Haven't spoken in a while...

[Enigma]

With the turmoil being exhibited in college sports, I'd thought I'd speak for a moment...

Maurice Clarett -

It seems this story is the talk of the town, state, nation, world, etc...Do I feel Maurice is ready for the NFL? No...the NFL harnesses "the cream of the crop" from the college ranks. I do agree that Maurice is one of the best running backs in college right now, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he is ready to take on the NFL...most rookie running backs aren't prepared for the rigors of the NFL..lets focus on two different backs....Blair Thomas and Rashaan Salaam...both running backs made a huge name for themselves in college and were expected to explode in the NFL..both were busts in their own rights...you see more of these guys than you do a LaDainian Tomlinson or Marshall Faulk...

The NFL (mainly Tagliabue) believes it has a strong case and cannot lose...funny, isn't that what the NBA thought in the 1970s when some kid named Spencer Haywood came along...and because of that, you have Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett bringing in money and viewership to a league that some say was struggling, even with MJ around...

But the question is, do I feel a high schooler should be playing professional sports? Absolutely not...but I do not want to take away from a person's ability to make a living and for some kids, this is their one shot...

But the NFL does have away to protect its interest and not allow Clarett to enter the draft without breaking any discriminatory laws...simply require all draftees to have a 4-year degree...though this will prevent underclassmen from leaving school early for the most part, it will prevent Clarett and the next bumper crop of guys to have to stay in school and live up to their end of the scholarship that they are receiving...

What is lost in the shuffle is guys like Rasheed Wallace gets a free ride to UNC, but can't even get the necessary score on the SAT to be in college for an athlete...but he gets a waiver thanks to Prop 48 (which by the way I'm not entirely against)...so now Wallace has a scholarship to go to school that someone else deserved...

What's wrong with college sports is the fact that it's changed from being about getting these kids an opportunity to gain an education into creating revenue for the school and winning at all costs...does a 4-year degree guarantee success in the real world...no...but it does mean that these kids will have a wonderful possibility to fall back on something if their career is cut short...

Now onto lighter things...NCSU Football....

hmmm....1-2 just doesn't feel right....could very well have been 2-1, with a surprise victory that no one expected...but here's the funny thing about the ACC....NCSU still has a great shot of going to a BCS game...let's show NCSU running the table from here on out...that means they are 7-1 in conference play....Maryland and GT have already lost to FSU...that leaves WF, UVA, and FSU to worry with...well, UVA and FSU will have lost to NCSU in this scenario and not to bash WF...but who truly thinks they can run the table this year in the ACC....so you would probably be looking at FSU and NCSU tied for the conference title...the BCS needs to show other teams have the opportunity to be showcased in their bowls...so you would see NCSU taking what FSU demands is "their spot"...it's true what they say in college football...it's better to lose early, than late...

Watch out for: Manny Lawson #91...he is a linebacker, but has the speed of a wide receiver, yet can hit like a safety....he is a sophomore, but he is primed to become the starting mlb by season's end or at the start of next year...oh, and he is from my neck of the woods...(went to school at Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro, NC - about ten minutes from my parent's house)...

[IggyWH]

Originally posted by enigma_shadow
But the NFL does have away to protect its interest and not allow Clarett to enter the draft without breaking any discriminatory laws...simply require all draftees to have a 4-year degree...though this will prevent underclassmen from leaving school early for the most part, it will prevent Clarett and the next bumper crop of guys to have to stay in school and live up to their end of the scholarship that they are receiving...

That won't work either... you can't deny someone applying for a job just because they are underqualified. Entering the NFL Draft is applying for work in the NFL.

The ONLY way the NFL can continue to do it is if all owners agreed to never draft a high schooler. There would be a few examples but then after that people wouldn't do it. The NFL is all about money though and if you have the chance to draft someone who looks like they could be the next Barry Sanders, you'd draft him no matter what undercover promise you made to the league.

[Enigma]

Originally posted by IggyWH
That won't work either... you can't deny someone applying for a job just because they are underqualified. Entering the NFL Draft is applying for work in the NFL.

Actually, this happens all the time...most decent paying jobs nowadays will require a 4-year degree of some type...otherwise, they will not look at your application/resume...and unfortunately in the "real" world...that's perfectly legal...

[Ichiro]

Enigma is right they can descriminate because he is underqualified, but the NFL rule is not allowing Maurice Clarett based on age, which is something i do not believe you can do in the United States as long as you are 18, i believe you can apply anywhere. The NFL rule just says you have to be three years removed from your high school graduation correct?