Interesting story that is unfolding on the West Coast, as Cal and Stanford are uniting, kind of, under a new movement in college football: the general manager.
A story recently broke about Stanford parting ways with their head coach in light of less that stellar on the field performance and even worse interpersonal issues with former head coach Troy Taylor. The program named Frank Reich interim head coach just days later.
The interesting part was the call was made not by an Athletic Director or university president; rather, the decision was made by Andrew Luck, now general manager of the Stanford Football team. Although the position is not necessarily a 2025 thing and has been utilized in programs under a different name in years past, the prevalence of the title around college football is further proof that NIL has stamped itself into the collective culture of college football, and now turns to former pros to handle the contract negotiations of 18 years olds as well as some aspects of operations management. And apparently, the GM position can impact donors, as well:
Would Kirby Smart be elevated to General Manager of Georgia Football when he tires of coaching? Would the same thing happen at Alabama if DeBoer has another three loss season with Saban becoming the GM in Tuscaloosa? Who would wield more power in Athens…Smart or Brooks?
I can imagine the scenario would be intimidating to be a coach serving under a GM who was a coaching or player legend for a program. And if a season goes belly-up, do both get fired? Would a blame-Bobo situation fall at the feet of the head coach, or the GM?
The law of unintended consequences for another win. With salary caps, free agency and GMs, what’s next? I have a feeling the next domino to fall is the “secondary” rivalries due to the decision to admit Texass and flunky Oklahoma. Maybe I can finally get my golf game in shape given that I’ll probably have given up on college football in the next 10-12 years.
Got a couple of mulligans if you need ’em…GO DAWGS!!
DIW, I have plenty of those in the bag. 😉
Does give up on college football in the next 10-12 years only relate to only UGA or the whole sport? TBH, this was the first year I can remember where I might have watched 2-3 other teams in the entire season. When the mess of “college football” makes it uncoachable for Kirby, it will probably be unwatchable by me.
That’s fair, but the answer is yes.
In 10 years, it will be a minor league to the NFL, with teams paying the universities for the privilege of using their names.
Jesus what a train wreck. Have the salary cap, have the GM, have the NIL and put in some contract restrictions but whatever they do, kill the friggin portal. Kid signs a minimum two year deal and if he transfers he sits a year.
If the player is over the age of being able to contract, 18 in most states I think, make him sign a contract. Use all the usual clauses plus a covenant not to compete for at least a year. If he then portals you can sue his butt for breach of contract.
why would they sign a covenant not to compete? In this new age, I would do just like you do coaching contracts. Make someone else buy out your players.
College football: We have a problem.
Also College football: Let’s add another expensive layer of administration.