season because as a huge college football fan it was fun to see all the interesting cross-conference matchups.

On the other hand, it is starting to feel like the bowl era is ending, where the charade created by the portal and opt outs finally leads the college post season to be shrunk down to the Army/Navy game and the playoffs. And just leave it at that. I'm looking forward to the playoffs and it is frustrating to think of a Gopher bowl game without Jackson, Joyner, etc.
 

Schnauzer said:
Even playoffs are just a speed bump to the portal now. And for NFL prospects opting out... it really feels like the expanded playoff along with the recent "opting out" trend - the days of the blizzard of bowls have to be numbered. I guess they will continue to wring out the wet rag of meaningless bowl games as long as money drips out.

I always argue a bit with people when they say "meaningless bowl games" by the way. As long as it is NOT considered an exhibition and it counts on the season record - I argue there is no such thing as a meaningless game. But, when the games begin to look more and more like NFL strike scab games - I get it how the term "meaningless" can be used.

On one hand I miss the BCS era when there weren't wholesale transfers and the portal, or even many/any NFL opt outs. Bowl games like the Citrus Bowl, Outback, Alamo, etc. really were must see TV and I really enjoyed bowl season because as a huge college football fan it was fun to see all the interesting cross-conference matchups.

On the other hand, it is starting to feel like the bowl era is ending, where the charade created by the portal and opt outs finally leads the college post season to be shrunk down to the Army/Navy game and the playoffs. And just leave it at that. I'm looking forward to the playoffs and it is frustrating to think of a Gopher bowl game without Jackson, Joyner, etc.
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I don't think the bowls are going anywhere. As for them being meaningful or meaningless I can see it both ways on that front. To me it is an extra game of Gopher football, if they win great, if they lose it isn't the end of the world. The big thing that comes from being in a bowl game is that extra practice time which is huge for the younger players on the team. Gives the coaches a chance to really focus in on the guys that will be back the following season in a way they are not able to during the actual season.
 

Fortunately PJ so far is a winner in bowl games.

Mase not so much so...
 

This is nothing but rumor/speculation, but on KFAN yesterday I think JG mentioned that Jackson strongly hinted after the Wisconsin game that he was unlikely to play in the bowl game.
 



Maybe what we have to do: no bowl game, NIL money is forfeited as they aren’t carrying out their part of the bargain.
 

Maybe what we have to do: no bowl game, NIL money is forfeited as they aren’t carrying out their part of the bargin.
 


I’m old enough to remember never going to a bowl game! It’s a good thing, national exposure, another month of practice and simply another Gopher game!! Enjoy it, a good excuse to throw a party on Friday night!
 

Jack jones said:
Maybe what we have to do: no bowl game, NIL money is forfeited as they aren’t carrying out their part of the bargin.
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NIL money doesn’t come from the team or the school. The bargain: NIL money is a royalty paid by a third party in return for the right to use a player’s name, image and likeness. It is not a wage paid for playing in a college football game.
 


Fun to play Virginia Tech. Gophers have never played them, they are really never on our radar. We really do not recruit the same areas. So one of the bonus things about Bowl Games. And Charlotte is a nice City.....
 

two separate issues at play here:

players going into the portal because they plan to leave for another program, and

players opting out of playing in the bowl game because they plan to go into the NFL and want to avoid injury/start preparing for the combine.

based on what I've read/heard at various outlets, I expect several opt-outs: Ersery for sure, and probably Jackson. it's a tricky situation for those players. playing in the game is a chance to showcase their talents, but a poor performance, or an injury, could hurt their draft status and cost them a lot of money. I suspect a lot hinges on what they are hearing behind the scenes from agents and/or advisors.
 


Va Tech possible opt outs from what I read.

Starting LT, Center, a 6'6 LB with 144 career tackles, and their starting FS all hit the portal. Two of their DL are getting ready for the draft and possibly a CB.

They will be well represented in the Sr Bowl with their RB, 2 Wr's, a DL and CB. Will they all pass on the bowl game?
 

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