We really need to just call it the NFL minor leagues and pay them. NCAA, Universities, Media, and Coaches are already getting millions.
Clearly, the spirit of the scholar-athlete is all but a distant memory. I mentioned "graduation rate" in my original post, but no one has responded to that particular point.
I read a story from earlier in the year that said Penn St. had the highest graduation rate among the top-25 teams this past season. It said...
"The Nittany Lions (11-2) were No. 9 in the final AP poll, earning their 23rd Top 10 finish in Joe Paternos 44 seasons as head coach.Joe Paterno is the exception, not the rule. Sadly.Penn State football student-athletes that enrolled in the University in the fall of 2002 earned a federal graduation rate of 89 percent, easily the best among the teams ranked in the final AP poll. Alabama and Miami (Fla.) were tied for second at 75 percent.
Penn States 89 percent federal graduation rate led all Big Ten Conference institutions and was 34 points above the 55 percent FBS average, according to the NCAA data released last November.
The Nittany Lions also led all AP Top 25 teams with a program record 85 percent Graduation Success Rate. The figure was based on Penn State football student-athletes entering the University in the fall of 1999 through 2002. Cincinnati and Miami (Fla.) were tied for the second-highest GSR among AP Top 25 teams at 75 percent.
Barry Switzer has been saying that for years. You are right, either pay them or set up a farm league for the NFL.