I'm glad that he is taking his education seriously.

But I don't recall anyone ever saying that he had a bad attitude. At least I didn't see any threads, blogs, or articles that made that claim. And the stuff about him risking his life?!?!?!?! Sure, football can be dangerous. But I think that is going overboard. Can someone please tell me what he is talking about both in terms of people claiming that he had a bad attitude and the Tedford staff supposedly putting him in life-threatening situations?

I have been disappointed in the lack of production from many elite athletes who were recruited during the Tedford era. But with just a few exceptions, I never thought that it had much to do with their attitudes. Sometimes they weren't being utilized properly and other times they just weren't all that the ratings services thought they would be. But with the exception of a few guys like Chris Martin, Tevin Carter, and I am sure a few others, I never thought it had anything to do with a bad attitude.

D-1 athletes work very hard. But they are also blessed with an amazing opportunity that practically no other Cal students get -- a free world class education, free housing, free meals, free health insurance, free travel opportunities, a living stipend, free books, free study supplies (backpacks, pens, notebooks, etc.), and the chance to develop into NFL players. A lot of students have to work 30 hours a week just to get through school, and yet they still graduate with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt. Athletes really do have very difficult schedules, but they are hardly alone in this. And they get some very nice benefits. Athletes are very rarely victims.

Of course fans should understand that college football players are still kids in many ways. But it is also reasonable that they expect them to do their very best to excel on the field and that they perform to the best of their abilities in the classroom. So when our starting QB doesn't take academics seriously, we have every right to be upset.

I have not heard of any problems with Gabe. But perhaps I just missed the negative threads to which he seems to be referring. I hope he hits the weights hard, buys into the new coach's ideas, and performs well on the field. And of course I hope that he continues to excel in the classroom.

The Duke!;842039742 said:

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I'm glad that he is taking his education seriously.

But I don't recall anyone ever saying that he had a bad attitude. At least I didn't see any threads, blogs, or articles that made that claim. And the stuff about him risking his life?!?!?!?! Sure, football can be dangerous. But I think that is going overboard. Can someone please tell me what he is talking about both in terms of people claiming that he had a bad attitude and the Tedford staff supposedly putting him in life-threatening situations?

I have been disappointed in the lack of production from many elite athletes who were recruited during the Tedford era. But with just a few exceptions, I never thought that it had much to do with their attitudes. Sometimes they weren't being utilized properly and other times they just weren't all that the ratings services thought they would be. But with the exception of a few guys like Chris Martin, Tevin Carter, and I am sure a few others, I never thought it had anything to do with a bad attitude.

D-1 athletes work very hard. But they are also blessed with an amazing opportunity that practically no other Cal students get -- a free world class education, free housing, free meals, free health insurance, free travel opportunities, a living stipend, free books, free study supplies (backpacks, pens, notebooks, etc.), and the chance to develop into NFL players. A lot of students have to work 30 hours a week just to get through school, and yet they still graduate with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt. Athletes really do have very difficult schedules, but they are hardly alone in this. And they get some very nice benefits. Athletes are very rarely victims.

Of course fans should understand that college football players are still kids in many ways. But it is also reasonable that they expect them to do their very best to excel on the field and that they perform to the best of their abilities in the classroom. So when our starting QB doesn't take academics seriously, we have every right to be upset.

I have not heard of any problems with Gabe. But perhaps I just missed the negative threads to which he seems to be referring. I hope he hits the weights hard, buys into the new coach's ideas, and performs well on the field. And of course I hope that he continues to excel in the classroom.

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There have been multiple posts (not a ton, but multiple) over the last two years that have said he is overweight and not taking football seriously because he has other interests. The interesting thing is that it appears to be sorta true - from what Gabe wrote, it sounds like someone who doesn't truly love to play football and is doing so in order to get an education. Good for him.

And, yes, football is dangerous and is putting your life at risk. At the very least, it puts quality of life at a very young age at risk. At worst, you end up like Junior Seau or Dave Duerson.

Clancy reference a little weird. I wonder if this was typical of Clancy, or just his relationship to King.

grandmastapoop;842039849 said:

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There have been multiple posts (not a ton, but multiple) over the last two years that have said he is overweight and not taking football seriously because he has other interests. The interesting thing is that it appears to be sorta true - from what Gabe wrote, it sounds like someone who doesn't truly love to play football and is doing so in order to get an education. Good for him.

And, yes, football is dangerous and is putting your life at risk. At the very least, it puts quality of life at a very young age at risk. At worst, you end up like Junior Seau or Dave Duerson.

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I'm not trying to downplay the risks of injury inherent in the game of football, but Gabe's comments are over the top.

The Duke!;842040219 said:

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I'm not trying to downplay the risks of injury inherent in the game of football, but Gabe's comments are over the top.

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We know a lot more about the damage to the brain caused by repeated hits like those found in football. They are not over the top.

RealDrew2;842040116 said:

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Clancy reference a little weird. I wonder if this was typical of Clancy, or just his relationship to King.

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He was nobody's favorite, that's for sure.

bonsallbear;842039308 said:

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I like threads like this. The posts reveal our humanity.....

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Yeah, and it conveniently covers up the Conspiracy Theories at the same time lol.

The Duke!;842039742 said:

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D-1 athletes work very hard. But they are also blessed with an amazing opportunity that practically no other Cal students get -- a free world class education, free housing, free meals, free health insurance, free travel opportunities, a living stipend, free books, free study supplies (backpacks, pens, notebooks, etc.), and the chance to develop into NFL players. A lot of students have to work 30 hours a week just to get through school, and yet they still graduate with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt. Athletes really do have very difficult schedules, but they are hardly alone in this. And they get some very nice benefits. Athletes are very rarely victims.

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There are many ways student-athletes are privileged, but there are some loop holes:

"Free education" - Most student-athletes are $2-3K in the whole at the end of an academic year. Even Emmert/NCAA acknowledged this with an attempt to give stipends. Which the schools voted down.

"Living stipend" - Nope. Room and board. If they live on campus, no cash at all. If they live off campus, they get checks to cover room and board. In high COL areas like Berkeley, that money doesn't stretch far. AND the cost of training table meals is deducted from the board money. Student Athletes who qualify for a Pell Grant can get that grant but Pell Grants are for students with EXCEPTIONAL financial need. At Cal (large, intricate state school), often any money dispersed is late (room and board checks as well as financial aid). There is certainly no "Fast Checks for Athletes" department. You have 2-3 athletes living together, all waiting for checks that they have no idea when they are going to come thru - you'd be surprised at the beginning of each semester how many are on the verge of homelessness and only eating at Training Table (2 meals a day at most on non-competition days).

Backpacks - actually that's an "athletic" item, which is why they have it (carries gear, playbooks). It is not given as an academic item. Pens, notebooks, etc. in general unless they are supplied/available to all other students those items cannot be given to student-athletes. Scholarships specifically do NOT cover recommended (v. required) books. No supplies (art supplies, lab supplies, etc.) notes, notebooks, pens and pencils, either.

"The NCAA and its member schools paid more than $53 million during the 2010-11 academic year to more than 81,000 student-athletes. The money, which comes from the NCAA's Student Assistance Fund, paid for trips home, clothing, summer school, tutoring, graduate test fees, health insurance and countless other costs that scholarships don't cover."

http://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2012-08-20/meeting-needs-student-athletes

What student-athletes can and cannot receive is pretty detailed, but that info is made available for free by the NCAA. Take a gander:

http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4284-2012-2013-ncaa-division-i-manual-available-for-order-now-for-delivery-after-aug-1.aspx

SkyBear;842039168 said:

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Or maybe they feel stupid after I called them out and they won't post.

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It was an unnecessary comment to make. It makes him look a little petty but he clearly has reasons for feeling the way he does. Either way, it's nothing to make a big deal about. Nice to see he's excited about the new regime and a fresh start.

In 2009-10, the average Berkeley graduate left with $16,056 in debt. I assure you that this has gone up over the last three years, but the figures have not come out yet. And this is just the average. Lots of UC parents make sure that their kids graduate with no debt. Others graduate with a ton of debt.

Of course you can classify backpacks as athletic equipment, but if you walk around campus you can quickly see that they are used as school backpacks.

As far as I can tell, there has never been a single homeless college football player at Cal. And very few college football players have ever died from playing college football. Far more college football players die from normal student activities (driving, partying, etc.) than from football related injuries. There was nothing uniquely dangerous about Tedford's defensive staff.

No one is doubting that they have incredibly difficult schedules and little if any extra cash. But they are hardly alone in this (other students have it much harder). College football players have an incredible opportunity. They are very rarely victims. This amazing opportunity, just like most amazing opportunities, comes with certain responsibilities. The players have to work had and buy in to the coach's system and make grades in the classroom.

I like Gabe. I hope he buys into the new system and gives it his all. He has been blessed with an amazing opportunity to attend one of the world's greatest universities due to his genes and his hard work in high school football programs. I hope he continues to use his mind both on the field and in the classroom while giving his professors and coaches 100%

BabyBear;842040800 said:

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There are many ways student-athletes are privileged, but there are some loop holes:

"Free education" - Most student-athletes are $2-3K in the whole at the end of an academic year. Even Emmert/NCAA acknowledged this with an attempt to give stipends. Which the schools voted down.

"Living stipend" - Nope. Room and board. If they live on campus, no cash at all. If they live off campus, they get checks to cover room and board. In high COL areas like Berkeley, that money doesn't stretch far. AND the cost of training table meals is deducted from the board money. Student Athletes who qualify for a Pell Grant can get that grant but Pell Grants are for students with EXCEPTIONAL financial need. At Cal (large, intricate state school), often any money dispersed is late (room and board checks as well as financial aid). There is certainly no "Fast Checks for Athletes" department. You have 2-3 athletes living together, all waiting for checks that they have no idea when they are going to come thru - you'd be surprised at the beginning of each semester how many are on the verge of homelessness and only eating at Training Table (2 meals a day at most on non-competition days).

Backpacks - actually that's an "athletic" item, which is why they have it (carries gear, playbooks). It is not given as an academic item. Pens, notebooks, etc. in general unless they are supplied/available to all other students those items cannot be given to student-athletes. Scholarships specifically do NOT cover recommended (v. required) books. No supplies (art supplies, lab supplies, etc.) notes, notebooks, pens and pencils, either.

"The NCAA and its member schools paid more than $53 million during the 2010-11 academic year to more than 81,000 student-athletes. The money, which comes from the NCAA's Student Assistance Fund, paid for trips home, clothing, summer school, tutoring, graduate test fees, health insurance and countless other costs that scholarships don't cover."

http://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2012-08-20/meeting-needs-student-athletes

What student-athletes can and cannot receive is pretty detailed, but that info is made available for free by the NCAA. Take a gander:

http://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4284-2012-2013-ncaa-division-i-manual-available-for-order-now-for-delivery-after-aug-1.aspx

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Gabe King. Loved reading your heart felt comments. I hope you reach your maximum potential as a scholar and an athlete. I think you are on the right track. Good luck next year.

BIG props to Gabe King - the bulk of us cannot imagine what it was like to grow up in this young man's shoes. I am blown away by the heartfelt sentiment and the in-your-face honesty in this missive. No matter what he does on the field from here on out, Gabe King has been touched by the fire of academic and social enlightenment, and he will be a better man, father and member of society as a result. I hope this cathartic writing helps him come to terms with the next chapter in his young life, and that a new defensive regime will benefit from a kid who will do what it takes and give his all for his university and his teammates and fans.

Gabe King - count me as one old(er) white guy who is 1000% in your corner, and appreciate you and your loyalty and dedication to becoming a better person as well as a better player. God bless and GO BEARS!!!

The Duke!;842040219 said:

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I'm not trying to downplay the risks of injury inherent in the game of football, but Gabe's comments are over the top.

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I liked what Clancy's teams did in a lot of games but he sort of came across as the Emperor in Star Wars I-III.

If Gabe King really wrote this, it is a GREAT post. Frankly I respect him more since IMO he is accomplishing the main goal of Cal. He has grown as a person and clearly can express his opinions which reflect his growth.
When he leaves Cal he will be a success in whatever field of endeavor he should decide to go.
It would be icing on the cake to have him be successful in FB. Nice but not necessary. Congrats, Gabe! You will make us proud to call you a Cal Alum.

The Duke!;842040868 said:

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And very few college football players have ever died from playing college football. Far more college football players die from normal student activities (driving, partying, etc.) than from football related injuries. There was nothing uniquely dangerous about Tedford's defensive staff.

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Even though no one (except if they start a fire) dies every time they light up a cigarette, smoking kills people. Does it not? That's pretty much undisputed. So does football, in the same way, over the longterm. Whether someone dies on the field or whether Tedford's staff was "uniquely dangerous" does not mean that football is not a risk to the players' lives.

grandmastapoop;842041099 said:

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Even though no one (except if they start a fire) dies every time they light up a cigarette, smoking kills people. Does it not? That's pretty much undisputed. So does football, in the same way, over the longterm. Whether someone dies on the field or whether Tedford's staff was "uniquely dangerous" does not mean that football is not a risk to the players' lives.

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I drive for a living and I'm on the road 8 hours a day. The stress of the career I'm in means my lifespan will be shortened by 5-10 years. It is also very dangerous and I risk my life daily. But my job is a lot safer than many others; construction workers, CHP, fire fighter, sex workers etc. I accept it. It's what I chose to do. Most of the people on the road do not have any respect for what I do to make things safer for them. Instead, I get a lot of resentment for being "in the way". [SIZE="2"]SO WHAT![/SIZE] Nobody is forcing anybody to play football. By the time you accept a college scholarship you should pretty much know the risks involved in playing football.

Good sh!t.


I'll be cheering for you, Gabe.

grandmastapoop;842041099 said:

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Even though no one (except if they start a fire) dies every time they light up a cigarette, smoking kills people. Does it not? That's pretty much undisputed. So does football, in the same way, over the longterm. Whether someone dies on the field or whether Tedford's staff was "uniquely dangerous" does not mean that football is not a risk to the players' lives.

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I guess. But Gabe made his comments in the context of questioning his former coaches' decisions. That is why it is over the top.

Cal football players don't have it easy. But they are not anywhere close to being on the verge of homelessness or death. They are blessed with an amazing opportunity that most of us would have loved to have: a free education, free food, free healthcare, free rent, free books, free Cal clothes/backpacks, free tutors, free travel opportunities, the chance to develop into an NFL player and make millions, etc.

As far as I can tell, he is in more danger of dying every time he gets in a car than he is when he puts on his helmet and goes to practice.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go risk my life to walk to work in the snow.