AppState89 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 29, 2026 10:13 pm

That's a stupid name for them. If that's the case, how many of them will even attend class? I've heard a high-profile QB that just made the pro bowl at the last minute didn't step foot on campus except for football games. Then heard another high-profile QB that lost in the natty didn't attend class this season or last season. Not sure if that is true, but I can see this to be the future of the non-student athlete.

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:24 am

I'm asking these questions seriously, with all respect and sincerity. I'd really like to hear people's opinions.

Why should I care? Why does it matter if "college" athletes are actually attending classes? If App, or any other university, basically just started hosting minor league football and basketball teams for players who don't actually attend class, what would change, and why would that matter?

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:24 am

I'm asking these questions seriously, with all respect and sincerity. I'd really like to hear people's opinions.

Why should I care? Why does it matter if "college" athletes are actually attending classes? If App, or any other university, basically just started hosting minor league football and basketball teams for players who don't actually attend class, what would change, and why would that matter?

EastHallApp wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 10:17 am

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:24 am

I'm asking these questions seriously, with all respect and sincerity. I'd really like to hear people's opinions.

Why should I care? Why does it matter if "college" athletes are actually attending classes? If App, or any other university, basically just started hosting minor league football and basketball teams for players who don't actually attend class, what would change, and why would that matter?

That's a good question and a long answer, more than any of us probably have the time or even knowledge to write out.

Fundamentally, you'd be officially scrapping the idea that college athletics extend academic opportunity to the athletes who play them, many of whom wouldn't have that opportunity otherwise. I know the NCAA's ads have become sort of a punchline, but the truth is, the vast majority of college athletes will not make a living as professional athletes.

And of course you'd get into all sorts of questions about whether it's appropriate for taxpayer dollars to keep supporting such an enterprise. If my taxes don't pay Dave Canales' salary, why should they pay Bill Belichick's or Dave Doeren's if they're just doing the same job but at a lower level?

But to the question of why you should care - that answer is going to come down to personal choice and preference. I will say that, if you look at actual minor league sports, they aren't nearly as lucrative as major college sports. The Durham Bulls are one of the most popular, successful brands in minor league baseball. They play in a ~10,000 seat stadium where most tickets cost around $15-$20, and minor league baseball players outside of the top prospects who get signing bonuses are notoriously poorly compensated. Looking at other sports, nobody is paying to watch the G League, and every attempt to start any kind of B-level football league has flopped. If the Appalachian State Mountaineers tomorrow became, like, the Boone Mounties, I think a lot of people would lose interest.

So what I'm curious about is, if college sports continue to become more and more de facto minor league sports with little meaningful connection to the associated schools, will fans feel the same level of support? Does it not matter as long as the players are wearing clothes with your favorite school's logo on them? Because I definitely think maintaining that veneer of "college" is crucial to their continued economic viability.

My guess is that old habits die hard, and most fans will be content to keep fooling themselves, going to their tailgates and cheering for the school colors. But I don't know.

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:49 am

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:24 am

I'm asking these questions seriously, with all respect and sincerity. I'd really like to hear people's opinions.

Why should I care? Why does it matter if "college" athletes are actually attending classes? If App, or any other university, basically just started hosting minor league football and basketball teams for players who don't actually attend class, what would change, and why would that matter?

I am less inclined to help with scholarship money.

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 1:26 pm

EastHallApp wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 10:17 am

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:24 am

I'm asking these questions seriously, with all respect and sincerity. I'd really like to hear people's opinions.

Why should I care? Why does it matter if "college" athletes are actually attending classes? If App, or any other university, basically just started hosting minor league football and basketball teams for players who don't actually attend class, what would change, and why would that matter?

That's a good question and a long answer, more than any of us probably have the time or even knowledge to write out.

Fundamentally, you'd be officially scrapping the idea that college athletics extend academic opportunity to the athletes who play them, many of whom wouldn't have that opportunity otherwise. I know the NCAA's ads have become sort of a punchline, but the truth is, the vast majority of college athletes will not make a living as professional athletes.

And of course you'd get into all sorts of questions about whether it's appropriate for taxpayer dollars to keep supporting such an enterprise. If my taxes don't pay Dave Canales' salary, why should they pay Bill Belichick's or Dave Doeren's if they're just doing the same job but at a lower level?

But to the question of why you should care - that answer is going to come down to personal choice and preference. I will say that, if you look at actual minor league sports, they aren't nearly as lucrative as major college sports. The Durham Bulls are one of the most popular, successful brands in minor league baseball. They play in a ~10,000 seat stadium where most tickets cost around $15-$20, and minor league baseball players outside of the top prospects who get signing bonuses are notoriously poorly compensated. Looking at other sports, nobody is paying to watch the G League, and every attempt to start any kind of B-level football league has flopped. If the Appalachian State Mountaineers tomorrow became, like, the Boone Mounties, I think a lot of people would lose interest.

So what I'm curious about is, if college sports continue to become more and more de facto minor league sports with little meaningful connection to the associated schools, will fans feel the same level of support? Does it not matter as long as the players are wearing clothes with your favorite school's logo on them? Because I definitely think maintaining that veneer of "college" is crucial to their continued economic viability.

My guess is that old habits die hard, and most fans will be content to keep fooling themselves, going to their tailgates and cheering for the school colors. But I don't know.

Thank you for taking the time to answer this thoughtfully. I hadn't ever thought about the taxpayer funded aspect of it. That's a strong point. As is the academic opportunity.
I'd argue against your point that it would become less lucrative if college athletics became semi-pro. People don't have the personal connection to minor league sports as they do collegiate sports. I think most, especially P4, colleges would continue to be very, very profitable.
Most of the only arguments I've heard, and they're echoed above, is "they wouldn't be amateurs anymore!" And I just don't care about that. At the P4 level, these guys haven't been true amateurs for nearly 50 years.

lillycafe wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 1:32 pm

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:49 am

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:24 am

I'm asking these questions seriously, with all respect and sincerity. I'd really like to hear people's opinions.

Why should I care? Why does it matter if "college" athletes are actually attending classes? If App, or any other university, basically just started hosting minor league football and basketball teams for players who don't actually attend class, what would change, and why would that matter?

I am less inclined to help with scholarship money.

The not "helping with scholarship money" part happened for my family last year after 25+ years of doing it.

McLeansvilleAppFan wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:49 am

MrCraig wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 7:24 am

I'm asking these questions seriously, with all respect and sincerity. I'd really like to hear people's opinions.

Why should I care? Why does it matter if "college" athletes are actually attending classes? If App, or any other university, basically just started hosting minor league football and basketball teams for players who don't actually attend class, what would change, and why would that matter?

I am less inclined to help with scholarship money.

postalapp90 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 5:46 am

AppState89 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 29, 2026 10:13 pm

That's a stupid name for them. If that's the case, how many of them will even attend class? I've heard a high-profile QB that just made the pro bowl at the last minute didn't step foot on campus except for football games. Then heard another high-profile QB that lost in the natty didn't attend class this season or last season. Not sure if that is true, but I can see this to be the future of the non-student athlete.

Pretty sure i saw an interview with him when he said all of his classes were online. Dont know about his spring classes after the season. HIm being Shedeur Sanders.