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Should former pro players have a second chance in NCAA Football (US)?

Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
in Purgatory
Louisiana State University, a former football powerhouse in the SEC conference is wanting to bring on former pro football players who still have college eligibility remaining?

The deal of it is, when college football athlete has five years to play four seasons.

But sometimes the pro leagues become very attractive, and a number of football players move on up before the five-year college eligibility expires.

There are several exceptions. Redshirt years, medical hardship waivers. Military service, religious missions,

It is now common to see players with six seasons in seven years of college.

This is not the first time pro players have been allowed on to formerly amateur teams.

There is the Olympic basketball and hockey teams.

In baseball players can be drafted by pro teams , play minor league baseball, but then return to college baseball if they do not sign a pro contract.

Soccer and Rugby also have options.

Other sports have already blurred the amateur/pro line.

Should football be allowed to do the same?

Comments

  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited September 9
    .
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    edited September 9
    LSU finalized its locked roster yesterday without attempting to add former pro players. That move came on the heels of the SEC announcing that LSU's membership in the conference was open for discussion/reconsideration later this week. So, LSU blinked first in this puffed-up staring contest. There's never been anything like competitive purity in college football. I'd say your question is way, way too late.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    The_Riv wrote: »
    LSU finalized its locked roster yesterday without attempting to add former pro players. That move came on the heels of the SEC announcing that LSU's membership in the conference was open for discussion/reconsideration later this week. So, LSU blinked first in this puffed-up staring contest. There's never been anything like competitive purity in college football. I'd say your question is way, way too late.

    Is it too late? It is bound to come up again next season.
  • RuthRuth Shipmate
    What ought to happen is universities should devote their efforts and funds to education, not sports. Especially public schools. I'd love to see an initiative or legislation barring the state of California from spending more than token amounts of money on college sports. (I know, not going to happen.)
  • Barnabas62Barnabas62 Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    College Football has been driven by money for years. I agree with Ruth about the distorting impact on college education, also that the money dimension isn’t going to change.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Gramps49 wrote: »
    The_Riv wrote: »
    LSU finalized its locked roster yesterday without attempting to add former pro players. That move came on the heels of the SEC announcing that LSU's membership in the conference was open for discussion/reconsideration later this week. So, LSU blinked first in this puffed-up staring contest. There's never been anything like competitive purity in college football. I'd say your question is way, way too late.

    Is it too late? It is bound to come up again next season.
    I think the point @The_Riv was making was that the professionalization of college sports began decades ago. This is just the latest manifestation of it. If we wanted to avoid this problem, we needed to change the course of college athletics was on years ago. Some tried, but money won out.


  • CaissaCaissa Shipmate
    College football is a great money maker for universities. We all know who the highest paid employee on campus is likely to be.
  • RuthRuth Shipmate
    The highest paid state employee in many US states is a college football coach.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited September 10
    Ruth wrote: »
    The highest paid state employee in many US states is a college football coach.
    Or in some states, a college basketball coach.


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