MGoBlog Roundtable with Sam
I didn't see this on the front page or in my podcast feed, so I figured maybe someone else missed this episode. It sounds like Seth is dealing with a sick kiddo so I hope everything is going ok.
August 4th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
That was as passionate as I heard Brian on the Round Table in a long time. Was surpised it wasnt on the front page yesterday.
August 4th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
Agreed. And the Enshittification article that he referenced by Cory Doctorow, which I had never heard of, is quite the read, and it makes Brian's comments about college football going down the money tubes at the cost of fan experience even clearer:
August 4th, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Here is the article Seth referenced.
August 4th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
You know who posts all that stuff… yep,Seth. So sickness, family issues, vacation means less content for us. (Thanks Seth you’re a mensch). h
August 4th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
agree, loved his passion and agree 100%.
August 4th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
For those who didn't listen live, Brian joins late, around the 23:30 mark and is spitting hot fire. I think he says what a lot of college football fans have been feeling for a long, long time.
Money has always been a part of college football, but now they're making no pretense of hiding that. Tradition and creating the best product possible for fans is of little to no consequence unless it aligns with maximizing profits.
August 4th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
He was definitely fired up. I'm surprised he didn't write about it yet.
August 4th, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^
I don’t disagree that chasing money kills traditions and isn’t the best for the fan experience. I just find it wild that anyone thinks it’s new or different and can get that worked up about it. Tulane used to be in the sec, nobody cares that they aren’t a major program anymore. Schools weren’t shifting conferences in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s because of a focus on the fan experience or player travel. Michigan didn’t try to block msu from joining the big ten because of the fan experience, hell the big house was built to make more money for the program. The sums are larger now, the motivations are the same. Nothing was ever altruistic, the pageantry and traditions never drove decisions and conferences never meant anything which is why the always shifted.
I get when people get older they get annoyed that what they loved has changed. I don’t find it helpful to lie about the reality of what it was before though. Nostalgia is a hell of a drug and it doesn’t do a whole lot of good.
Bingo.
Building stadiums with 80,000 seats in the 1920’s is a gigantic tell for what those of the past saw college football as.
Fair enough. But those of us who went thru the fan experience of "the good old days" weat least have the perspective to be able to rationalize what is better about today, and what is worse. For my part, I try not to bemoan the loss of most of the traditions of the past, and rather focus on what's better about today's fan experience.
We all have our pet peeves about the changes in college football, and have to decide for ourselves whether we want to continue being fans. I guess the most annoying trend to me is the "NFL-ization" of the gameday experience. (No better insight into what that looks like than attending the Big 10 championship game) I'd rather see college football maintain its own set of traditions and pageantry.
I'll shut up now.
August 4th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Thank you! I was wondering about that.
August 4th, 2023 at 12:04 PM ^
I thought it was Brian's finest hour. I think he sometimes comes off as grouchy, but he spoke the truth from the perspective of someone who loves all aspects of college football. Sam's "it is what it is" outlook is the pragmatic approach, but it doesn't lessen my disdain for the current state of affairs.
August 4th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
The only thing better than Brian coming in off the top rope was the Body Heat reference from Craig. Hell of a picture.
it's the funny thing about money; whoever has it is always seeking more. it's actually logical! and yet, doesn't always make things better. weird, that.
Love Brian's passion and comments.
Brian acted like he just got a good (or maybe bad?) ruling from his divorce attorney
Thank you for posting. I was wondering where this was!