Quickly after the
Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State WR Santonio Holmes declared he was leaving
college early to enter the NFL draft. Very few were actually
shocked by this decision, mostly because Holmes figures to be a first
round draft pick and possibly the first receiver off the board.
But my question is why does Holmes even have to declare at
all? Holmes athletically is a redshirt junior, but
academically he is a senior, and is on pace to graduate this
year. When the media mentions a player is leaving school early to
enter the NFL draft it bothers me. Saying a player is leaving
early seems to mean a player is leaving college without a diploma, and
many times this is not the case. Holmes is considered to be
leaving Ohio State “early” because he still has one year left of
eligibility, even though he is expected to graduate.
What really bothers me about this more than anything is the reputation
of the school being hurt. Fans quickly assume that Holmes’ early
departure signifies what many have all concluded many years ago:
Ohio State is a football factory, where wins are celebrated more than
diplomas. But this is not the case. Santonio Holmes will
graduate from The Ohio State University. Yes, Ohio State does
care
about academics.
Last year, Heath Miller, now a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
left school “early.” Miller came from the University of Virginia,
which has been known as one of the elite academic institutions in
division I football. Just as in Holmes’ case, the media mentioned
Miller as an underclassman. Miller, also was a redshirt junior,
and did receive his diploma last May. Miller received numerous
academic awards. But on draft day, Miller was labeled a
“junior.” Fans must have been appalled by this. The
University of Virginia, which has long held a academic reputation ever
since it was created by Thomas Jefferson, had sunk to the lows of other
division I teams: a football factory. But if the fans only
knew: Miller did not leave early, he just happened to graduate in
four years, the same time span UVA expects all of its students
to. Just a note: UVA gives all if its students 8 semesters
to graduate. This is why so many seniors on the team are in
graduate school.
I hope that the NFL looks upon this problem, and revises it. Many
may not believe this is a big problem, but I believe it is a huge
problem. This could affect college recruiting and the players’
reputations. When a college coach comes to a recruit’s house, he
will try to persuade to the parents how important academics are and
that he will do everything in his power for the recruit to leave his
university with a degree. Well a parent might think Jim Tressel
and Al Groh are a bunch of liars because of Miller and Holmes’ early
departures.
In the player’s case, people may seem to believe if a player leaves
“early” that he is either stupid because he cannot finish school or is
just very greedy and only cares about the money. The media fails
to tell the fans that he is graduating and is getting a job (which all
college students do after graduation).
The media and NFL need to change what an “underclassman” is. A
student who is on pace to graduate, but still has eligibility to play
should not be labeled an “underclassman” or “early
entrant.” It is not fair to the player or his school.
Instead he should be given the label he deserves: “senior,” because
academically he is a senior. You go to college to get a
degree, and this is just what many players such as Holmes and Miller do
(they also play football). They just happen to get the degree in
four years instead of five.
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