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I suddenly wish Bridgewater had known he was breaking the rules and kept it on the DL. He obviously cares a lot about that program and those kids. Hate to see a guy who cares like that get taken down while the true cheaters are out there doing their thing.

Yes, the free market should be allowed to draw the lines between amateurism and professionalism. The beauty of playing strictly for the love of the game will certainly be allowed to persist. And, kids and adults alike play A LOT of games for fun as it is. See adult rec leagues, intramurals etc. This includes those who've been able to become wealthy through playing the sport as well! I think that, eventually, people like most all of us are going to recognize that it is preposterous to have teenagers getting paid to play high school sports, and/or get a free college education along with the extra compensation. Most of us have been fans of the game and of the school, not the "star" athletes. In the long run, I don't think there will be much of a market for paid teenager athletes. But, if someone is willing to part with their $ to allow a kid to be less poor, and that means that School A easily crushes the competition, I don't think that's a bad thing. It IS a thing that will cause a great many people to lose interest. And that will in turn diminish the market, which will of course mean kids aren't making any money anyway. At issue, as I keep harping on, is the fact that the "big time" sports world where NIL money is available is an entirely different, beast of an animal that K-12 schools and even universities are not equipped to manage. Nor should they be. Big time, for profit sports should be separated from schools. The mission of the two entities is competely misaligned.

It is somewhat understandable for a guy who's passionate about the sport, and who reached very close to the pinnacle of it, to be dismissive of the many dimwits making the rules who have none of the above characteristics. And, he may also be considering the possibility that calling attention to the (perhaps) absurd nature of the rules and/or the dearth of funding in high school football may be worth it in the big picture. He's almost certainly going to have the opportunity to coach at the higher levels, and is not likely to be at Norhwestern for very long, anyway. He may make a bigger impact long-term/big picture doing this sort of thing than just winning a couple state titles and jetting.

I think the argument is this: if 'free adults are allowed to give gifts to poor kids who happen to be good at sports,' we move from an amateur environment into a professional environment. Historically, high school sports, college sports and even the Olympics were reserved solely for amateur athletes. Within the last couple of decades, the barriers for professionals started to erode for the Olympics. You may recall that Jim Thorpe won gold medals in track in the 1912 Olympics, but was stripped of those medals because he had played minor league (or "semipro") baseball prior to participating in the Olympics. Ultimately, those medals were restored a few years ago. The USA Olympic basketball team used to be comprised only of college players. Now, it's all pros (with one or two college stars). Within the last 5-10 years, NIL changes have permitted college athletes to receive compensation. Before then, the rules in place for decades allowed college student-athletes to receive room, board and tuition. The $100 post-game handshakes from alums in the locker room and brown paper bags filled with money - although they happened everywhere - were illegal (and arguably still are; they just don't happen as much because the athletes can receive money legally through NIL). The NIL world is quickly filtering down to the high school level. However, the rules in most all states, and certainly in Florida, are rooted in the concept that only amateur athletes can compete in high school sports. And if you allow athletes to receive gifts, or otherwise compensate them or their families, such athletes are no longer considered amateurs. Simply put, the rules has always been that if you get compensated to do play a sport, you are considered a professional. And professionals cannot participate in amateur sports. Again, the rules in place (FHSAA Rules) are rooted in a clear distinction between amateur sports and professional sports. There was a clear line that is slowly becoming more and more blurred. If you want the argument as to why the rule makes sense, I think it is this: there is a certain beauty in amateur sports, knowing that everyone who is playing is playing for the love of the game and not for money. Everything changes once you start compensating athletes. As I have stated before, the concept of compensation is a slippery slope. What do you allow and what don't you? FHSAA rules prohibiting impermissible benefits were written before Uber even existed. But the rule is pretty clear: if you give something to football players that you don't give to all other students, that's an impermissible benefit - especially if the benefit is given to entice a kid to come to your school. If you allow schools/coaches/alums to compensate kids to play sports, then you take away the somewhat-level playing field. And, over time, certain schools will dominate high school sports because they will have the financial wherewithal to attract the most talented athletes. While this might be good for the handful of select, talented athletes, everyone else suffers. I guess the real question is whether we just want to eliminate the distinction between amateur athletics and professional athletics altogether and simply allow the free-market system to play out for all athletes and all schools? If you're inclined to answer this question with a "yes," I have only six words for you: be careful what you wish for.

Yes of course big shot, how dare anyone try to help some young man out with a generous offer from his own pocket! Did the new pinstripe suits arrive yet from Brooks Brothers, F. Lee Bailey, Clarence Darrow Jr?!

ESPN quotes Bridgewater's Facebook post as follows: "The suspension came from MNW and it's impossible to suspend someone who doesn't work for you. So if im suspended from MNW im free to go to another school of my choice but IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. "And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem." Honestly, it seems like the guy has a bit of 'the rules don't apply to me' or 'I don't have to follow the rules' mentality.

Yeah, where is Darter Blue? I didn't scare and chase him off like I did other posters, did I?!

Yes it's true and the alumni president stepped down. From what I read the alumni president went downtown or wherever and said something. I don't know if Teddy rubbed someone the wrong way but this is what I read. But see here's the thing about this situation. Northwestern has a strong alumni and community support. Half if not all the politicians in politics graduated from Northwestern and local pastors. If this was such a big issue something should have been said way before now and I think because Teddy asked for donations this all came about. Teddy has the money to take care of these things but why should he go broke doing it.

You are finally starting to make some sense, have they changed the black and orange water over at Bryant Stadium?

You probably offered to represent the NCAA pro-bono, and have a big photo of Walter Byers in your office, don't you big shot?!

Well, we all know the answer: a resounding YES!

For clarity, it appears that Northwestern, not the FHSAA, administered the suspension. Not sure that does, or does not, render the arguments here moot, but one could argue that the school is trying to get out ahead of this.

Given the rules, the suspension seems reasonable. But, as others have suggested, the rules can easily be said to be absurd. Since when, in America, is the voluntary gifting of items or services a bad thing? Are we going to start infiltrating Christmas celebrations to see if anyone got presents deemed to be bad? "Have a look at what's under the Christams tree, there might be some Uber gift cards or other things and we can't have anyone giving those out!" If Teddy Bridgewater is OK paying for some uber rides etc, why is that a bad thing? Sure, it gives MNW an advantage in attracting players. So what? Maybe it'll be a waste of his money. Again, so what? There does need to be more robust conversations around all of this. Yes, the rules should be the same for everyone. Yes, if they aren't the same, and/or some break them while many others don't, that is unfair. But, what, in all seriousness, is the case against allowing free adults to give gifts to poor kids who happen to be good at sports? The only argument I've heard is that it's against the rules. I'm not seeing anyone argue the rule itself makes sense in a free society.

Nolebull is ordering his "Free Teddy B" shirt right now

Looks like the FHSAA has agreed with Perspective rather than NoleBull and has chosen to suspend HC Bridgewater while they investigate these impermissible benefits given to players. Why have rules if you aren't going to enforce them and if you don't like them then work to have them changed.

If it’s for something reasonable like a Gatorade and water donation & they reach out to the community of course I will help. it’s all within reason tho. 14,000 for a 3 day gym stay is unreasonable. 2,000 a week for food. Me & a few alumni would just get together and cook.

So if Dillard wanted to do some of these things you would say no and not support.

And that’s where I’m at with it. I’m sure teddy heart is in the right place. But if we’re gonna keep it real, between last year and this upcoming year MNW has received well over 50 transfers a lot of them that are from different counties and stay nowhere near MNW. some of them maybe because of changing environments for a better life etc etc, but it’s also 2025 and lot of the transfers was to follow the hype train. while the uber rides can be a touchy subject depending on the kids situation, he also mentioned he needed thousands in donation for recovery, I get it he went pro and a lot of these assets he had in the league, but a lot of what he’s asking for isn’t even a high school requirement. when I played ball out recovery was a ice bath lol. He then went on to say 4,000 a week for food ? , what are they eating lobster. then he said for the three day gym stay he had to front 14,000 dollars for the kids. 14,000 to sleep in the gym for 3 days for what I’m assuming is for team building, is still insane.

Nolebull, You are making a good argument for what the rule ought to be or why the rule ought to be changed. I'm telling you what the rule is. Interestingly, I witnessed first hand the FHSAA deal with a case that was very similar to the (presumably, hypothetical) one you just described. A family provided a kid with a bed for the night because that kid had an unfortunate family situation that would have left him homeless for the night had a teammate's family not stepped up and given him a place to stay for the night. Yep, you got it, impermissible benefit. Coach and school penalized. The difficulty is coming up with rules that can't be taken advantage of. Where do you draw the line? If paying for an Uber is OK, why can't you just buy the kid a car instead? More convenient for all parties. If you can buy a kid a meal, why can't you take his family grocery shopping and let them stock up? Or, better yet, just give then a gift card and let them spend the money as they please. What do you do when one school offers up a $1,000 gift card, but another school is willing to give the kid a $2,000 gift card? Do we really want to turn high school sports into professional sports?

Some kids NEED to transfer to get in the best position to change the trajectory of their entire life. Could literally save their life. Difference between going to college and being stuck in your neighborhood getting lost to streets. And I can only speak for myself, but I’m more interested in a at-risk kid changing his situation for the better in hopes of saving his life than your favorite high school team losing a game because he transferred from your favorite school.

I wouldn’t be so critical of the FHSAA if they didn’t lie and say they give 2 craps about student athletes. I wish people would just be honest. But I guess if they were honest, it would mess up their hustle.

Wait are you saying there is a rule that bars an adult mentor who coaches young men a sport from helping a struggling student athlete and his family with transportation? Whoa that’s next level crazy. “Hey coach I’m on the side of the road and almost got hit. I’m miles from school and it’s 110 degrees out. Can you get me a ride?” ”Sorry. Some turds 6 hours away in Gainesville said I can’t. Hope you don’t get hit or pass out.”

Say what you want, justify it however you want, wish the rules weren't what they are, but there is no question that a coach or other school representative paying for Uber rides for kids playing sports is a violation of the existing FHSAA rules. Period. And Teddy Bridgewater may be or have been an elite athlete, may be or become an excellent high school football coach, and/or may have his heart in the right place, but tweeting out a message to the world that you have done something that undoubtedly constitutes a violation of the rules is just plain stupid.

Officially 13 left First Baptist. Golden Gate, even after the return of Coach Bigica, lost 6 to other schools. The two biggest gainers were St John Neumann (11) and Community School (9)

Apparently the word “Uber” triggered the investigation. Kids aren’t allowed to catch Ubers. They are not on the approved vendor list where the FHSAA gets a kickback. So out of zone kids need to hitchhike, take a city bus or walk.