Posted on 05/26/2012 6:42:51 AM PDT by Michael van der Galien
Banning college football is un-American.
Being European, I can’t help but wonder over recent debates in the United States about the NFL and college football. Increasingly more analysts believe that these sports should be banned, or at least ‘reformed’. The latter of course meaning that they’ll lose what makes them unique and appealing to sports fans everywhere.
Now, make no mistake about it: I’m just as convinced as the average Joe that football is a very dangerous sport indeed. But why did this fact take analysts by surprise?
I still remember the first time I watched the NFL: I was shocked – shocked. These weren’t athletes, they were gladiators. Anyone not blind could see that they were out to hurt each other and that the crowd loved them for it.
Once I got into the NFL, I started watching college football too. It was just as great, if not better, simply because it’s less commercial. These youngsters were trying to prove themselves; they wanted to be the best they could possibly be, while hoping for a professional career in the NFL. They were willing to run through brick walls to reach their goals.
Of course, they too were taken off the field regularly. One had a concussion, another a broken leg. Some of the injured players were probably scarred for life. That much was clear.
But that’s their choice. What’s more, their freedom to make that choice is what makes America… America. That’s what that great country of yours stands for: the freedom to pursue your own happiness, regardless of what know-it-alls think.
That’s why I can’t quite wrap my head around articles such as this interview in Slate about college football.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
first college football game- 1869 Rutgers 6, Princeton 4- both in NJ
Without college football, millions of Southerners will have nothing to talk about.
If inroads are made by the nanny-staters into stopping youth football (it’s for the children, ya know) it will metastisize. Then it will just be a matter of time before it eats away both college and professional ball.
I think you are right...confrontation...grab face...fall down...act like a drama queen. Lather, rinse, and repeat.
Except that the two things have become almost mutually exclusive. Oddly enough, if they were treated as minor leaguers in school, if they wanted to get an education, it would probably help.
Today they are under great pressure academically, with grade requirements, eligibility limits, financial limits, grants, loans and aid packages, etc. It really screws a lot of them up.
Reforming it would guarantee them a steady, performance based income, so if they just wanted to play ball they could; or if they wanted to take courses as well, they could. It might take them longer to get a degree, but no sweat. They wouldn’t have to go deeply in debt, nor fight for scholarships and grants, etc.
They would stop being expendable slaves to ridiculous rules.
Yeah, it really should be recognized as the NFL’s minor leagues or farm system. The athletes should be paid (yes I know they get scholarships and whatnot). I honestly prefer how baseball and hockey do it with proper farm systems.
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