Military athletes must now serve at least two years of active duty before they are recruited into professional sports, the Pentagon announced Monday. The news reverses a 2016 policy that allowed service academy athletes to “go pro” directly after graduating, and will apply to this year’s graduating class.

http://www.govexec.com/defense/2017/05/m...=GovExecFB

I understand why. But man that's gonna sting.

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Well, there goes their competitive edge again.

If Army and Navy tanks (pun intended) again, maybe they consider going to the Patriot full-time.

Meh.....stupid outdated train of thinking. I went through ROTC myself so this is a little personal to me.

What's worth more to the United States. A man who has undergone 4 years of officer training, respects his country, and has the potential to become a multi-millionaire who could possibly give back?

Or forcing that same man to serve for two years and essentially eliminate that chance because two years later you will have lost many of the skills you have worked so hard on.

I'm NEVER for forcing anyone to do anything because their heart will not be in it. If these men choose the uniform over the NFL given the chance good for them and that will inspire many more soldiers than forcing them to.

(05-02-2017 12:38 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  Meh.....stupid outdated train of thinking. I went through ROTC myself so this is a little personal to me.

What's worth more to the United States. A man who has undergone 4 years of officer training, respects his country, and has the potential to become a multi-millionaire who could possibly give back?

Or forcing that same man to serve for two years and essentially eliminate that chance because two years later you will have lost many of the skills you have worked so hard on.

I'm NEVER for forcing anyone to do anything because their heart will not be in it. If these men choose the uniform over the NFL given the chance good for them and that will inspire many more soldiers than forcing them to.

When they sign up for the military they have to understand that there is no guarantee that anything will ever go their way. Just expect the worst.

For me its not an individual thing. Its more about whether the military gets more out of their 2 years of service than 2 years of PR?

Does the military get more from having pro-quality players on their college football team and the resulting higher quality teams...than they get from the two years service.

Only they can say. But really bad teams make for bad PR.

To remind us all...these institutions are extremely selective. Ivy-like.

So, even if someone does get into these schools on the hopes of turning pro, they're basically selected at the same standards as Stanford, Northwestern, etc....

The service component is the kind of edict that drives off not just pros but others. I don't want to bring in the politics, but...when you have a wildcard calling the shots, maybe you think twice about how you're willing to give back to your country, and about your future. The SA's won't be hurting for people, but their applicant pool might shrink a bit.

(05-02-2017 01:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  To remind us all...these institutions are extremely selective. Ivy-like.

So, even if someone does get into these schools on the hopes of turning pro, they're basically selected at the same standards as Stanford, Northwestern, etc....

The service component is the kind of edict that drives off not just pros but others. I don't want to bring in the politics, but...when you have a wildcard calling the shots, maybe you think twice about how you're willing to give back to your country, and about your future. The SA's won't be hurting for people, but their applicant pool might shrink a bit.

It's truly amazing that the student athletes at the academies are able to balance officer training, athletics, and academics. Not to mention, the teams are a huge moral increase for the cadets. It just feels good to watch your fellow cadets who are busting their butt get on the field and compete with division 1 teams and win.

I really hate this because it robs the academies of being able to actually compete at D1. And I see many of these kids in a similar situation to myself. I played sports my freshman, sophomore, and junior year while also doing ROTC and maintaining an academic scholarship. Come senior year I had a choice to either commit to the military or be a civilian.

Athletics exist to serve the mission of the institution not the other way around. Something more university leadership should keep in mind.

(05-02-2017 02:54 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Athletics exist to serve the mission of the institution not the other way around. Something more university leadership should keep in mind.

This.

(05-02-2017 01:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  To remind us all...these institutions are extremely selective. Ivy-like.

So, even if someone does get into these schools on the hopes of turning pro, they're basically selected at the same standards as Stanford, Northwestern, etc....

The service component is the kind of edict that drives off not just pros but others. I don't want to bring in the politics, but...when you have a wildcard calling the shots, maybe you think twice about how you're willing to give back to your country, and about your future. The SA's won't be hurting for people, but their applicant pool might shrink a bit.

If all of the Academies do this and football cannot be sustained at an FBS-level, I could see Army/Navy football in the Patriot League and maybe the Ivy League (I know its a long shot, but could be considered.)

Air Force could either find themselves in the Big Sky or perhaps the Missouri Valley.

If that happens it happens the academies will be fine. They have a specific purpose and that purpose will be filled with or without FBS football.

That said even if the quality of play were to go down I really don't think they will go anywhere. Army had been pretty bad for a while and still had no shot of going anywhere and I do not think that most of their football players went there to go to the NFL. There are MUCH easier ways to do that (and that support that option better) that do not have the requirements that the academies h

My cousin goes to West Point and I personally do not see this as a problem. The point of these schools are to supply quality officers for the military not to churn out professional athletes. A service requirement is the norm for places like West Point and I think that any person going should expect that they will asked to serve it as payment for their quality education.

I think some people forget what is the tail and what is the dog in this conversation.

(05-02-2017 02:54 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Athletics exist to serve the mission of the institution not the other way around. Something more university leadership should keep in mind.

That is true, but not many institutional missions are served by having terrible athletics.

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(05-02-2017 03:14 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 01:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  To remind us all...these institutions are extremely selective. Ivy-like.

So, even if someone does get into these schools on the hopes of turning pro, they're basically selected at the same standards as Stanford, Northwestern, etc....

The service component is the kind of edict that drives off not just pros but others. I don't want to bring in the politics, but...when you have a wildcard calling the shots, maybe you think twice about how you're willing to give back to your country, and about your future. The SA's won't be hurting for people, but their applicant pool might shrink a bit.

If all of the Academies do this and football cannot be sustained at an FBS-level, I could see Army/Navy football in the Patriot League and maybe the Ivy League (I know its a long shot, but could be considered.)

Air Force could either find themselves in the Big Sky or perhaps the Missouri Valley.

You do realize that the ability to immediately go pro from one of the academies is a relatively new thing right? Roger Staubach served four years including a tour of Vietnam after graduating from the Naval Academy.

This will have zero effect on the ability of the academies to compete in FBS.

(05-02-2017 03:50 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 03:14 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 01:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  To remind us all...these institutions are extremely selective. Ivy-like.

So, even if someone does get into these schools on the hopes of turning pro, they're basically selected at the same standards as Stanford, Northwestern, etc....

The service component is the kind of edict that drives off not just pros but others. I don't want to bring in the politics, but...when you have a wildcard calling the shots, maybe you think twice about how you're willing to give back to your country, and about your future. The SA's won't be hurting for people, but their applicant pool might shrink a bit.

If all of the Academies do this and football cannot be sustained at an FBS-level, I could see Army/Navy football in the Patriot League and maybe the Ivy League (I know its a long shot, but could be considered.)

Air Force could either find themselves in the Big Sky or perhaps the Missouri Valley.

You do realize that the ability to immediately go pro from one of the academies is a relatively new thing right? Roger Staubach served four years including a tour of Vietnam after graduating from the Naval Academy.

This will have zero effect on the ability of the academies to compete in FBS.

Times change. I think 'zero' may be a tad optimistic.

(05-02-2017 02:54 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Athletics exist to serve the mission of the institution not the other way around. Something more university leadership should keep in mind.

Yes. And I wonder whether they should play FBS football. With only 4,000 students and many female, that's a lot of cadets selected in part because they play football. Is that really in the interest of the academies?

(05-02-2017 03:42 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  If that happens it happens the academies will be fine. They have a specific purpose and that purpose will be filled with or without FBS football.

That said even if the quality of play were to go down I really don't think they will go anywhere. Army had been pretty bad for a while and still had no shot of going anywhere and I do not think that most of their football players went there to go to the NFL. There are MUCH easier ways to do that (and that support that option better) that do not have the requirements that the academies h

My cousin goes to West Point and I personally do not see this as a problem. The point of these schools are to supply quality officers for the military not to churn out professional athletes. A service requirement is the norm for places like West Point and I think that any person going should expect that they will asked to serve it as payment for their quality education.

I think some people forget what is the tail and what is the dog in this conversation.

Students of that caliber will go to Stanford or Northwestern if they think they have a good chance of turning pro.

(05-02-2017 04:03 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 03:50 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 03:14 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 01:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  To remind us all...these institutions are extremely selective. Ivy-like.

So, even if someone does get into these schools on the hopes of turning pro, they're basically selected at the same standards as Stanford, Northwestern, etc....

The service component is the kind of edict that drives off not just pros but others. I don't want to bring in the politics, but...when you have a wildcard calling the shots, maybe you think twice about how you're willing to give back to your country, and about your future. The SA's won't be hurting for people, but their applicant pool might shrink a bit.

If all of the Academies do this and football cannot be sustained at an FBS-level, I could see Army/Navy football in the Patriot League and maybe the Ivy League (I know its a long shot, but could be considered.)

Air Force could either find themselves in the Big Sky or perhaps the Missouri Valley.

You do realize that the ability to immediately go pro from one of the academies is a relatively new thing right? Roger Staubach served four years including a tour of Vietnam after graduating from the Naval Academy.

This will have zero effect on the ability of the academies to compete in FBS.

Times change. I think 'zero' may be a tad optimistic.

It will have ZERO effect.

The student-athletes that the service academies sign know the requirements before they ever put their name on the dotted line. The ones coming out of high school who think they have a chance at NFL careers aren't going to go to an academy to begin with.

(05-02-2017 04:38 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 04:03 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 03:50 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 03:14 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(05-02-2017 01:19 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  To remind us all...these institutions are extremely selective. Ivy-like.

So, even if someone does get into these schools on the hopes of turning pro, they're basically selected at the same standards as Stanford, Northwestern, etc....

The service component is the kind of edict that drives off not just pros but others. I don't want to bring in the politics, but...when you have a wildcard calling the shots, maybe you think twice about how you're willing to give back to your country, and about your future. The SA's won't be hurting for people, but their applicant pool might shrink a bit.

If all of the Academies do this and football cannot be sustained at an FBS-level, I could see Army/Navy football in the Patriot League and maybe the Ivy League (I know its a long shot, but could be considered.)

Air Force could either find themselves in the Big Sky or perhaps the Missouri Valley.

You do realize that the ability to immediately go pro from one of the academies is a relatively new thing right? Roger Staubach served four years including a tour of Vietnam after graduating from the Naval Academy.

This will have zero effect on the ability of the academies to compete in FBS.

Times change. I think 'zero' may be a tad optimistic.

It will have ZERO effect.

The student-athletes that the service academies sign know the requirements before they ever put their name on the dotted line. The ones coming out of high school who think they have a chance at NFL careers aren't going to go to an academy to begin with.

Ok dude, whatever you say.

So, after 10 months of allowing cadets to go pro immediately it all goes back to the way it was. Other than changing the plans for 1 Navy football player and 2 Air Force athletes it really has no effect on anyone. Nothing has changed from the last 100 years or more of how things are done. There is no need for the academies to drop to 1-AA since they have proven to be competitive in 1-A. Athletes know what to expect before they commit to the academy.

The three academies combined have 7 NFL players listed as being in the NFL by ESPN, 4 current MLB players according to baseball-reference.com

Combined, that's a good Sun Belt school's worth of pro players.