By Carlton Reese
GatorBaitMedia.com Columnist
She told him she loved him and that they were soul mates, and like a fool he believed her. The next day she informed the poor lad that her ex-boyfriend was the proud owner of a winning lottery ticket and all of a sudden those old feelings had come back.
She said she was sorry that it turned out this way, but “perhaps we could still be friends.” Then, she moves in with her new beau right next door, a daily pouring of the salt into that fresh wound.
A better man would understand and make sense of it all from a logical perspective, perhaps even wish her the best of fortune as she embarks on this new life. But he is not the better man – he is a human being of this world that instead understands callous rejection and hypocrisy. His hope is that she and her man someday slide under a gas truck and if not that, at least blow through all his winnings in a year and wind up destitute.
Yes, this serves as a metaphor for the relationship between Gator Nation, the man, and Jack Pyburn, the pursued, and the lottery winner, LSU.
College football devotees had better get used to it – the game is now a breeding ground for the 21st Century relationship betrayal. Were it a romantic comedy, all would end well and be forgiven, but this is something far more insidious.
With “Name, Image and Likeness,” college football players enjoy their own special OnlyFans accounts, floozy caricatures in shoulder pads raking in insane wealth from whomever is fool enough to throw money at them.
College football grew into this country’s most popular and compelling sport without NIL and transfer portals yet seems to be headed straight for the red-light district with NIL and transfer portals.
Many Gator fans are downright pissed at Jack Pyburn and it is not simply because he transferred. No, Pyburn played the role beautifully for UF: claiming to bleed orange and blue and laying it all on the line on Saturday to prove as much. He played the right way and said the right things that endeared him to Gator fans everywhere – behind D.J. Lagway, Pyburn had become a favorite.
Others transfer and not a peep can be heard. Pyburn had worked hard to ingratiate himself with the fans and it worked – kids were clamoring for No. 44 jerseys because of their new idol. On the field, Pyburn’s play helped lead a resurgence of what was once a pitiful defense.
Were Pyburn’s transfer about being homesick or out of position or philosophical differences with the coaching staff, or even just a change of scenery folks would understand. Perhaps he wanted to change his major to something not offered at UF? Silly notion, indeed – is the guy even a student?
The rumors flew that Pyburn was asking for $45,000 per month and wanted to be able to dictate the terms of his playing time. If true, and Pyburn has yet to deny this, LSU can take him with UF’s blessing and everyone in Gainesville can burn those No. 44 jerseys.
What Pyburn has done is let money, or at least more money, dictate a major life decision. For money, he has chosen to play for Brian Kelly. That’s right, Brian Kelly, a man hated more by his own players than those going against him on Saturdays. Good luck with that, Jack.
Pyburn, like everyone else, has the right to pursue as many dollars as he wishes in whatever endeavor he wishes. But there are consequences, and among them is his lifelong status as a true Gator, something that can’t be bought in a store.
Former Gator players, true Gators, can’t buy their own drinks – once recognized, their money is no good. It truly is special to be one who ran through the tunnel on Saturdays at The Swamp and they are not forgotten. But turn your back on the orange and blue faithful and you become persona non grata.
One year in Baton Rouge (one that won’t likely turn out the way he wishes) and Pyburn will not enter any sort of Tigers pantheon. He is a mere drifter, a mercenary there to do a job and pick up a check. The love he had in Gainesville will not be waiting for him in Baton Rouge.
On that end, Pyburn could have transferred to Colorado or Michigan State or any innocuous university in the nether regions of the sport, and many would have shaken his hand and wished him luck, even thanked him for his time in Gainesville. But he will now play for LSU, a hated rival, one the Gators will face next September. This reeks of spite, and in return spite he shall receive.
Pyburn enjoyed his best year at UF in 2024, and like any free agent this was a sign to shop around. In baseball, there is that contract year where one puts up big numbers and the offers come pouring in – take the money and run. Unfortunately, every season in college football is now a contract year – put up big numbers then shop around and go elsewhere. That’s what Pyburn did, and there are more coming down the pike.
As a player, Pyburn is very good. He’s not great. At least not great enough to make the demands he is alleged to have made. Perhaps an agent is making decisions for him, or his father – who knows? It could be the Mahatma advising him and it still would not change the justified resentment of this kid who will now have his character questioned by everyone. What motivates him? Do relationships matter in his life? Is the whole “team player” thing an act?
Pyburn made 60 tackles including one sack (against the worst pass-blocking team in the universe) and an interception in 2024. Decent numbers, but he wants more and believes that in a different scheme with different opportunities he can register more of those highlight-reel sacks that one parlays into even bigger money at the next level. Where in there is the motivation to helping a team win?
Perhaps it is unfair to go after Pyburn, still a college kid. Several years ago, there would be no argument on that point. But in the year 2024 and with the money flowing into these kids’ pockets, the gloves come off and all must take it like professionals. Bonehead mistake – drink in the boos; dogging it on a play – drink in the boos; lose too much – face the chopping block just as the coach. Make ridiculous financial and playing-time demands – feel the wrath of the scribes.
These are dark times, but ones for which many people begged. It was unfair that a player had to watch others make money when it was his number fans wanted on their jersey. So “Name, Image and Likeness” was created, but alas it was all a ruse. Under such a benign moniker as NIL, the pandora’s box of abject professionalism has been opened. The scholarship athlete has been replaced by the mercenary athlete, there for the highest bidder at any time and any place.
In the future, there will be stories of former college athletes who made a small fortune and now have absolutely nothing to show for it. Prepare for the inevitable cry that they were victimized, used by a system as pawns and spit out all for the glory and riches of the institutions. It’s an old saw, one you know doubt recognize, but one that isn’t going away just because NIL has now replaced the NCAA.
Trevor Etienne is a Georgia Bulldog and Jack Pyburn is an LSU Tiger. Steve Spurrier is a Florida Gator and so is Errict Rhett and Danny Wuerffel and Scot Brantley and Wes Chandler and Jack Youngblood and anyone else that earned a place as a true Gator through thick and thin. May it always be so.
GatorBaitMedia.com Columnist
She told him she loved him and that they were soul mates, and like a fool he believed her. The next day she informed the poor lad that her ex-boyfriend was the proud owner of a winning lottery ticket and all of a sudden those old feelings had come back.
She said she was sorry that it turned out this way, but “perhaps we could still be friends.” Then, she moves in with her new beau right next door, a daily pouring of the salt into that fresh wound.
A better man would understand and make sense of it all from a logical perspective, perhaps even wish her the best of fortune as she embarks on this new life. But he is not the better man – he is a human being of this world that instead understands callous rejection and hypocrisy. His hope is that she and her man someday slide under a gas truck and if not that, at least blow through all his winnings in a year and wind up destitute.
Yes, this serves as a metaphor for the relationship between Gator Nation, the man, and Jack Pyburn, the pursued, and the lottery winner, LSU.
College football devotees had better get used to it – the game is now a breeding ground for the 21st Century relationship betrayal. Were it a romantic comedy, all would end well and be forgiven, but this is something far more insidious.
With “Name, Image and Likeness,” college football players enjoy their own special OnlyFans accounts, floozy caricatures in shoulder pads raking in insane wealth from whomever is fool enough to throw money at them.
College football grew into this country’s most popular and compelling sport without NIL and transfer portals yet seems to be headed straight for the red-light district with NIL and transfer portals.
Many Gator fans are downright pissed at Jack Pyburn and it is not simply because he transferred. No, Pyburn played the role beautifully for UF: claiming to bleed orange and blue and laying it all on the line on Saturday to prove as much. He played the right way and said the right things that endeared him to Gator fans everywhere – behind D.J. Lagway, Pyburn had become a favorite.
Others transfer and not a peep can be heard. Pyburn had worked hard to ingratiate himself with the fans and it worked – kids were clamoring for No. 44 jerseys because of their new idol. On the field, Pyburn’s play helped lead a resurgence of what was once a pitiful defense.
Were Pyburn’s transfer about being homesick or out of position or philosophical differences with the coaching staff, or even just a change of scenery folks would understand. Perhaps he wanted to change his major to something not offered at UF? Silly notion, indeed – is the guy even a student?
The rumors flew that Pyburn was asking for $45,000 per month and wanted to be able to dictate the terms of his playing time. If true, and Pyburn has yet to deny this, LSU can take him with UF’s blessing and everyone in Gainesville can burn those No. 44 jerseys.
What Pyburn has done is let money, or at least more money, dictate a major life decision. For money, he has chosen to play for Brian Kelly. That’s right, Brian Kelly, a man hated more by his own players than those going against him on Saturdays. Good luck with that, Jack.
Pyburn, like everyone else, has the right to pursue as many dollars as he wishes in whatever endeavor he wishes. But there are consequences, and among them is his lifelong status as a true Gator, something that can’t be bought in a store.
Former Gator players, true Gators, can’t buy their own drinks – once recognized, their money is no good. It truly is special to be one who ran through the tunnel on Saturdays at The Swamp and they are not forgotten. But turn your back on the orange and blue faithful and you become persona non grata.
One year in Baton Rouge (one that won’t likely turn out the way he wishes) and Pyburn will not enter any sort of Tigers pantheon. He is a mere drifter, a mercenary there to do a job and pick up a check. The love he had in Gainesville will not be waiting for him in Baton Rouge.
On that end, Pyburn could have transferred to Colorado or Michigan State or any innocuous university in the nether regions of the sport, and many would have shaken his hand and wished him luck, even thanked him for his time in Gainesville. But he will now play for LSU, a hated rival, one the Gators will face next September. This reeks of spite, and in return spite he shall receive.
Pyburn enjoyed his best year at UF in 2024, and like any free agent this was a sign to shop around. In baseball, there is that contract year where one puts up big numbers and the offers come pouring in – take the money and run. Unfortunately, every season in college football is now a contract year – put up big numbers then shop around and go elsewhere. That’s what Pyburn did, and there are more coming down the pike.
As a player, Pyburn is very good. He’s not great. At least not great enough to make the demands he is alleged to have made. Perhaps an agent is making decisions for him, or his father – who knows? It could be the Mahatma advising him and it still would not change the justified resentment of this kid who will now have his character questioned by everyone. What motivates him? Do relationships matter in his life? Is the whole “team player” thing an act?
Pyburn made 60 tackles including one sack (against the worst pass-blocking team in the universe) and an interception in 2024. Decent numbers, but he wants more and believes that in a different scheme with different opportunities he can register more of those highlight-reel sacks that one parlays into even bigger money at the next level. Where in there is the motivation to helping a team win?
Perhaps it is unfair to go after Pyburn, still a college kid. Several years ago, there would be no argument on that point. But in the year 2024 and with the money flowing into these kids’ pockets, the gloves come off and all must take it like professionals. Bonehead mistake – drink in the boos; dogging it on a play – drink in the boos; lose too much – face the chopping block just as the coach. Make ridiculous financial and playing-time demands – feel the wrath of the scribes.
These are dark times, but ones for which many people begged. It was unfair that a player had to watch others make money when it was his number fans wanted on their jersey. So “Name, Image and Likeness” was created, but alas it was all a ruse. Under such a benign moniker as NIL, the pandora’s box of abject professionalism has been opened. The scholarship athlete has been replaced by the mercenary athlete, there for the highest bidder at any time and any place.
In the future, there will be stories of former college athletes who made a small fortune and now have absolutely nothing to show for it. Prepare for the inevitable cry that they were victimized, used by a system as pawns and spit out all for the glory and riches of the institutions. It’s an old saw, one you know doubt recognize, but one that isn’t going away just because NIL has now replaced the NCAA.
Trevor Etienne is a Georgia Bulldog and Jack Pyburn is an LSU Tiger. Steve Spurrier is a Florida Gator and so is Errict Rhett and Danny Wuerffel and Scot Brantley and Wes Chandler and Jack Youngblood and anyone else that earned a place as a true Gator through thick and thin. May it always be so.
