weren't like the pros.

---There was continuity from year-to-year. Players tended to stay at one school for their whole career, which was often 4 years (or 5 with a redshirt year).

---Athletes, in many significant ways, were just like every other university student in terms of school responsibilities, financial stress, etc. Athletes had the benefits of scholarships, training table, etc., but were more like other students than different.

---The term student athlete was meaningful and not a joke. It's crazy now that most BB players are probably making more money than all faculty, administration, and staff members except for the FB & BB coaches. They may, technically, be students, but they are wealthy. They are no longer amateurs in any sense of the word. They are no longer like any other students. It's crazy.

---The fact that college athletics has gone beyond the pros with things like NIL and the transfer portal with no restraints at all makes it more difficult to be a fan.

---Players used to be dyed-in-the blue Cougars. Now many of them are just mercenaries peddling their services to the highest bidder. If players aren't dedicated and committed to university, why should fans be?

---As fans we used to follow players, their progress, and successes throughout their careers. Now, because of all the changes, some of our favorite players leave for other opportunities every year. So we're now fans more of laundry--the name on the front of jerseys--instead of the names on the back. Very sad.

---All of these things are causing many of us to lose interest in college athletics. The golden goose is being slaughtered before our very eyes. So sad.