A debate was started recently on Facebook and you may not believe this, but it didn’t have anything to do with politics. This debate was over a comment one of my friends made regarding the score of the Penn State – Idaho football game. This friend, we’ll call him Al, because that’s his name, posted a photo from some sports app with the score; Penn State 79 – Idaho 7. Al’s comment that accompanied the photo was, “And THIS is why college football sucks. #LambsToTheSlaughter.”

This certainly wasn’t the first time a small or mid-size school has played a college football powerhouse and got crushed. These matchups aren’t made by some sort of random selection by the NCAA. They’re made by both schools’ coaches and athletic administrators agreeing to play each other, with certain conditions, including how much the little visiting team will be paid. Another condition may include whether the big school will reciprocate and visit the little school’s home stadium. Usually not, but in the case of the Tulsa – Oklahoma State contract, it’s more of a two-way street. We’ll get back to TU later.

One of Al’s friends, Christy, commented, “But Idaho takes that money and buys a new weight room so they can beat Wyoming State.”

Good point.

Kenny wrote, “That’s a great deal for Idaho,” and included a photo of a USA Today headline that read, “Penn State will owe Idaho $1.45 million for game even though Vandals are FCS. Here’s why.”

I looked up that article, and here’s the explanation;

Despite moving from the Football Bowl Subdivision to the Football Championship Subdivision last year, the University of Idaho’s football program is still reaping the financial benefits of a team with FBS status.

Idaho will be getting a $1.45 million guarantee for playing at Penn State on Saturday, a payday that would be excellent for an FBS team and unheard-of for an FCS team. But the schools signed their contract in the summer of 2015, about eight months before Idaho announced its plan to change classifications. The agreement did not include language allowing Penn State to drop the game in such a circumstance. And Penn State is honoring the deal in full.

Al’s response, “If your kids played for Idaho, would you care one bit that school gets a bunch of money after your boys were embarrassed like that?”

“Yes, because it helps pay for my son’s scholarship, team travel, meals, equipment, weight room, etc.,” I wrote. “All schools schedule games against big opponents simply for the paycheck.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Al replied. “College is a business and they are building the business on the backs of these football players.”

“I love you but I’m tired of that argument,” I wrote. “Yes, it’s a business and the more profit the business has the more it can do, pay employees, improve their product, etc. The athletes benefit greatly, between scholarships, awards, prestige, national television exposure, etc. when they enter the work force, or go on to pro careers. Both sides benefit from the income generated by these sports. Ask the volleyball or fencing team how valuable their scholarship is, and those sports DON’T generate much income.”

Al wrote, “I don’t find that a suitable reason for one school to sacrifice their football players to a much larger school. The kids who signed up the play for Idaho didn’t ask to be sold out and embarrassed for the good of the school. Both administrations should be ashamed of themselves.”

I responded, “The most important thing to small and midsize college football teams regarding wins and losses, is becoming bowl eligible (6 wins). They intend to do that by winning the bulk of their conference games and maybe one or two of their non-conference games. If one of those losses is to a big opponent, in exchange for a huge payday, so be it. The University of Tulsa (whom I cover) played at Notre Dame nine years ago and BEAT them, while collecting a million-plus paycheck. Last year they played at Ohio State for a huge check, and this past Friday night they played at Michigan State for another big check. Did they think they’d win any of those games? The coach would have you believe yes, but realistically, no. So, they intend to win six more games during the season and get to a bowl game, for another big payday. That’s it. The players aren’t whining about being able to say, “We played at Ohio State, Michigan State and Notre Dame,” regardless of the outcome, it’s a huge experience to go to those places to play. As it is for Idaho to get to play at Penn State. Don’t you think if Idaho was invited to play at Alabama or Clemson or Ohio State, they wouldn’t jump at the chance? Win or lose, it’s a huge feather in their cap and huge payday!”

We pretty much left it at that, but when I sent a text to Al to get permission to use this debate in my column, he said, “While I still don’t completely agree, I do appreciate your take on the subject and consider myself a bit more informed [now].”

That’s all one can hope for when it comes to a debate; keeping an open mind and becoming more informed.