Zeon Chriss

[cajun55]

Let me rephrase: Based on what I know, it’s my opinion that he already accepted. I guess there’s a minuscule chance he hasn’t, until it’s official but I would guess he’s signed sealed and delivered to the highest bidder at this point.

I assumed so but when it’s all about $ and the highest bidder who’s to say we couldn’t have someone come in and offer to match or come close to the offer. Obviously we don’t have that but who knows.

What’s stopping it from being another Jordan Brown situation either? It’s all such a stupid game everyone has agreed to play. Enough athletes will get screwed over and it won’t last. Hard to keep caring as a fan right now.

At least a fan can watch the highest level in the NFL with players signing multi-year contracts. This is basically like following a minor league baseball team at this point. A raw deal for 90% of the fan bases around the country.

[Big Buds]

I just wish players would stop it with the whole long winded announcements. Seriously, I don’t give a ____ and neither do you…GTFO.

[GreatestStory]

...but when I see a high school coach who is turning out state championships (watered down I know) begging for the hometown school to come give his kids a look, it makes me wonder if we are missing out on potential in our own back yard.

I'm curious about this.

Please tell me more about STM coaches begging UL coaches to come take look at their players?

[fpc4life99]

Hypothetically one of us could throw 250k at him on top of what he was offered and change his mind. Nothing is concrete in this NIL game?

What a stupid game we have created. Thanks Ed O’Bannon for destroying collegiate sports.

In contemplating the trajectory of collegiate athletics, one cannot help but speculate on the sustainability of the current model. The trend of lavishing considerable financial resources on student-athletes who, more often than not, choose to spend a mere one or two years at a university poses a legitimate concern. The return on investment (ROI) for such short-term commitments may be reaching a tipping point where the financial outlay ceases to be justified.

This shift in the investment landscape is arguably impacting university athletics departments on a broad scale. Traditionally seen as bastions of higher learning and athletic development, these departments are experiencing a tangible strain on their budgets. The redirection of financial focus towards individual athletes, rather than the institutions themselves, threatens the longstanding equilibrium.

An illustrative case is that of LSU A&M Baton Rouge, where the repercussions of this paradigm shift are conspicuous. Reports suggest a decline in the quality of recruiting classes, with the current one being purportedly one of the weakest in recent memory. This narrative underscores the potential pitfalls of a system that prioritizes short-term gains for athletes over the sustained growth and success of university programs.

The question of sustainability becomes even more pressing when considering the financial commitments made by influential individuals. Gordon, in this context, may find himself reevaluating the wisdom of consistently channeling millions into a university program that yields, at best, third or fourth-place rankings. The diminishing returns on this investment, coupled with the challenges faced by programs experiencing a decline in recruiting prowess, may force a reassessment of long-term viability.

[cajun55]

In contemplating the trajectory of collegiate athletics, one cannot help but speculate on the sustainability of the current model. The trend of lavishing considerable financial resources on student-athletes who, more often than not, choose to spend a mere one or two years at a university poses a legitimate concern. The return on investment (ROI) for such short-term commitments may be reaching a tipping point where the financial outlay ceases to be justified.

This shift in the investment landscape is arguably impacting university athletics departments on a broad scale. Traditionally seen as bastions of higher learning and athletic development, these departments are experiencing a tangible strain on their budgets. The redirection of financial focus towards individual athletes, rather than the institutions themselves, threatens the longstanding equilibrium.

An illustrative case is that of LSU A&M Baton Rouge, where the repercussions of this paradigm shift are conspicuous. Reports suggest a decline in the quality of recruiting classes, with the current one being purportedly one of the weakest in recent memory. This narrative underscores the potential pitfalls of a system that prioritizes short-term gains for athletes over the sustained growth and success of university programs.

The question of sustainability becomes even more pressing when considering the financial commitments made by influential individuals. Gordon, in this context, may find himself reevaluating the wisdom of consistently channeling millions into a university program that yields, at best, third or fourth-place rankings. The diminishing returns on this investment, coupled with the challenges faced by programs experiencing a decline in recruiting prowess, may force a reassessment of long-term viability.

and that just touches on the financial aspect, the quality of the game aka team chemistry and the product on the field will and has suffered as well. We are now as fans watching an inferior product across the FBS compared to 5 years ago.

[zeppelincajun]

Names that I can rattle off - Griffin Hebert to Tech, Nate Cox to Nevada (?), Caleb Holstein to Tech, Trevor Begue to McNeese, Gregory Mahtook to Southeastern, Jean Jacques Hunter to Tulane.

I'm not a college football coach/recruiter, but when I see a high school coach who is turning out state championships (watered down I know) begging for the hometown school to come give his kids a look, it makes me wonder if we are missing out on potential in our own back yard. Tangential benefit, if we are looking to grow RCAF, sell tickets, get support, etc. that STM community isn't a bad one to have on your side from a $$$ perspective.

We offered Bech. We were Howard’s first offer. I’d be willing to bet both were offered when they hit the portal too. We offered Holstein in 2018.

Mahtook “played” one season at SLU (no stats) and was never on a roster again. This is what I’m talking about. If UL doesn’t take these guys that don’t even play at the FCS level, we get accused of not giving STM players a shot. I don’t see where Hunter reported any offers. He most likely walked on at Tulane because he wanted to go to school there. He’s recorded barely any stats at Tulane. He could have just as easily walked on here. Did someone stop him?

Hebert was a huge miss, but that was two coaching staffs ago.

[CajunRage]

I'm curious about this.

Please tell me more about STM coaches begging UL coaches to come take look at their players?

I’m exaggerating a bit but during or right after the bowl loss. The post listed a handful of players names and something to the effect of these guys are waiting for the call.

[CajunT]

Names that I can rattle off - Griffin Hebert to Tech, Nate Cox to Nevada (?), Caleb Holstein to Tech, Trevor Begue to McNeese, Gregory Mahtook to Southeastern, Jean Jacques Hunter to Tulane.

I'm not a college football coach/recruiter, but when I see a high school coach who is turning out state championships (watered down I know) begging for the hometown school to come give his kids a look, it makes me wonder if we are missing out on potential in our own back yard. Tangential benefit, if we are looking to grow RCAF, sell tickets, get support, etc. that STM community isn't a bad one to have on your side from a $$$ perspective.

This is a fallacy; I can't tell how many times I've heard this over the years covering recruiting for UL and even going way back to the late 80's when we had many local kids playing here like Von Alexander, Troy Tauriac, Anthony Clement and others we didn't get hundreds of people from Iberia or St. Martin Parish at Cajun Field for every game. You don't even have to go that far back, when Jerry Babb, Lance Kelly and a few other STM athletes playing there it simply was not a big bump for our attendance for UL.

As for STM on your side, historically it's always been LSU first and then UL when it comes to athletes in every sport with the exception of softball. There is a simple rule in recruiting regardless of staff, if they are as good or equal as another athlete from out of state, you take the local product. If they are not, then you take the best athlete period.

When you win, no body care where the athletes are from outside a few coaching staffs and family members that believe their kids should be playing at Cajun Field.

[GreatestStory]

I just wish players would stop it with the whole long winded announcements. Seriously, I don’t give a ____ and neither do you…GTFO.

Couldn't agree more with this. I saw he posted his multiple paragraph "goodbye and thank you" on X/Twitter. I really hope the University does not share that on their official social media pages. I am getting tired of all these players making these lengthy announcements about entering the portal.

Since him leaving is strictly about money and nothing else, it would be a lot more sincere for him to mention the people who bought his Zeon Chriss shirts or the people who are paying him the big NIL money to leave UL.

[cajun55]

Why is it still a secret where he is going? What’s the point of keeping it hidden?