College football season starts this weekend. It’s the best time of year for millions of fans around the country, supporting their teams and ready for a new football season.
There has been one problem this offseason, though, taking away from what’s actually important, which is what happens on the field. The NCAA has had a problem all offseason: state injunctions or restraining orders erasing whatever rulings they’ve made.
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This has made the NCAA essentially powerless, allowing players they originally ruled ineligible to play, such as Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss and Owen Heinecke at Oklahoma. Now there’s an even bigger issue. Former NFL players are attempting to return to college for a final season despite having signed NFL contracts.
This issue is especially prominent in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Head coach Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are attempting to add three former pro players to the roster.
TE Dae’Quan Wright, DT Zxavian Harris, and EDGE Jack Pyburn have all spent the preseason on NFL rosters, but now will look to return to college. This completely tarnishes the sport.
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Bringing back professionals is not what college football is about. It also takes away from young players who committed to these programs and are looking to make their name known. One former NFL owner sees this as a disaster.
Nov 10, 2011; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders chief executive officer Amy Trask reacts during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
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In an interview with CBS Sports, former Las Vegas Raiders CEO Amy Trask touched on the matter. It’s safe to say she didn’t hold back on her thoughts.
“This is a big, big, hot mess, and those most affected could be the players. There is a lot of legal action to play out here. Temporary restraining orders, injunctions, efforts to overturn injunctions”
Trask continues her point, highlighting her concern that players will receive bad advice. Certainly, a concern to monitor is if a player tries to come back to college, and then it doesn’t work out and theres no NFL opportunities.
The players are a concern, but not as much as the integrity of the sport in general. This is college football, not “amateur” or “semi-pro” football. Theres no reason a graduate who has crossed the professional threshold should be able to take snaps away from actual college players.
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The main player concern should center on underclassmen who are talented enough to play but won’t cause problems when pros come in and take snaps away.
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