For many college football players, a bowl game is the last chance in the season to play with your teammates, a reward for all of your hard work. For those with concrete plans to get drafted in the NFL, it’s a game with no competitive implications, one in which a serious injury could do catastrophic damage to your career earnings. Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette are two of those players, and they decided to skip their bowl games — something that doesn’t sit well with Ezekiel Elliott.
All these young guys deciding to skip their bowl games 🤔.I would do anything to play one more time with my brothers in that scarlet and gray
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) December 19, 2016
One last time to honor your university and one last chance to play with your boys who will be your brothers for life.
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) December 19, 2016
That’s a hot take from someone who skipped an entire year of eligibility when his draft stock was at its highest, as his followers were eager to point out:
https://twitter.com/JessicaSaxena/status/810900125463810054
Zeke had his own response, however — and by the end of it, he seemed to have softened his tone:
And there is a difference between not coming back for your last year and not finishing your last season.
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) December 19, 2016
My bad though I didn't realize they were already battling injuries. So I guess it makes sense.
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) December 19, 2016
I just know how much I loved my university and the guys I played with. My last game was the most memorable moment from my college career.
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) December 19, 2016
Elliott’s point about one game versus one season makes sense, but he does come off as a bit of a hypocrite. Still, it’s encouraging that he allowed himself to listen to reason and change his mind. Other, older football guys are more set in their ways, and some of them dropped even hotter takes. Gotta love the classic invocations of “me first culture” and “what of the children?”
I hate this trend of players bailing on their teammates for bowl game but I get it. Really complicated issue. No easy answer.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
Of course this move will be applauded by most because we live in "me first" culture now. The days of playing for your team sadly going away.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
While I get players skipping their bowl game-what happened to LOVING the GAME & wanting to compete 1 more time w/ your boys-Disturbing trend
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 19, 2016
"I don't agree with this. It sets a bad examples for the kids."
– Donovan McNabb on Christian McCaffrey's decision to sit out the Sun Bowl pic.twitter.com/Gg19pBZp6a
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) December 19, 2016
We feel a duty to include this incredible burn on McNabb as well:
You had two DUIs in 18 months https://t.co/MKIHueLQSq
— FakeWIPCaller (@FakeWIPCaller) December 19, 2016
As for the other side, we’ll cede this space to Donte’ Stallworth, whose personal story should convince you in a far gentler way than we can:
My freshman year at UT we won the SEC championship vs Miss State. As the #1 team in the nation we would matchup vs #2, Florida State.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
Our offensive coordinator, David Cutcliffe, had been one of the best in the country, grooming a young Peyton Manning to become #1 draft pick
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
Cutcliffe accepted the head coaching job at Ole Miss — he would not call plays in our national championship game the first BCS championship
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
That job would be delegated to RB coach/recruiting coordinator, Randy Sanders, who had never been a play-caller before the biggest game EVER
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
Players were nervous about this situation right before the national championship, but we all understood and wished Coach Cut well.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
There were tears, hugs, and congrats all around.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
Before allowing Coach Cut to speak to the team Coach Fulmer told him as you can see we all love you and want the best for you, but…..
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
Coach Fulmer continued, "just know we're gonna kick your ASS if we ever play you!!"
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
Everyone laughed and we gave Coach Cut a standing ovation for his services to the university of Tennessee.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
He said his goodbyes, we wished him well, he left for Oxford and we began preparations for the national championship. #LifeGoesOn
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
And just in case you were wondering, we won the national championship :) pic.twitter.com/FVVskRndTx
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
The moral of this story is….be happy for people when they come up or have the opportunity to do so. Don't hate, congratulate.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 19, 2016
