This NFL story about Teams paid by Dept of Defense to honor Soldiers bugs me on many levels. e

[mdpitt]

So basically the story goes that our government has paid the NFL $5.5 million to have these soldiers come out onto the field and get an applause as a Hometown Hero. This has honestly been a highlighlight of mine over the last few years at Pitt games. Full disclosure, I'm an Army Veteran so maybe I have felt a bit more pride as I typically sing the National Anthem a bit louder than the average fan.

The amounts are all over the place with the Steelers getting one of the lower payments around $27,000 but other teams getting $400,000 but most are somewhere in the middle.

So now I'm wondering when the story comes out that certain NCAA teams where paid more. I'm hoping Pitt has done this for free and genuinely welcoming our hometown heroes back from War. The pessimist side of me is nudging me saying Ohio State got $100,000 and we received $12,000. I want to point out that both amounts are bad and should be $0 from the DOD.

Many things in life are too good to be true and sadly this is another one on the long list. I am hoping College Football did this because it is the right thing to do. Maybe Pitt has been doing this and WVU, Penn State don't do it but I don't know.

These men and women really are heroes and I wish the NFL never took a dime. I'm really hoping all those long standing ovations at Pitt games were free of charge and genuine for Pitt.

 

[usf2pitt]

I don't know what bothers me more, the DOD paying or people accepting the payment.......

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

It bothers me that the mere thought of having to "pay"...........................why?

 

[Pitt-Chains]

So basically the story goes that our government has paid the NFL $5.5 million to have these soldiers come out onto the field and get an applause as a Hometown Hero. This has honestly been a highlighlight of mine over the last few years at Pitt games. Full disclosure, I'm an Army Veteran so maybe I have felt a bit more pride as I typically sing the National Anthem a bit louder than the average fan.

The amounts are all over the place with the Steelers getting one of the lower payments around $27,000 but other teams getting $400,000 but most are somewhere in the middle.

So now I'm wondering when the story comes out that certain NCAA teams where paid more. I'm hoping Pitt has done this for free and genuinely welcoming our hometown heroes back from War. The pessimist side of me is nudging me saying Ohio State got $100,000 and we received $12,000. I want to point out that both amounts are bad and should be $0 from the DOD.

Many things in life are too good to be true and sadly this is another one on the long list. I am hoping College Football did this because it is the right thing to do. Maybe Pitt has been doing this and WVU, Penn State don't do it but I don't know.

These men and women really are heroes and I wish the NFL never took a dime. I'm really hoping all those long standing ovations at Pitt games were free of charge and genuine for Pitt.

MD, thank you for your service.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Nothing is sacred anymore

 

[HailtoPitt]

The only thing acceptable that I can think of is that teams got paid to role out the red carpet, like luxury suite seats and transportation for the vets and their families. Otherwise, these could be donations in which case they should be reported for each college team somewhere.

What team got $400k?

 

[Pghfan]

Oh man, what a sad state of affairs that NFL owners need paid to honor veterans. Downright depressing.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Yes, and unit now I thought the teams were doing this for marketing/public relations initiatives. Saddening that they do this for $$$$

Oh man, what a sad state of affairs that NFL owners need paid to honor veterans. Downright depressing.