OT: Army Black Knights

[ponyfan84]

So I saw on College Football Live today that the Army program is now allowing players to head to the NFL after graduation and that would count as time served....

...So with that in mind, does anybody think this could slowly start to turn the program around? Think about it....I know there are many factors to turn decent recruits away, but I am sure one of them is the mandatory service after they graduate. I am not saying they'll go undefeated but they'll defintely be better than 1-11 like they usually go. Playing an independent schedule with some cup cake teams, they could be competitive in a few years or so. I'm sure most people here don't care but since I grew up 45 minutes south of West Point and follow Army football, I thought this was pretty neat. Wonder if any of the other service acadamies follow the same path.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

Interesting.

I suppose having some Army guys in the
NFL couldn't hurt recruiting for the US Army either.

I have always wanted to attend a football game at West Point.

Maybe someday.

[bubba pony]

if you don't get drafted to the NFL then you go to Iraq to fulfill your obligation. what are the chances a college football player makes the NFL? not very good. Navy has done well recently without this incentive.

[redpony]

Just think what Roger Staubach could have done for the Cowboys if he had not fulfilled his military obligation with Navy. WOW!!!

GO PONIES!!!!

[BUS]

I sure am glad we have people that serve others and are proud to be in the services.

Freedom is not free. People die for it.

More power to Army and I hope it helps them.

[mrydel]

It boggles my mind that the United States Military Academy could equate going to the NFL with serving in the armed forces, especially at a time of war. Young men do not go to the Military Academies with the primary goal of the NFL. They go with the full knowledge of their committment to their country. Why would they dilute that committment with this type of decision?

[BUS]

I see it as being able to market the academy better. You are correct that is may not have much of an effect.

[mrydel]

I was recruited by West Point. It was during the Vietnam era and I purposely did not go for that very reason. Now, I was not NFL material, but had I been, and had this rule been in effect, I still would not have gone for the same reason. Those that went knew what they were signing up for and I can not respect them more for their dedication to our country. Why water that down for someone who might be a little bit better than his teammate? Staubach and others like him have done just fine after serving their time.

[ponyte]

This kind of fits with the Army marketing schemes of late. Be all you can be. And Army of one (NFL draftee). It’s a great place to start (an NFL career). Army strong.

If one is a borderline recruit and wanted all the exposure possible (playing time, not TV time) then Army might be a possibility. Four years of film and watching a kid develop may have some advantages.

All and all, I don't see this as a big factor to help turn Army around. The obvious NFL kids coming out of high school will get plenty of offers and all that goes with being a top recruit. The sleepers will filter out where they can. Kids that are borderline will not know that until their college careers are more advanced. Army may pick up one maybe two recruits they would not ordinarily get but that isn't enough to turn a program around.

[mrydel]

I agree that the impact will be bascially nil, but I just hate to see them lower themselves to that level. Actually, I think it is more designed for the kid that developes into an NFL player while there and subsequently regrets his decision of attending West Point due to the committment. Potential NFL prospects out of HS will not want to take the chance on having to serve unless that is what they want to do.

[ponyte]

I agree that the impact will be bascially nil, but I just hate to see them lower themselves to that level. Actually, I think it is more designed for the kid that developes into an NFL player while there and subsequently regrets his decision of attending West Point due to the committment. Potential NFL prospects out of HS will not want to take the chance on having to serve unless that is what they want to do.

High standards???? Didn't you say they recruited you?

[mrydel]

I agree that the impact will be bascially nil, but I just hate to see them lower themselves to that level. Actually, I think it is more designed for the kid that developes into an NFL player while there and subsequently regrets his decision of attending West Point due to the committment. Potential NFL prospects out of HS will not want to take the chance on having to serve unless that is what they want to do.

High standards???? Didn't you say they recruited you?

Guess I should have said "lower themselves even more."

[kent dorfman]

Fascinating post, ponyfan84. I would have to take the position that i don't think it would turn the program around. I mean how many kids who think they are going pro coming out of HS would want to go to Army? Probably zero. And then how many who have no idea if they'd be good enough to go pro coming out of HS would want to go to Army over some other school because they would not have to go to war if they were good enough to go pro? Not too many. I am of the position that if a kid has a calling to go into the Academy then they're going to go, regardless of being able to forgo service time if they are good enough to go pro.

[SMHoo]

They're not entirely off the hook for service. If they flame out in the NFL, they still owe their remaining years, and even if they stay in the league, they remain in reserves:

'Cadets accepted into the program “will owe two years of active service in the Army, during which time they will be allowed to play their sport in the player-development systems of their respective organizations and be assigned to recruiting stations. If they remain in professional sports following those two years, they will be provided the option of buying out the remaining three years of their active-duty commitment in exchange for six years of reserve time.â€

[Stallion]

The correct answer is that it could have a SUBSTANTIAL effect if the Naval Academy and Air Force don't follow suit. The academies generally recruit from the same recruiting pool. There are plenty of kids even at that level that want a chance for the NFL-many Academy recruits had no real interest in the Academies until other Division 1A opprtunities dried up. The Academy that has an edge like this could benefit substantially. Recruiting is relative to your competition.