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You gotta love Tom Izzo. He has been clear that he is not pleased with the NCAA clearing James Nnaji to return to Baylor after being selected in the NBA draft.
Izzo told the Detroit Free Press, “I mean, if that’s what we’re going to (do), shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too. But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I guess. But the NCAA is the one. Those people on those committees that are making those decisions to allow something so ridiculous and not think of the kid.”
Nnaji’s path back to Baylor included time playing professionally in Europe in Spain and Turkey, and the NBA summer league. The key is that at no point did he sign an official NBA contract, so that experience does not disqualify him according to current NCAA rules.
Regardless of your opinion of the decision, this opens up an interesting new path for college athletes. It’s no longer a straight line from high school to college to pro. It may be possible to play professionally overseas, or even in the G league, and then return to college basketball. The NCAA will review each case, but based on James Nnaji, it looks as if they are willing to interpret the rules quite broadly.
It’s becoming clear the line between amateur and pro is getting blurrier by the minute. As more legal cases work their way through the system, we will see athletes get more opportunities to continue to play college sports. The decision by the NCAA to allow James Nnaji to return to Baylor is a signal to any athlete that there is a chance the door to return is never completely closed.
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Portal News
Bowl Game Opt Outs Continue to Grow
If this bowl season has proven anything, it is that some players are less interested in playing than ever before.
With at least 47 bowl games in the schedule, dozens of players have announced they will not play. Four out of five starting offensive linemen for Penn State declined to play. Some are preparing to enter the portal. Others are focused on preparing for the NFL draft.
Players are stuck balancing the risk and reward of playing in a meaningless game. This is not a question of loyalty. With the portal about to open, this is a business decision. Players who are projected to be selected in the NFL draft have to decide if the risk of playing in the “Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl” is worth losing millions of dollars because of an injury.
Coaches are in the same boat as well. They have to balance preparing and playing a bowl game while figuring out how to replace players leaving through the portal. There was a time when declining a bowl invitation was rare. This year, at least 10 schools declined bowl invites, including power conference schools like Iowa State, Florida State, and Auburn. Notre Dame immediately let the world know it would not participate in a bowl game after narrowly missing the college football playoff.
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Our Top Ten Most Ridiculous Bowl Game Names
Pop Tarts Bowl: It has an edible mascot. Need we say more?
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Mortgage lending with helmets.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Mayo baths and jars on the sideline.
Cheez It Bowl: Best bowl with snacks
ReliaQuest Bowl: Not sure what ReliaQuest is, but it sounds expensive.
Quick Lane Bowl: Should end faster than all the other bowls.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Sounds more like a special at KFC.
Scooters Coffee Frisco Bowl: A lot going on here, none of it football related.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Nothing better than reptiles and taxes.
Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl: Freedom is weed free.
BRANDING 101:
Understanding Brands
At the beginning of the year, everyone makes resolutions to get off to a fresh start. Maybe you haven’t thought about building your brand online, or maybe you just haven’t had time to work on it.
Brand building is not just for athletes chasing the next level. If you are, great, a strong personal brand allows you to control the narrative. Your brand is what tells coaches, scouts, agents and potential sponsors who you are. If it tells a clear story about your values, it helps. If it tells no story at all, it doesn’t.
For athletes preparing for life after sports, the value may be even greater. Employers say they want leaders, discipline, and teamwork. Athletes have those traits, but they don’t necessarily show up on a resume. A personal brand translates your athletic experience into language the rest of the world understands. It turns years of training into proof of accountability, communication, and time management.
In this week’s video, we get back to the basics of branding. It talks about how businesses use their brand to build loyal customers. Over the next few weeks, we will dig into how you can build your personal brand to demonstrate your skills for the next level, or for future employers.
NOTES & QUOTES
Over 1,500 FBS players have entered the portal over the last week.
NIL Collectives and agents report increased outreach from underclassmen during the final week of December, with athletes asking about long-term brand strategy rather than immediate deals.
Bowl attendance continues to drop, with bowl game executives calling the trend “predictable but concerning.”
Athlete service providers reported that players are delaying NIL conversations until after the January 1, waiting for clarity on rosters, coaching changes and roles before making decisions.
“The transfer portal is free agency, whether we want to call it that or not.”
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