Yesterday, Luck officially announced that he would return to Stanford for a final season, and today there's this http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/07/peyton-manning-andrew-luck_n_805956.html. It looks like Peyton Manning, among others, encouraged Luck to return for one more year.
In 1997, Peyton Manning found himself in Andrew Luck's position. Manning had completed his degree in 3 years and was projected to be the number one overall pick in the NFL draft. Instead of entering the draft, he returned to Tennessee for his senior season.
I hope that Andrew Luck returns and has the fairy tale ending to his college career that he is hoping for. He seems like a genuinely nice young man with a bright future whose talents have not gone to his head. Unlike Peyton Manning, Luck's dad was not an NFL quarterback. Passing up a projected $60 million payday could backfire if Luck gets injured or is unable to recapture his 2010 form in 2011. With coach Jim Harbough's future very much up in the air, these are both very real scenarios.
I have a lot of respect for Luck's willingness to put his team ahead of money. If more athletes were willing to do this, the scandals that seem to occur daily in college sports (Cam Newton, Ohio State) would not be a part of NCAA athletics. Luck is an example of a student athlete who chose to leave a huge sum of money on the table to return for a senior season. I just hope the decision doesn't backfire on him. Only time will tell.
Yes, I think he made the right decision for his situation. Andrew Luck will really enjoy his final year of college but I don't see him winning the national championship or heisman trophy. Too many things can go wrong. Even though he could always go back to school later he would not be able to get these college years back. I think it is a great decision, good for him!
ReplyDeleteJohn Clay decided to leave Wisconsin which I think is right for him. I don't know if he can make it in the NFL but the Badgers clearly showed that they did not value him enough to play him as much as they should have in the Rose Bowl. He is not going to come back to be third string. Too bad it had to end this way but maybe he will use it as motivation and become a good pro player.
I truely have respect for this guy! He's passing up all this money to enjoy another year of college! Great move cuz he can never get these years back! I absolutely think he will will the heisman next year but it will be tough to win a national championship.
ReplyDeleteJamie I totally agree!! The NFL is a career, enjoy college for another year and then go to the NFL. I wonder if the potential work stoppage is a reason for this? Great article Paul!
ReplyDeleteI think the potential work stoppage does have something to do with it Mike.
ReplyDeleteBold heisman prediction Jamie, it could happen but the odds are not in his favor.
Good article Paul!