Forget blue bloods, the new term that matters now is green bloods

Two very interesting developments, on opposite ends of the spectrum in the pay-for-play world of college athletics, surfaced over the weekend. 

The more high-profile one you’re probably aware of. 

According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, now-former KU big man Flory Bidunga committed to take his game to Louisville. He was joined by Oregon point guard Jackson Shelstad, who visited Louisville with Bidunga over the weekend, and, it’s been reported that, together, they’ll collect $9 million next season. 

Blue blood, Schmue blood. Welcome to the era of the green bloods. 

We’ve been here for a while. You all know that. But rather than seeing the landscape settle down, find a rhythm and become something that can be viewed as sustainable for years to come, we’re seeing the money that is dished out to players of all skills and sizes reach sky-high levels, growing significantly each offseason. 

If it wasn’t actually happening in front of our eyes, I’m not sure any of us would believe it. Yet, here we are. For who knows how long. 

On the opposite side of the Bidunga-Shelstad haul was a tweet from KU Athletic Director Travis Goff, who took time out on Sunday to praise the recent play of his baseball and softball programs. 

Dan Fitzgerald’s baseball team, riding a 10-game winning streak, swept UCF over the weekend to move into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings. The Jayhawks are 26-10 overall and 12-3 in Big 12 play, two games ahead of second-place UCF. 

Jennifer McFalls’ softball squad took two out of three from Baylor at home over the weekend to keep alive its streak of winning every Big 12 series this season. The 23rd-ranked KU softball team is now 29-12 overall and 10-5 in Big 12 play, good for third place in the current standings. 

Both teams will be ranked when the new polls come out this week. 

And, as Goff pointed out, they’ve put together the season they’re having the old-fashioned way. 

“Lots of ball to play,” Goff wrote on X. “But proud of these programs. And in both cases it’s not because we spend the most… Much of winning still comes down to the margins: culture/chemistry, roster philosophy, development, style of play. Both (KU baseball and KU softball are) demonstrating that in a big way.” 

This isn’t so much a chicken-or-the-egg situation. It's more how you like your eggs — hard-boiled, runny or scrambled light and fluffy. 

Because year after year, from sport to sport, you’re going to find a little bit of everything during the next however many years this chapter goes on, more than we have seen in the past few years even. 

You’ll find teams that try to develop talent and are still hoping/willing to grind it out the old-fashioned way, where culture, coaching and tradition matter as much as the money. You’ll find teams that hit up donors, break the bank and try to buy a winner. And you’ll find teams that try to find a nice middle ground between the two.

The programs and schools that go for it — in whatever sport you’re talking about — might not do it every year. 

Maybe they’ll aim for a big splash every 3-to-5 years, choosing to strategically save their money to try to win it all during those key seasons much in the same way that a family of five doesn’t go to Disney World every year but saves its money for that one big trip. 

It would be insulting for me to tell you here that things are all about money now. You’ve known that for at least a few years and don’t need me or anyone else to remind you. 

What’s worth pointing out, though, is just how much it’s all about money, though. 

It’s cool to see someone like Goff genuinely continue to promote and celebrate the right things and stress that you can still win the way you always used to. 

That may be true in some cases. But it’s becoming less and less true in most cases, and it certainly feels like we’re headed toward a day when not even the most ardent supporters of college athletics as we once knew them can even pretend to say things can still be the same. 

Green over blue. Me over you.

— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com