Diplomas Can Come Later

With injuries to Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow putting their statuses in question for upcoming games, it got me to thinking: why do premier college athletes stay longer in school than they should? Now, admittedly, “longer than they should” is an arbitrary statement. Tebow, for example, would not have been a first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, so I have no problem with him returning to school to cement his legacy as the best college quarterback ever, and one of the Top 10 college football players of all time.

Bradford, on the other hand, is a different case.

Many people suggested that he should enter the Draft because he was a first round lock and possibly could’ve been taken #1 overall by the Detroit Lions (who took Matthew Stafford, a QB, with their actual pick). So, why is it that Bradford returned again? To win a championship for Oklahoma? I respect that, Sam, I really do; but it’s not a very logical decision. Remember how hard it was to make it there last year? I mean, you practically needed a miracle to get in the championship game to begin with, and the bulk of your line and receivers left after last year. Why would you risk so much to take a chance at something that isn’t even remotely guaranteed? Speaking of guaranteed, he could’ve had $50 million guaranteed had he come out. Now? He’ll still probably be a top pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, but he needs to show everyone that he can take a hit on the shoulder and that his throwing hasn’t been affected in the slightest.

As an ardent supporter of college football, I would like nothing more than to see every player stick around for four years and leave their imprint on the history books. However, I’m also a realist. There is no reason to stay in school, without getting paid (unless you play in the SEC or at USC, of course), when you can make a boatload of cash just by ending your college career a year early. “But, Lank, what about getting your degree, man?” Really? You want to talk about getting a degree? First of all, your fine institutions aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so I doubt it’ll be a problem to go back many years later if you want to be handed some sheepskin (Joe Namath can attest to that). But let’s be real, the only reason people go to college is to party and, hopefully, start the path to a high-paying job. That’s it. If a guy leaves college early, he may not have a degree, but he’ll have a really high-paying job, and he can still party to his heart’s content (Matt Leinart can attest to that). You’re telling me that if you were offered a multi-million dollar position after your junior year that you’d decline so that you could get your degree? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Dez Bryant, Russell Okung, Jimmy Clausen, Taylor Mays, Jonathan Dwyer, Arrelious Benn; the list goes on of guys who are draft-eligible and going through injury-plagued seasons, whether they chose to return for their senior years (Okung, Mays), or have first round talent and will have decisions after the season is over (Bryant, Clausen, Dwyer, Benn). Obviously, the circumstances will be different for each and a lot of things are to be determined between now and April, but only one thought should stay in their head from the beginning of the evaluation process through the end.

"My university will still be around in 20 years, even if I get injured; will my first-round money?" Sam Bradford sure hopes so.

~~ Lank