Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder is about as old school as they come these days in the world of college football, so his comments about the current state of the sport in general on Wednesday should come as no surprise. Snyder lamented on the state of the game with the topic of autonomy continuing to swirl, stadium and conference expansions and increasing media rights deals leading to record profits for schools.
It does not take a wizard to see what has happened over the years, but Snyder shared his reflections with the media following a football practice.
''It’s changed. I mean, college athletics, football in particular, has changed dramatically over the years,’' Snyder said in a story by the Associated Press. ''I think we’ve sold out. We’re all about dollars and cents. The concept of college football no longer has any bearing on the quality of the person, the quality of students. Universities are selling themselves out.’'
The criticisms shared by Snyder are nothing new, and the sentiments shared by the Kansas State head coach have been shared by politicians looking to grill the NCAA for allowing this all to happen.
''It’s no longer about education,’' Snyder said. ''We’ve sold out to the cameras over there, and TV has made its way, and I don’t fault TV. I don’t fault whoever broadcasts games. They have to make a living and that’s what they do, but athletics - that’s it. It’s sold out.’'
Snyder also made reference to schools building larger football stadiums and expanding and renovating facilities, something that has been seen plenty around the Big 12 in recent seasons, including Kansas State.
''Everybody is building Taj Mahals,’' Snyder said, ''and I think it sends the message - and young people today I think are more susceptible to the downside of that message, and that it’s not about education. We’re saying it is, but it’s really about the glitz and the glitter, and I think sometimes values get distorted that way. I hate to think a young guy would make a decision about where he’s going to get an education based on what a building looks like.’'
Helmet sticker to the Associated Press for the quotes.