trying to make the NFL. It may be old news, but it is the first I have seen of it.
Former Army Football Player Can't Try Out for the Lions
Former Army Football Player Can't Try Out for the Lions
Interesting story about an Army football player
- Thread starter wpnetdawg
- Start date
have to quit as well. I think they military should honor the policy in place when they signed up. If not, they basically lied to them. Not to mention, I think it would be great PR for the Army to have an active soldier playing in the NFL.
I understand duty and service and all that but this is a one in a million chance. The military has to understand that by doing this anyone with any sort of football talent will not come to a service academy. On the other hand if they had let him play in the NFL they are sending the message, "Come play for us and if you make it to the big time we will support you!" I think this is a really stupid decision on their part. This is America, let the boy live out his dream. There are plenty of folks who didn't make it to use as a human shield against terrorism.
The service academies for YEARS have had issues with their students and athletics. Some of them think that athletics are bad because it takes away from their education and that there is too much emphasis on it.
Others at the academies think that athletics are a good thing because they promote the schools.
It has been a huge debate for years, and probably will never be settled.
Personally, I think that it is wrong that the Army went back on their policy on this guy and the baseball players. But, hey, it's the Army and I guess that they can very well do what they please and there's not a lot they can do about it.
I think that if they were wise, they would make athletes that do well- like David Robinson- to promote the military and the academies, basically as recruiters.
This seems to be typical waffling between the stick in the mud Army people and the pro athletics Army people.
Others at the academies think that athletics are a good thing because they promote the schools.
It has been a huge debate for years, and probably will never be settled.
Personally, I think that it is wrong that the Army went back on their policy on this guy and the baseball players. But, hey, it's the Army and I guess that they can very well do what they please and there's not a lot they can do about it.
I think that if they were wise, they would make athletes that do well- like David Robinson- to promote the military and the academies, basically as recruiters.
This seems to be typical waffling between the stick in the mud Army people and the pro athletics Army people.
It sounded as if the individual branches were allowing these guys to play, and the DOD reviewed that policy and found it to be wrong. And I agree, it sucks that the players who were operating under the previous ruling have to quit.
I can see why they might have to draw the line with a firm no. Baseball would be the most egregious. Could some 45th round pick go bounce around Rookie A ball for a few years as a recruiter? What about a basketball player that signs a FA contract hoping to make a team or gets an offer to play in Europe. The military has footed the bill for these guys for however long it takes to graduate from their respective academies, and part of that deal is immediate service afterwards. Granting waivers for basically anything is a can of worms. Perhaps it's a horrible comparisson, but there are teaching scholarships or med school scholarships that operate much the same way are there not? We foot the bill, you go to work in impoverished communities for a few years. I don't think they'd let someone out of their contract because some big ***, well respected hospital or school in Manhattan wanted to hire them.</p>
I can see why they might have to draw the line with a firm no. Baseball would be the most egregious. Could some 45th round pick go bounce around Rookie A ball for a few years as a recruiter? What about a basketball player that signs a FA contract hoping to make a team or gets an offer to play in Europe. The military has footed the bill for these guys for however long it takes to graduate from their respective academies, and part of that deal is immediate service afterwards. Granting waivers for basically anything is a can of worms. Perhaps it's a horrible comparisson, but there are teaching scholarships or med school scholarships that operate much the same way are there not? We foot the bill, you go to work in impoverished communities for a few years. I don't think they'd let someone out of their contract because some big ***, well respected hospital or school in Manhattan wanted to hire them.</p>
Gee, I never heard THAT before.
He got the equivalent of an Ivy League education, plus......he got to shoot big guns and learn to blow things up. After training, food, equipment, clothing, health care, etc., this runs to about $500,000. The Army wants a return out of this guy.</p>
He got the equivalent of an Ivy League education, plus......he got to shoot big guns and learn to blow things up. After training, food, equipment, clothing, health care, etc., this runs to about $500,000. The Army wants a return out of this guy.</p>
If athletes want to turn pro after completing their college career at a service academy, have them repay the full value of the education they received (including room, board, etc.) plus interest. Set the repayment terms on a 4 year monthly amortization. If the athlete misses a couple of payments, he immediately goes into full-time active military service. Also, the athlete goes on reserve duty and does promotional appearances for the military for the term of his original commitment.
patdog said:
Or the athletes could just go to another school than the service academy. They could probably get a full ride for athletics somewhere else (maybe not Division 1). Then, if they don't maket he pros, they could join the army. These guys know what they're getting into by going to Army, Navy, etc.</p>
But I do think it's a little shortsighted. I bet David Robinson has done more long-term good for the Navy by playing pro basketball than he would have if he'd served his 4 years and then quit the Navy. Setting up a rule like I propose wouldn't open the floodgates for athletes to back out on their service commitment. You'd probably see no more than one every couple of year from the three academies combined.
Well last I knew people went to service academies, to um well serve. They incur no financial obligation whatsoever if they choose to go to any of the academies. We incur the obligation through tax dollars. The West Point education is valued at approximately 250,000 dollars. Service academies are not supposed to be about churning out professional athletes. If you think you can go pro, go to any other school, and if you want to serve after, there is nothing stopping you from going to OCS.