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big 12 wants to bring back players who do not make it in nfl. student athletes is that an oxymoron or what?

golfwacko | 05/21/08, 08:26 AM

Isn't that what the redshirts/medical redshirts are for now?

Spaceman Spiff | 05/21/08, 08:55 AM

What they need to do, all conferences at that, is pay for athletes who cannot possibly graduate due to ridiculous amounts of practice time as well as traveling for games, to pony up and give them a 5th year to get the sheepskin!!!

rhymeister | 05/21/08, 09:04 AM

Hmmm... so would they also be pushing for a boost in the 85 scholarship limit? I can't imagine many coaches being too thrilled with having even more of those 85 tied up for a 5th year.

Kraz | 05/21/08, 09:11 AM

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They have a CHOICE to play...this ain't the effin' Army where they are drafted and have to put off their education.......

THE TRUTH | 05/21/08, 09:31 AM

let's see ... college basketball can't keep guys for more than 1 year, but college football wants 'em for FIVE? what?

silverblack23 | 05/21/08, 12:04 PM

If they agree to this, then the NCAA should just quit the "student atlete" charade...

Spiny Norman | 05/21/08, 12:22 PM

GIVE BAYLOR AND IOWA STATE A 5TH YEAR... HOPEFULLY WHEN THAT 5TH YEAR ROLLS AROUND THEY MIGHT NO WHAT A FOOTBALL IS

THE NATION | 05/21/08, 12:56 PM

PLAYERS AT KANSAS DONT EVEN MAKE IT 2 YEARS... ESPECIALLY IF FAT MANGINO IS HUNGRY

THE NATION | 05/21/08, 12:59 PM

Why is Chase Daniel have a picture by this story?

That Guy | 05/21/08, 01:11 PM

Why is Chase Daniel have a picture by this story?
That Guy | 05/21/08, 01:11 PM

Because he's an overrated punk who would show this story for what it is...a joke. Joke picture and joke story.

I EFFIN RULE | 05/21/08, 01:38 PM

Why dont they just create a major called "Athletics" and be done with it? The old adage is that you stand your best chance to excel at the things you love. Athletes love sports. Sports is gargantuan business in this country. Well, why not educate them in all things sports, and even create different disciplines within the "college of sports" like they do within the "college of business" to at least give them a chance to succeed in some capacity in the world of sports when or if they cant cut it as a pro athlete? Allow them to learn how to be trainers, or agents, or coaches, or administrators. There are options. Why are universities so scared of that concept? It makes no sense to me.

sportsfan583 | 05/21/08, 02:36 PM

So much angst. Looks to me like if a kid is going to stay at his school for five years to graduate, why not be eligible to play for all those five years, instead of the whole redshirt / burning a redshirt mess? Let 'em stay in college up to five years, and they are eligible every one of those years to play ball. College football players sometimes have issues with not wanting to redshirt, so under this proposal, they wouldn't have to sit out. If they are in college, they can play.

The biggest issue I see is that it is only being proposed for football.

And it has been estimated that it would cost each school about $750K to play five instead of four.

BryanMc | 05/21/08, 03:48 PM

sportsfan,
I agree with you, whether you are serious or not. I say let colleges go legit with athletic degree programs. Lots of finance, general bidness, speech, whatever might help them in their chosen vocation of professional athletics. Maybe not as a player. Maybe an agent, maybe a trainer, whatever. But allow them to gain an education targeted at their vocational choice. Engineering is a vocation, architecture is a vocation, teaching is a vocation, why not allow athletics to be a vocation as well? That's why some of them are there.

BryanMc | 05/21/08, 03:52 PM

Hook 'em Horns!

The "Dick" Cheney | 05/21/08, 04:29 PM

great picture by the story what an athelete

pwronk01 | 05/21/08, 04:45 PM

Why not just be more leniant with a 2nd red shirt year for athletes who suffer serious injuries? I really don't see the need to add an additional full year of elgibility on top of red shirt and the grey shirt options.

After 4 years of elgibility, isn't it time to move on with their lives, either to the pros, the minors, or their careers?

Prove It | 05/21/08, 06:22 PM

No time to study? Then why are some athletes having to enter graduate programs to stay eligible in their 3rd or 4th year? The ones that don't make it, probably would not make it if they did not play sports at all.

KRB | 05/21/08, 07:36 PM

i thought the big xii was already doing that fifth year thing since jason white started collecting AARP when he graduated.

Lopati Panza | 05/22/08, 02:28 AM

Why? Can't they graduate in 4?

MnTrojan | 05/22/08, 03:31 AM