- Joined
- Aug 27, 2010
- Messages
- 5,894
I'll just comment here that I am one of many grads that despise the practice at USAFA and USMA of giving a bunch of football players an extra year so they had five seasons. Yes, NCAA allowed it because of COVID but since the rest of the Cadets/Mids did not get the extra year then football players should not either. The academies exist to produce OFFICERS and while athletes do get some benefits, an extra year to compete should not be one of them.Perhaps I did not say it correctly. The squandering I am referring to is in the 'chase' to be competitive in some, not ALL D 1 sports (think the 'co called lesser ones') I think based on your previous posts you probably know what I mean. In no way am I referring to squanderous behavior as it concerns the individual students overall.
As a fan, of course I want to see success on the field in FB. But as a taxpayer and citizen, I believe that this chase has the potential to get out of hand at the expense of mission readiness. I have the utmost respect for all the midshipmen. Although I am a vet, no I never attended an academy, far from it LOL. In my minds' eye though, as having gone to college, and having seen how D1 athletes were treated back then (a long while ago) I am having difficulty resolving things along these lines as it pertains to the service academies. Maybe I am wrong, wouldn't be the first time, but I believe as a citizen and taxpayer that the mission of the DOD in our countries defense should always come first. Not saying that it isn't but I just wanted to re-iterate that.
Thankfully, USNA did not give the extra year while USAFA and USMA did.