Mountainman wrote:Cane from the Bend wrote:Mountainman wrote:If I recall correctly what Nick Saban had to say when meeting with his Booster Club last fall…… The GOAT got it right.

.
I think I may have stumbled onto a partial explanation of the questions you've posed, about Portal/Players/Coaches.
There's a video of the Washington State Head Coach, Jake Dickert, in a post practice presser; although, I like listening to this guy, and can see why his players buy into the system, so from my take, it's worth watching the whole 7 minutes. But when you get to the 5:18 mark, it's a real eye opener.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyin_jQy9DU.
It’s been a while, but I mentioned the antics of old Southwest Conference, and if recall correctly Eric Dickerson’s mother received money and benefits as well as Dickerson and then there was Reggie Bush………… but I have another concern, with all of the availability of dollars, gifts, benefits, etc for players to receive to signup at a particular school, how long is it going to be before we hear of players being paid not to play????? As in taking a play off, untimely penalty, fumble, pass interception……… I would imagine this paying players could work both ways.
.
Careful ...
That kind of talk could see sandwich wrap hat accusations by some.
Though, to your point; I've had conversations about that very thing, in Live Stream threads.
Not so much, by opposing teams, rather, by Betting Giants.
Now with the legalization of Collegiate Sports Betting; Just how long before Betting Odds open for Bowl Games, and the itchy Gamblers pull that trigger on an impossible to pass up Dog ---- Then 2 days before the game, said Dog's best player declares for the draft.
What if, he was always going to declare for the draft before the Bowl Game, and knew before the last 3 regular season outings? What if, someone from a certain arid area code contacted such player's agent with on offer, to hold off making otherwise public announcement, until after Betting Lines slowed?
What if there were incentives to have such player make comments i Post Game Press Conferences, to the extent of:
"We're taking it one game at a time. This team has so much more to accomplish."
"I Love these guys.I go to battle with them on the field everyday. We've still got so much more to play for. And that's my focus right now"
.
.
.