Story: NFL Far from A.J. Epenesa's Mind
- Thread starter RobHowe
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HawkeyeWalker
Well-Known Member
How can you not love everything about the guy.
HawkleberryFinn
Well-Known Member
I wish players still stayed for 4 years. The NFL is hurting the collegiate ranks. Players leaving early, players skipping bowls. Iowa's not built for all these departures. It tilts the playing field even more in favor of the blue bloods.
Adam
Well-Known Member
Here's a video for those folks who can't or don't want to read story linked in OP.
That guy is cut from a different cloth, and I like it.
The NFL has done everything it can to preserve college football as we know it. They're greedy and college football is their free farm system.
15 years ago a few players went to court and tried to get rid of their draft rules. Somehow the NFL won that case and college football dodged a huge bullet. Had the NFL not fought and won that case, college football would be a completely different sport right now. That being said, its BS to keep qualified players from entering their name in the draft, regardless of age. But the NFL is powerful enough that they've been able to keep their draft rules intact. And as a fan of college football, I'm glad they won.
On the flip side, look no further than the NBA. I like the NBA, but they don't give a hot-shit about college basketball. Their lack of draft rules has killed the quality of the NCAA game. And its about to get worse.
Fortunately, I think that has very little chance of happening in football. There's maybe 1 player every few years that is physically ready for the NFL right out of high school, and even then they may not have the mental aspect of the game down. Making that jump in basketball is leagues different than it is in football.
Wise beyond his years.
I don't know very many 40-50 year olds who wouldn't tell a younger guy the same thing he said.
Live life and enjoy it, the next 20 go by in a blur.
Letting something, anything define you as a man is a huge mistake. You are a CEO? What happens when your company shuts down? You are a husband ? What happens when your wife bolts?
Which is why I say the degree is important. You earned it and it will always be there.
Things like that can be taken away and if you base yourself on what you do, someday you are going to be in for a rough ride.
Who you are comes from within. It can't be taken.
Sounds like AJ knows this. That is a testament to good parenting. Appreciate what you have right now.
I don't know very many 40-50 year olds who wouldn't tell a younger guy the same thing he said.
Live life and enjoy it, the next 20 go by in a blur.
Letting something, anything define you as a man is a huge mistake. You are a CEO? What happens when your company shuts down? You are a husband ? What happens when your wife bolts?
Which is why I say the degree is important. You earned it and it will always be there.
Things like that can be taken away and if you base yourself on what you do, someday you are going to be in for a rough ride.
Who you are comes from within. It can't be taken.
Sounds like AJ knows this. That is a testament to good parenting. Appreciate what you have right now.
He is the son of "Repeat".Here's a video for those folks who can't or don't want to read story linked in OP.
RobHowe
Administrator
MoseSchrute
Well-Known Member
HawkleberryFinn
Well-Known Member
1st Team All Big Ten. Backup at Iowa. Vintage Kirk.
KF has an oversized heart for those players who grind it out, sweat and work hard, go with the program and at DEnd last couple of years Nelson and Hesse did those things and were ahead of AJE because let's say from 'experience' level.
Hesse moved inside alot on 3rd down and rested on the sidelines also. Hesse has made some unbelievably big plays in his career, made tons of regular plays, and made few mistakes. Plus he was thrown into the fire as a way undersized frosh when Ott got hurt. It didnt bother me that AJE did not play 100% of snaps.
AJ can have another great year and really it was one big year for Josh Jackson, a little over a year for some other players to make their notice to the NFL.
#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
His maturity and loyalty to the program are both very commendable, but, let's face it, if he has the great season we all expect, he'd be a fool to come back for another year. You can always get a degree, but, you don't always have the chance to earn millions in just a few years playing professional sports.
That said, early attrition is a death blow to a developmental program like Iowa. Unfortunately, that's the "catch-22" of improved recruiting. It's a poison pill that fans are going to have to swallow.
That said, early attrition is a death blow to a developmental program like Iowa. Unfortunately, that's the "catch-22" of improved recruiting. It's a poison pill that fans are going to have to swallow.
You can always go back and get your degree, but you can never go back and play your senior year with your team. The NFL will be there the following year unless he's unlucky enough to get a career ending injury. Staying and playing is the only way you can get both. Leaving early guarantees you get one but also guarantees you don't get the other.
Also if we have improved recruiting to the point where a bunch of kids are leaving early, we won't be considered a developmental program anymore.
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#1DieHardHawk
Well-Known Member
That's the gamble. While it would be great for memories to come back for your senior year, if you are considered amongst the top talents in the draft, the risk of a career-ending injury in the day and age of multi-million dollar contracts for rookies just isn't worth it. Now, if he was, say, projected as a mid-rounder or later, you could argue that the risk is worth it (both for the memories and to potentially improve the draft stock). It all depends upon individual priorities and what level of risk you are willing to accept.
