Rec

But needs to be done.

I understand local kids not leaving the state.

But a ton of CA kids head to SEC schools.

South, like Bubba Smith. Also the first one to play a Black quarter back. The rest is history.

Hillsdale College, yes, that Hillsdale College, one of the first colleges to have an integrated football team, went undefeated 9-0 in 1955 and was given an invite to the prestigious Tangerine Bowl in Orlando. It was going to be the first bowl appearance in school history, so a very significant accomplishment, including a coveted week in Florida in January. They were coached that year by Frank "Muddy" Waters, (who later coached at Michigan State).

The Bowl committee however informed them that they would only be allowed to compete if they left their 4 Black players behind, and after Coach Waters put it up for the team to vote, the team voted unanimously to tell the Tangerine Bowl to stick it. We’re a team, they said. Either we all play or none of us play.

https://enjoyer.com/hillsdale-was-told-to-leave-their-black-players-behind-for-their-first-bowl-game/

The first time I went to Hillsdale, I was surprised to see some of the crowd leave after the women’s game. They had a great team.
For a Christian College, I was shocked by the Sex scandal that involved the President of the school.
Also the Assistant Women’s coach was my 7th grade BB coach. He remembered me and we had a great conversation.
Small world.

Players are making more money in college football and basketball than they ever have over the previous century -- yeah, the pay wasn't legal but let's not be naive -- and the SEC schools hand it over as abundantly as anyone else. It is hard to tell someone who comes from nothing and might not make it to the NFL to forego a larger payday right now in order to make a political point.

Maybe I'm just cynical but I don't think many of these kids care one whit about ideals. They care about money, first and last, just like their coaches.

Players who have spent their entire lives hoping to make it to professional sports are not going to eschew attending a top flight college program that is known for developing NFL and NBA talent. The majority are from out of state anyway, and will only reside there temporarily, so not sure the political climate has a big impact on where they go.

I think the athletes will always try to get into Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Texas (not in playoffs), and Ole Miss (made playoffs). Auburn, and U of Florida frequently have great teams. Other great teams in the South are in other conferences. Telling the SEC "no thanks" and why might help them progress unless their donor base tells them otherwise.

College athletes can always go to the Big Ten and that conference seems a little better than the SEC. There is also the ACC or Big 12. The conferences need the athletes more than the athletes need the conference.

Peace ☮️

That would have a national reach and billionaires owners, who have Trump's ear, would be making some noise!!

do the work"?

The NCAA removed all championship games from North Carolina, and the NBA moved the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte following the passage of the legislation commonly known as the 'bathroom bill.'

The consequences were dramatic.