GrayMatter said:

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Yeah you can't tell me players haven't gotten paid all along in some capacity. I guess some people like to believe that everyone is on a level playing field.

Blue bloods exist for a reason.

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Yup ... nothings changed ... same basic game as it was in 1986 .... yup ......

Seriously .... things have changed a ton the past 5 to 10 years and it's the height of stupidity to keep claiming "players have always been paid" like the sport hasn't fundamentally changed radically in the past decade. Whether the changes are good or bad is a different debate but this is a radically different sport now than it was. And the changes have driven some fans away.

Yes, players in the past got under the table money and/or other not so legal perks. That doesn't mean things are the same with todays semi-pro game played on college sites wearing college logos.

LB12MEEN said:

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LOL

Players have been getting paid forever. Did you not watch the junction boys?

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This is such a tired argument. Getting paid a few hundred or thousand bucks here and there, or even a car or a condo, is completely different from all of our starting players signing high-six and seven figure contracts. But you know that. You're just playing stupid.

KatyAggie2000 said:

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Super excited as well. I have us 9-3 but maybe a different 9-3 than most.

Lot of pundits picking us to lose at Red Stick, but I truly believe that Marcell loves playing there and owns them. I see losing at South Carolina (likely a night game), at Bama, and at OU. We get Texas this year. I think we field a better squad than Bama but I think we drop this one due to being undefeated and a bit overconfident mixed with a night environment.

At large Playoff team.

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The kickoff for the South Carolina game is already locked in for the afternoon slot. I have that game as tossup because we lost our last two road games to South Carolina, and we needed a massive comeback to beat South Carolina at home last year. I agree with 9-3, losing road games to Alabama and Oklahoma, and winning a road game against Texas. I see our first loss at LSU.

Mac94 said:

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GrayMatter said:

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Yeah you can't tell me players haven't gotten paid all along in some capacity. I guess some people like to believe that everyone is on a level playing field.

Blue bloods exist for a reason.

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Yup ... nothings changed ... same basic game as it was in 1986 .... yup ......

Seriously .... things have changed a ton the past 5 to 10 years and it's the height of stupidity to keep claiming "players have always been paid" like the sport hasn't fundamentally changed radically in the past decade. Whether the changes are good or bad is a different debate but this is a radically different sport now than it was. And the changes have driven some fans away.

Yes, players in the past got under the table money and/or other not so legal perks. That doesn't mean things are the same with todays semi-pro game played on college sites wearing college logos.

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Oh you're definitely on point with that thought.

I think the original idea of compensating the players for money that was being generated from them was a good idea, but got out of control once it was legal for schools to allocate special funds that goes straight to athletes pockets. If they only allowed funds that were generated solely through TV funds that might have been the way to go, but it's hard to tame the beast once you let it off its leash.

I don't think the NCAA is capable of regulating this issue either, but I do know that the relationship between the NCAA and college football is looking murkier by the day.

Principal Uncertainty said:

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AxelFoley85 said:

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The 2013 FSU vibes was my favorite. Bought that one hard.

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1998 FSU vibes was my favorite. Bought that one hard. Flew all the way to The Meadowlands to watch us feck away a winnable game.

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here

The new NIL rules, the transfer portal, and conference alignments have turned major college sports into professional-like leagues. The conference leaders are prioritizing TV network revenue over the welfare of athletes and fans. The athletes are no longer students, and college education has become an afterthought. Many traditions have been eliminated. The only sustainable solution is to implement multi-year contracts and penalties for breaking them. Still, I will stay interested in the major Aggies sports until I die. My excitement level fluctuates, but I will never lose interest.

honestly every year I'm excited and every year I'm satisfied

PanzerAggie06 said:

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See the 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 09, 08, 07, 06….. seasons for the same "things feel different" mindset.

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Think you need to take out 25, 20 and 12 seasons.

And it's a given there was 'never' the type of optimism then as exists now. Ever.

_mpaul said:

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e=mc2 said:

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IMO, if we're good on the lines, we can hang with anyone. The talent is there to make a run. In today's game, the teams that can get out of their own way and stay healthy are contenders. Most SEC teams are talented across the board. The talent difference between us, sip, Bama, UGA, UT, LSU, OU, and Ole Miss is negligible. Throw in Auburn and Florida and any of those 10 teams can make a run.

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So we're screwed!

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Most SEC teams absolutely are not talented "across the board." Even UGA and t.u. have question marks. There's not a team in the country who does not have concerns entering fall camp. Remember how great Sellers, Nuss, Arch, Mateer and other SEC QBs were 'supposed' to be last year?? We'll see versions of that this year (and the next, and the next, etc.). Who will be this year's Mendoza and Chambliss?

Too be honest, I don't think I've ever been less excited for a season. CFB in general just doesn't hit like it used to for me.

I am excited to see how we hold up on the lines and the offensive play calling.

I think anyone that thinks we will be a world beater this is in for a let down but I sure don't know. I do believe our humiliating losses are gone and we will post solid results. I am trying to refrain from drinking the maroon Kool-Aid this year and will hopefully (at least) revel in the sips dropping a number of games late in the season. The preseason hype with those clowns is sickening (again).

Elko is building a heck of a program and we are in for a fun ride if it continues.

SCar poses no threat. Zoo pundits keep posting about 1st half massive deficit but forget that was the 1st home game after 3 straight SEC road wins. Hangover effect was definitely a factor