hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Here's how it could be relevant.
After all this time dickin around, Iowa stays quiet and let's the NCAA come out with their decision. If granted, move on. If denied, relentless media blitzkrieg. Ratchet up the court of public opinion to, 1) expose all the hypocrisy, inconsistency and blatant idiocy of the NCAA and 2) keep the attention of college football nation on Iowa as the powder keg of the revolution.
Come this fall, Iowa suits up Ott, anyway. Whadda they gonna do, send the suits to physically stop him from playing? Call out the national guard? Oh, no, they might expunge the games from the records and pretend they never occurred(except to the 100 of 1000's of fans attending their games and the millions of eyeballs on TV -- every one would be televised -- all supporting the resistance.) Iowa should mock every edict, threat or penalty the NCAA tries to throw at them and just keep playing.
I know this comes with challenges. For starters, we're tasking the Iowa sports marketing and pr departments to have the balls and smarts to pull this off. We also have to get the rest of the B14 in our corner (perhaps with a very lucrative and powerful opportunity for Delany to head up the new governing body after the overthrow.) If I have any say, all you level headed guys in this thread could have a seat at the table to contribute toward the reformation. Your posts already demonstrate more fair and rational decision-making capability than the NCAA has shown in 30 years.
In the end, even if you stand alone, you still have to have the courage to right wrongs and, sometimes, that requires anarchy and revolt to take down a worthless bureaucracy.
What say you Hawkeye Nation? The end of the NCAA is nigh!
Or, have him suit up as "Masked DL", like Racer X in the original "Speed Racer" series!
Seriously, this is one type of case that absolutely BEGS for some common-sense reforms, such as:
--ALL players on scholarship are awarded five years, BUT, if they play as freshman--under very strict qualification--they leave after four
--As part of the above, collude with the NFL on some type of program so that, to be eligible to be drafted after three years, certain criteria must be met, such as "X" percentage successfully completed toward degree, and have NFL/NCAA work together on continuing education/degree progress. If degree not obtained within specified period, portion of player salary (have it escrowed in original contract, perhaps?) set aside to reimburse portion of scholarship funded.
--Freshman ONLY eligible IF they meet "X" requirements, such as early-enrollee status, elevated minimum ACT/SAT score, qualifying GPA, etc. OR, slightly lower qualifying standards AND a "necessity" to see the field (such as three QBs being injured, creating need for a freshman QB to suit up/play)
--After the first four years, IF a player has played in "X" number of games, subtract that number from the number of games in fifth year, and allow either "front-loading" or "back-loading" that number of games. And allow availability/appearances in bowl games ALL five years
--Potential sixth-year status for injuries, or academic "catch-up". Don't "make" a kid play, or ALLOW him to play, if he's struggling academically. Give him an extra year if that's what it takes
What COULD this accomplish?
--For a three-year player who chooses to leave: definitive progress toward degree; plan of action, financial included, for completing degree; a full three years of concentrating on the school/team/education, no "distractions" of "how soon can I go earn?!"; ability to return AFTER draft IF he/agent/team decide he isn't ready/healthy/adjusted.
--For a player leaving after four years: further progress toward degree/possible completion of degree; school life; ability to return as above, with (for those who played as true freshmen) for number of games not "used"
--For those who stay all five years: obviously further progression/degree completion; more development athletically, socially, academically, etc; further insight into a "life plan/life goals"; in event of multiple years of injury, ability to return for the portion of games that would have been allowed under fifth year rules. Biggest bonus here? A fifth- or sixth-year kid with "X" games to play who "front-loads" can still remain part of the team, he just can't play after "Xth" game UNTIL the bowl game. He can finish his degree, work on a post-grad degree/program, i.e., "live a little" rather than "24/7 football" his last season. If he "back-loads", he uses first part of season to work/finish school stuff, get healthy (if needed), etc.
Rather than NCAA/NFL acting "separate", and rather than having agents come to freshmen and sophomores and getting all sleazy, simply BAN agents (NFL) who violate the rule of early contact. Given the NFLs antitrust protection, you can believe this would pass muster via any court case.
Let kids be kids. Let them adjust. Let them actually ENJOY college. And let them do it with a slightly expanded time frame.
Sure, Bernie Sanders et. al. will scream about "Inequality!" When non-athletes contribute as much to a school's athletic budget, I might even listen. Until then, Ol' Bern can STFU.
It's simple, really. Understand the "need" for the NFL to have top-flight talent available AND understand the need for the NCAA to have some stricter regs on player eligibility and well-being AND--first-and foremost--remember that player well-being (academic, social, health, future) should come first most of the time.
