UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka said he will not play any more games this season for the undefeated Rebels, citing "certain representations" not being upheld by the program.
Sluka announced his decision in a social media post late Tuesday night and added that he will use his redshirt this year.
"I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled," Sluka posted on X. "Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program."
Sluka did not detail the reasons behind his decision, but college athletes are now routinely being paid for their name, image and likeness by companies or third-party organizations called collectives, which serve a particular school's athletes.
NCAA redshirt rules allow players to retain a year of eligibility if they play four or fewer games in a season. Sluka, who played four seasons (2020-23) at Holy Cross before transferring to UNLV this past offseason, still has one more year of eligibility that he could use at another school next season.
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Nope, hired back in January
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It's not really incorrect. The free education given doesn't match up to the millions the schools make.
So why does he need extra money? :-)
I don't know. That guy is a writer for 247 though, not a rep of UNLV.
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Locust Valley and went to Kellenberg
So why does he need extra money? :-)
I’m sure pops can float him the missing $97k lol
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UNLV seems to be feeding the narrative that they just hired him. Makes me think they are in the wrong Skulka - ( New Window )
I don't know. That guy is a writer for 247 though, not a rep of UNLV.
But he didn’t get that info out of nowhere
the schools, the "student" athletes, the agents, it's mostly greed that drives everything now.
Who is telling the truth?
Sluka's father claims that's untrue.
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Bad look for UNLV if they were expecting to pull the wool over his eyes for an entire season, but that still doesn't excuse or explain how their "agent" got nothing in writing. Maybe the agent was the one telling them "the checks in the mail?"
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If I were a player I'd definitely want to choose where I will and won't go ala Eli Manning. I big part of how successful your career will go depends on if your drafted by a competent organization.
This! It is a bit unfair to have the worst teams consistently get to ruin the careers of special talent, particularly quaterbacks, WR & pass rushers.
Athletes do enough of their own doing to ruin themselves, they don't need outside help.
It was always minor league football
While I support student athletes being paid, the Wild West approach of the current model is leading to huge dysfunction. Athletes are getting increasingly entitled.
lol.
it hasn't been that for a long time, because universities prioritized success of the football program (or basketball program or baseball program, etc.) over everything else and the pendulum swung too far, and student athletes were being exploited and cast aside for better options. Now the pendulum is over-correcting IMO. High School kids are committing to colleges as sophomores and getting NIL deals at 16.
this guy from UNLV that the thread is about played 4 years at Holy Cross. Now he plays three games this year at UNLV will red shirt and go somewhere else.
the guy from Miami, the tight end, has been in college 9 years.
DeVito spent 6 years in college (red shirt freshman year then 4 years at Syracuse, one year at Illinois = 6 years) and applied for a 7th year of eligibility but was denied or he wouldn't have even been on the Giants last year.
I get some of legit scenarios, but it just doesn't seem right to me for some reason.
Still overwhelmingly the second most popular sport in the United States and in some regions the MOST popular. That doesn't sound much like "a farce"
Kids who got a COVID year plus a redshirt can technically be in school for 6 years with 5 years of eligibility. Now that COVID is over, we are now back to 5/4 years like it has been for the past 75 years. The only exception are medical redshirts, but those aren't really all that common.
Given the amount of money around top CFB programs, that seems fair to me, but it's going to be a rough transition.
It's not really incorrect. The free education given doesn't match up to the millions the schools make.
Wait until schools start using ex- NFL players and telling the NCAA to shove their eligibility rules up their collective asses.
Always been a farce just not in the shadows anymore
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college sports has an issue on their hands. It will soon be like world soccer where players go to the highest bidder.
It's not really incorrect. The free education given doesn't match up to the millions the schools make.
it is already. These are professional sports teams where the teams who turn out the most money are going to get the players. What would the NFL be if all players had 1 year contracts, no draft and no salary cap?
Wait until schools start using ex- NFL players and telling the NCAA to shove their eligibility rules up their collective asses.
That won’t happen. 0.0% chance the courts allow that
I get this sentiment more from fans of the traditional powerhouses, especially my buddy who is an Alabama fan. Their depth is getting poached. They're still top dogs but the playing field is now tilting toward anyone who has deep pockets. That can be schools who haven't traditionally been good.
Giants would never do this but I can see a team like Philly start something like this.
Giants would never do this but I can see a team like Philly start something like this.
They don't draft soccer players. They sign em at 16
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In comment 16623357 Pete in MD said:
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college sports has an issue on their hands. It will soon be like world soccer where players go to the highest bidder.
It's not really incorrect. The free education given doesn't match up to the millions the schools make.
it is already. These are professional sports teams where the teams who turn out the most money are going to get the players. What would the NFL be if all players had 1 year contracts, no draft and no salary cap?
Wait until schools start using ex- NFL players and telling the NCAA to shove their eligibility rules up their collective asses.
That won’t happen. 0.0% chance the courts allow that
The eligibility rule won't last 10 minutes if someone challenges it, and it will get challenged.
The eligibility rule won't last 10 minutes if someone challenges it, and it will get challenged.
I've been wondering this myself. Take a guy like Sluka who will never be an NFL QB, or any number of decent college passing QBs who have dim NFL prospects but can help programs win. There are a number of teams that would gladly play and pay a QB like that until he's 30 for the stability, continuity, and ability to focus on recruiting other positions. QBs are harder to find and develop. I think its a matter of time before a program decides they want to keep their Chris Weinke around indefinitely.
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Just the opposite. Who is the NCAA, a collection of competitors, to set rules as to how long someone can stay in college? It's an antitrust issue. The schools will say "well this is education" while there are hundreds of millions of dollars swooshing around and schools are pocketing tens of millions in profits.
The eligibility rule won't last 10 minutes if someone challenges it, and it will get challenged.
I've been wondering this myself. Take a guy like Sluka who will never be an NFL QB, or any number of decent college passing QBs who have dim NFL prospects but can help programs win. There are a number of teams that would gladly play and pay a QB like that until he's 30 for the stability, continuity, and ability to focus on recruiting other positions. QBs are harder to find and develop. I think its a matter of time before a program decides they want to keep their Chris Weinke around indefinitely.
exactly strip away any feigned academic affiliation completely and just focus on the sports aspect.
Kind of like in Old School how they could be in a fraternity where half of them didn't even go to school. If Blue had eligibility in his 90's, Sluka can until he's 30.
A lot of his game is predicated on his ability to run the ball, and he does have 250 yards rushing, but I don't think he's done enough to be a viable threat offensively. I think he'll have to drop back down to FCS to get a starting spot next year, if any team cares enough to give him one.
A lot of his game is predicated on his ability to run the ball, and he does have 250 yards rushing, but I don't think he's done enough to be a viable threat offensively. I think he'll have to drop back down to FCS to get a starting spot next year, if any team cares enough to give him one.
Yep, and I think UNLV was not in a rush to give him a raise because he was on the verge of being replaced by their other 5th year transfer if he didn't show improvement in the passing game. That Go-Go offense needs a dual threat QB and Sluka, while great running the ball, was not delivering through the air. Their best player the last two years, WR Ricky White, has been mostly invisible in the stats this year.
1) A College Players Union needs to form.
2) The Major Colleges need to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement with that Union.
3) As part of that CBA, NIL agreements, a Cap for D1, D2 and D3 Colleges/Universities, along with other agreed solutions for length of season, etc.
Otherwise, the current situation will turn into a massive morass of lawsuits. And yes, this means College Sports will be officially Pro Sports, probably similar to the European Soccer Model.
The current NIL is simply a band aid on a massive trauma. It won't hold as is, with all the lawyer sharks going after it.
Result? You're going to see a LOT of colleges simply drop D1, D2 and D3 sports, and go to a club model. It's happening already, but this will speed it up (even with the increased TV playoff money). You will get a "Super Conference", which will satisfy TV, and keep the money pump going.
People will bitch about it (like they did after the Curt Flood decision, and how it changed Baseball), but it's going to happen. Things are not going back to the way it was.
It ALWAYS was a minor league for the NFL. The only thing that has changed is the players have more power. Good for them.
The same reason the NFL needed a Players Union to negotiate a CBA will apply to College. Otherwise, you'll have a massive Anti-Trust Lawsuit against the NCAA. I'm shocked that hasn't happened yet.
The issue with College Players Union was that players graduated, but now with NIL payments, there is the risk that players who graduated will still ask for NIL payments for rights usage.
As far as CTE goes, that will affect all contact sports. Again, a College CBA is needed to protect the Colleges/Universities, so I think it will happen.
1) A College Players Union needs to form.
2) The Major Colleges need to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement with that Union.
3) As part of that CBA, NIL agreements, a Cap for D1, D2 and D3 Colleges/Universities, along with other agreed solutions for length of season, etc.
Otherwise, the current situation will turn into a massive morass of lawsuits. And yes, this means College Sports will be officially Pro Sports, probably similar to the European Soccer Model.
The current NIL is simply a band aid on a massive trauma. It won't hold as is, with all the lawyer sharks going after it.
Result? You're going to see a LOT of colleges simply drop D1, D2 and D3 sports, and go to a club model. It's happening already, but this will speed it up (even with the increased TV playoff money). You will get a "Super Conference", which will satisfy TV, and keep the money pump going.
People will bitch about it (like they did after the Curt Flood decision, and how it changed Baseball), but it's going to happen. Things are not going back to the way it was.
Will the NFL continue its hold, if fewer people participate in the sport?
I'll be honest, I only watch because I played. The experience of playing is something I can relate to, and the emotions attached to winning and losing. It's hard to get newcomers to the sport to stick with it.
Sure, you can branch out to the Global South (3rd world to you old farts) to get your desperate gladiators.
Eventually, Japan's problem with sumo will present here.
Only over a decade? Considering the SMU scandal and other nonsense in the 80's for football and how the basketball talent pipeline got infiltrated by " family representatives" in the 90's, I can't remember a time when it wasn't.
Also SI is reporting that a member of the UNLV running back rotation is also leaving and citing NIL issues. Maybe there is smoke there but it could also be a playing time thing
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We already have the NFL, and while the cap promotes fairness, it has also created a super flat league where luck, especially with injuries, drives a lot of the success and failure. It feels like 80-90% of the league is pretty mediocre without much separation.
College football is a lot more exciting to me, especially with the expanded playoff. With the current NIL free agency, mid-major schools with financial resources can be competitive now and play meaningful post-season games. I don't think there is a need or even a desire by most of college football to level the playing field even more so that the small-town cellar dwellers are on the same playing field as the Georgias and Alabamas.