Fribur wrote:
But him getting into trouble, to me, doesn't really make the NFL not a "family" sport. It's not a part of the game, and the game is still pretty much a G rated event to watch.
I would agree with you except that the NFL holds up the players as heroes/role models and that leads to disgusting things like mothers bring their children to the courthouse to get Michael Irvin's signature while he's being sentenced for drug posession. Football is entertainment and whether it's Buress or Pee Wee Herman what happens outside the job has an impact.
Surcam Stances wrote:
I would definitely be against this. Humans are fallible and deserve second chances. That scholarship could be their ticket to a better, law abiding life.
I'm all for second chances but when given a choice between comparable players it would be nice to see the guy whose vertical leap is 2" less but has kept his nose clean in high school be given that opportunity over the girlfriend abuser.
College sports programs are not rehabilitation centers; they simply aren't equipped to be nor should they be. But perhaps knowing that they may be ruining their chance for money/stardom by their poor choices in high school would lead to better critical thinking in high school athletes. Prevention rather than ignoring the problem.
Notre Dame under Charlie Weis is a perfect example. I used to be a fan. What he has done to the program is a disgrace. While the disparaging nicknames like "Good little Catholic Boys" were annoying, it was what the program was known for producing before Weis took the helm and began recruiting solely on the basis of athletic ability (as much as he could within the NCAA rules).