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Oh, so NOW the Nick Sabans and the Urban Meyers of the world are crying and whining about agents while asking for the NFL to get involved. Oh, so NOW the players are ripe for the picking and are too young and naïve to make their own decisions. Oh, so NOW the “problem” needs to be addressed for the good of the players, and of course it has nothing to do with the potential of a Reggie Bush situation in Tuscaloosa or Gainesville drying up the treasure bath.
According to Saban, agents are evil and the scourge of humanity because what they do is “entrapment for young people in a very difficult time of their lives.” Uh huh. And what exactly is it when a college head coach starts whispering sweet nothings into the ears of ninth graders? What is it when a recruiting coordinator promises the moon and the stars to a 17-year-old kid? What is it when a head coach has the unmitigated gall to sit in a living room and use carefully crafted and hollow buzzwords like "family," and "special," and "starting job," and the ear-perker of all ear-perkers, "NFL," in an attempt to appeal to a child's most basic hopes and dreams while saying and doing anything to get that kid to sign?
And now, the coaches who massage and tweak all the recruiting rules and all the regulations, while using all the tried and true brainwashing tactics passed down through generations of coaches, are wondering why the same kids who fell for the boatload of bullmuffins that were slung to get them in the university in the first place might then want to explore the opportunities presented when the pros are about to come calling.
Oh sure, the coaches really care about the poor players ... as long as they're 6-8, 300 pounds, throw the ball 75 yards or run a 4.3 40. You want to talk about manipulative? You want to talk about “pimp” behavior? You want to talk about “anything but greed” that’s creating the controversy? To go Dan Hawkins, IT’S DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL. Welcome to the party, pal. If you don't like it, D-III is right there for you.
You want the NFL to start policing this? Or what? You’re going to eliminate NFL scouts' access to your players and programs? Good luck with that on the recruiting trail, especially in the SEC.
Coaches, if you really and truly have the best interests of your players at heart, and if you really and truly care about their well being, instead of trying to use a teaspoon and sponge to clean up the Gulf of Mexico, try to change the system. Let the players have agents. Let the kid who wants to stay in school, but desperately needs the money, have someone to help the cause above board -- as opposed to how it's happening now at every top program. Remember, most of these players have jack squat, and just because they're wearing the shiny uniforms, and just because the media covers and scrutinizes them like pros, that doesn’t mean they have any money. (And please don't try to throw out the idea that a scholarship begins to scratch the surface of what the top players bring in to the schools. It demeans us both.)
Let the players have agents. Let them be given money just because they're able. Let the free market, natural selection system work in their favor, just like it does for the coaches. It’s time for the collegiate athletic world to finally wake up and realize that players getting money and benefits from boosters, agents, whomever, isn’t a bad thing. If a coach can do endorsements, is allowed to take money in what’s supposed to be an amateur endeavor, all while getting all the perks that come with the position, then why can’t the players? I’m not saying all the players should be paid (that’s logistically and legally impossible); I’m saying they should be allowed to take money, cars, whatever, from anyone who wants to give it to them.
If kids are supposed to go to college to grow into adults and learn how to get through life, then they should be allowed to make adult decisions and stop being treated like children? If it doesn't work out (like it doesn't work out for a lot of regular students), then the world needs ditch diggers, too.
Coaches, grow up. If you don’t like agents, then make sure your players know the difference between right and wrong (at least by your version) and police your own damn teams. Oh, sorry, I forgot. Your “families.”
