Should Mike Williams be reinstated?

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

First, a little background for the uninitiated. As far as I can tell, Freak is the only real college football fan, but I think this is an interesting story, so hopefully everyone will chime in.

The NFL has a rule that says you must be three years removed from high school to be in the league. Thus, the earliest you can enter the NFL draft is after your junior year of college, unless you took sufficient college-level courses in high school, as Larry Fitzgerald did.

Ohio St running back and all-around pain in the ass Maurice Clarett sued the NFL for the right to enter the draft, claiming that the NFL was a monopoly and was unfairly preventing him from working in his chosen profession, professional football. A judge agreed with Clarett and declared that anyone 18 years of age or older could be in the NFL draft.

At this point USC's star reciever, Mike Williams, declared for the NFL draft after his sophmore. But then, a judge overturned the initial ruling and upheld the NFL's rule. Thus, Mike Williams was forced out of the NFL, and has lost his college eligibility.

USC has appealled to the NCAA, saying that Williams simply obeyed the rules, and then had the rug pulled out from under him, and he should regain his eligibility.

Do you think the NFL's 3-years after high school rule is fair?
And, do you think the NCAA should give Williams his eligibility back and let him play for USC this season?

Here's one side of the argument:
http://www.cnn.com/cnnsi/2004/writer...bag/index.html

DMW

Hell no. Mike Williams should be banned from all forms of football for the rest of his life!!

/ucla bias off

If in fact Williams is not allowed in the NFL, nor back at USC, it would be hilarious, albeit totally unfair. Williams can't be blamed, nor punished, for any of the craziness that's been going on.

Hopefully he gets into the NFL... or the CFL, or anywhere but USC. He's a punk and hopefully we've seen the last of him in a Trojan uniform.

Freak

It will be ridiculous if Mike Williams isn't playing football in 2004. I don't wanna see him in the NFL really, and I certainly think players should have three years before entering the NFL, but Williams got screwed in this situation, and the NCAA needs to reinstate him.

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

i say that he should be reinstated.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

I'm a huge college fan, and I really want to see Mike Williams reinstated. He was my favorite player to watch last year next to Larry Fitzgerald and I would really like to see USC get it with all their weapons. I don't want them bitchin that Mike aint there when they lose....If they lose. He shouldn't be penalized of course because to me he didn't really, at the time, break any rules or guidlines...he didn't know.

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

According to ESPN, the NCAA ruled Mike Williams ineligible to play football.

This is a complete and utter travesty of justice. With the mockery that the NCAA makes of itself on a near-daily basis (BCS, anyone?) this was a no-brainer and they even fucked that up.

For one thing, it's totally unfair. When the rules were opened up to allow Williams to declare for the draft, he did. then, the doors were shut by a court of law, and rather than let him (possibly the best player in college football, mind you) back in, they left him out in the cold. So now he cant play in the NFL, and he cant play for USC.

Plus, this opens up litigation for both the NCAA and the NFL. Williams can sue the NCAA for improper loss of eligiblity (which I'm sure got his scholarship revoked), plus it supports Maurice Clarett's anti-NFL argument.
The thing that makes the NFL not a monopoly is the fact that people who want to play football can play in college and get a free education in the process. If that was not available to them, the NFL would be unfairly excluding 18-21 year-olds of obtaining employment in their desired field (professional football), even if they have the skills necessary. But, since talented football players are essentially given a 30-40k stipend every year (covering tuition), the NFL can essentially label itself as NOT a monopoly.

The NFL and NCAA have a delicate balance where, in exchange for not raiding the NCAA's talent (like the NBA does every year), the NCAA serves as a sort of "minor-league" for football players, so that only NFL-ready guys can enter the league. Now, you've got a guy who wants to play football, should be able to play football, but isnt allowed to play in either league. and the morons who run the NCAA just put that system in jeopardy.

This is total bullshit. The NCAA should be ashamed of themselves

Rant over.

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

I agree with Mister D.

DMW

HAHA! That's the best news I've heard all day.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Shit, I can't believe it. I didn't think even the NCAA could fuck this up. I guess they showed me.