You gotta love the pious sanctimony on display here.
Mack Brown hot-taking right now on ABC saying Royce Freeman shouldn’t be at the Las Vegas Bowl because he’s not playing before going to the NFL.
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) December 16, 2017
I’ll take him seriously when he gives a similar hot take for coaches who leave for other jobs before a bowl game. Somehow, I get the feeling Mack’s all in on Pruitt coaching the ‘Bama defense in the playoffs.
Filed under Mack Brown Soldiers On
“Those 13 jerseys are going to be around a long time.”-- Brock Bowers, The Athletic, 1/10/23
Get The Picture
Mack Brown has ever been the Uriah Heep of college football.
LikeLike
??
LikeLike
Apples and oranges Senator. If Pruit stopped coaching the Tide, then still wanted to be at the game on the Tide sidelines, then you would have a comparison. IOW, Pruit is still playing in the game even though he is moving on. The kid isn’t.
LikeLike
Sure, however you want to split those hairs. Maybe you can explain how Pruitt’s injury risk is similar to Freeman’s.
Both have made business decisions to move on from their current schools. If the players and coaches they played with don’t mind them participating in their postseasons with them — Freeman gave the pregame locker room speech in support of his teammates, which is more than Willie Taggart did — why should we give a shit about either of them being there?
LikeLike
Sure. I have no idea why anyone else would care. I certainly don’t. I just didn’t see the comparisons as similar. IMO kid made the right decision.
LikeLike
Brown couldnt even commit to calling an entire game last season.
LikeLike
I agree with him. Simple as that…
LikeLike
Again, if his coaches and teammates wanted him there, why do you care?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just like Fournette last year, Les and his teammates wanted him there.
LikeLike
I love it when these coaches and former coaches who have made millions upon millions in the system (and sometimes are continuing to do so) get all huffy when anyone even remotely challenges the status quo.
LikeLike
Oh my lord a player doing what he wants to, to protect himself. Next thing you know the world will end.
LikeLike
Curious of how those of you who feel it is no big deal for Freeman to quit on his teammates would react if any/all of Chubb, Michel, R, Carter, Bellamy made that decision for UGA. The risk is exactly the same. I understand The Rose Bowl is more highly regarded than a pre-Christmas bowl game, but again, a significant injury in a game at the end of the year will hurt the athlete’s earning power just as badly. Or for that matter, deciding to sit for the GT game during the end of the season.
Where do you draw the line? Frankly, it is all about the impact on the team and fans, not the potential NFL star, isn’t it? One game insurance premiums may be an answer. I don’t know but I knew last year with McCaffrey sitting it just doesn’t seem right, but then I believe in fulfilling obligations.
LikeLike
I think your last word is your key word. Why do think the player hasn’t already fulfilled his obligations? Only thing teams are guaranteed is 12 regular season games. Bowls arent promised. Player participation shouldn’t be either.
I also understand team commitment being larger than self. If the team wants him there, then it’s the teams call.
LikeLike
That’s honest. I don’t agree with your position but respect your right to see it differently than the way I see it. As a teammate, I would be with them to the end. Might be Pollyanna to some, but that is just the way I was brought up, and the culture I value.
LikeLike
Risk might be the same, but the reward is clearly different. Business decisions are often made with a full valuation of “risk vs reward”.
LikeLike
When a player whose team is in the CFB playoff skips out on the post-season, you might have an argument. As of now – players have decided the reward of winning the CFB playoff outweighs the risk of injury as opposed to playing in the Las Vegas Bowl on 12/16.
As to your point about sitting out the GT game – once the playoff expands to a large enough size, you won’t have to worry about players deciding to sit out of meaningless end of season games. The coaches will make that decision for them.
LikeLike
Simply not true. There are many examples in CFB blowing this position out of the water to even debate this, none to support it. Possible, but not likely, if the playoff should reach a state of silliness and have 32/64+ teams we might see that happen. UGA has reached the SECCG six times and has never rested a player even though there was zero penalty for resting a player (same for FU/FSU, Clemson/SC, etc.).
In a potential playoff situation, there would always be home field or seeding at stake. Not doing it when nothing is lost should be the strong indicator so why would they if they had something at risk? Answer, they wouldn’t. Don’t bring the NFL/NBA/NHL silliness into this, doesn’t apply. We are talking an exclusive club here, 8 teams is the 94th percentile, no comparison.
LikeLike
I draw the line with teammates and coaches. If they’re cool with it, so am I. If not, then I’m not either.
In any event, Mack Brown is out of line.
LikeLike
I wouldn’t care if nick Chubb transferred to oklahoma this week and suited up for the Sooners in the rose bowl.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stupid comment
LikeLike
Apples oranges much?
LikeLike
I wouldn’t blame Chubb or Michel if they decided to sit out the Rose Bowl (or Roquan for that matter). I know they would never do that, plus saying that the Rose Bowl is more highly regarded is a huge understatement since winning would lead to a berth in the title game. As long as they aren’t getting paid then it is their choice whether or not to risk injury and their NFL future, and I would support them either way.
LikeLike
Mack Brown is the most uninteresting CFB analyst since Donald Trump. His arrogance doesn’t fit his football knowledge and his opinions often are more bland than mine. Glad to see others call his hand and that includes David, the Dawg.
LikeLike
I got your outrage to a point, but your two examples aren’t the same thing. To me Pruitt is completing an obligation, Freeman is not.
LikeLike
First, I’m not outraged. I don’t get Mack Brown making an issue out of something the team itself isn’t.
As far as “completing an obligation” goes, Pruitt isn’t with Alabama now, to help with game prep. That’s some obligation.
LikeLike
Guaranteed Freeman would be on their field if Oregon was in the Rose Bowl. That’s the real apples and oranges. One game matters one game doesn’t.
LikeLike