Greg Robinson had a sick visit to the NFL Combine in every sense of the word.
Not only did the 6-foot-5, 332-pound former Auburn tackle wow people in Indianapolis with his 4.92-second 40-yard dash and his 32 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press, he did it with a head cold and pink eye.
Take that, Bob Costas.
Of course, a little illness is a minor impediment to a young man such as Robinson, whose family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Those details are part of a terrific behind-the-scenes story on Robinson's NFL Combine visit by Dan Pompei of SportsonEarth.com, who was granted exclusive access to Robinson in Indianapolis.
It's an inspiring story of Robinson's journey, which is climbing toward the very top of the May NFL Draft. Of all the interesting details provided, beyond the blood tests and MRIs in Indy, one stands out that touches a nerve as the NCAA tries to define amateurism and some college athletes try to form a union.
Robinson's father died last year. His mother tries to find work as a nursing assistant. She couldn't watch her son play in person in the BCS Championship Game in January, the story says, because she couldn't afford to make the trip.
Think about that the next time you want to argue that a scholarship is all the compensation a big-time college football player needs.
Auburn reported $102.9 million in athletics revenue for the 2012-13 school year. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn got a raise to $3.85 million this year, with built-in annual bumps that'll take him to $5.1 million in the final year of the deal.
Meanwhile, the mother of one of the most important players on Auburn's SEC champions and national runners-up couldn't afford to travel to watch her son's final college game.
There's something wrong with that picture.
Steve Spurrier raised that issue again last July at SEC Media Days. He said that he and his fellow SEC coaches had voted unanimously that players in the league in the major revenue-producing sports of football and men's basketball should be given a stipend to pay for their parents to attend their games.
The idea combines common sense and common decency.
If Robinson hadn't developed into one of the best blockers in college football last season, Auburn might not have made that run through the SEC to the BCS Championship Game. His mom should've been there with him in Pasadena, and the program should've been allowed to pay for it.
Until major college football finds a way to reconcile its old notion of amateurism with its new reality as a money-making machine, it'll continue to be embarrassed by that kind of sad detail in otherwise inspiring stories like Greg Robinson's.
Brad S said:Just heard some athletes now have the right to unionize. What a smoldering pile of crap. If Eddie Nealy is playing for k state and Kelly Knight is playing for Kansas, Jiggs and I are going to banter about Ksu/ku hoops the same as if it's beasly vs Morris twins. If Beas or morrii want to skip college, I'm happy for them; the ksu/Ku game was relevant before anybody got paid to play. If ed nealy was able to train up to play in the nba and get a 4.0 GPA on his way to a great degree all on k states dime, I'm happy for him. It's all about choice versus coercion.
Back in the late 80s Kansas had a near pro named milt newton. He came from DC Dunbar High and was a great college player, but he was too slow for being too small for not having a good enough shot. He almost made the nba, but hoops ain't horseshoes. When asked about paying players, milt said the college training and development was very valuable above and beyond the education. Milt said once you leave college, it's a harsh world that doesn't care about athletes. Milt has a degree that affords him a nice living. College hoops delivered a kid from the worst part of Washington, D.C. To a good living. If that isn't good enough for whatever athlete, you have the choice to go get paid.
Mike said:Greg Robinson had a sick visit to the NFL Combine in every sense of the word.
Not only did the 6-foot-5, 332-pound former Auburn tackle wow people in Indianapolis with his 4.92-second 40-yard dash and his 32 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press, he did it with a head cold and pink eye.
Take that, Bob Costas.
Of course, a little illness is a minor impediment to a young man such as Robinson, whose family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Those details are part of a terrific behind-the-scenes story on Robinson's NFL Combine visit by Dan Pompei of SportsonEarth.com, who was granted exclusive access to Robinson in Indianapolis.
It's an inspiring story of Robinson's journey, which is climbing toward the very top of the May NFL Draft. Of all the interesting details provided, beyond the blood tests and MRIs in Indy, one stands out that touches a nerve as the NCAA tries to define amateurism and some college athletes try to form a union.
Robinson's father died last year. His mother tries to find work as a nursing assistant. She couldn't watch her son play in person in the BCS Championship Game in January, the story says, because she couldn't afford to make the trip.
Think about that the next time you want to argue that a scholarship is all the compensation a big-time college football player needs.
Auburn reported $102.9 million in athletics revenue for the 2012-13 school year. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn got a raise to $3.85 million this year, with built-in annual bumps that'll take him to $5.1 million in the final year of the deal.
Meanwhile, the mother of one of the most important players on Auburn's SEC champions and national runners-up couldn't afford to travel to watch her son's final college game.
There's something wrong with that picture.
Steve Spurrier raised that issue again last July at SEC Media Days. He said that he and his fellow SEC coaches had voted unanimously that players in the league in the major revenue-producing sports of football and men's basketball should be given a stipend to pay for their parents to attend their games.
The idea combines common sense and common decency.
If Robinson hadn't developed into one of the best blockers in college football last season, Auburn might not have made that run through the SEC to the BCS Championship Game. His mom should've been there with him in Pasadena, and the program should've been allowed to pay for it.
Until major college football finds a way to reconcile its old notion of amateurism with its new reality as a money-making machine, it'll continue to be embarrassed by that kind of sad detail in otherwise inspiring stories like Greg Robinson's.
Broke Cowboy said:Mike said:Greg Robinson had a sick visit to the NFL Combine in every sense of the word.
Not only did the 6-foot-5, 332-pound former Auburn tackle wow people in Indianapolis with his 4.92-second 40-yard dash and his 32 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press, he did it with a head cold and pink eye.
Take that, Bob Costas.
Of course, a little illness is a minor impediment to a young man such as Robinson, whose family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Those details are part of a terrific behind-the-scenes story on Robinson's NFL Combine visit by Dan Pompei of SportsonEarth.com, who was granted exclusive access to Robinson in Indianapolis.
It's an inspiring story of Robinson's journey, which is climbing toward the very top of the May NFL Draft. Of all the interesting details provided, beyond the blood tests and MRIs in Indy, one stands out that touches a nerve as the NCAA tries to define amateurism and some college athletes try to form a union.
Robinson's father died last year. His mother tries to find work as a nursing assistant. She couldn't watch her son play in person in the BCS Championship Game in January, the story says, because she couldn't afford to make the trip.
Think about that the next time you want to argue that a scholarship is all the compensation a big-time college football player needs.
Auburn reported $102.9 million in athletics revenue for the 2012-13 school year. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn got a raise to $3.85 million this year, with built-in annual bumps that'll take him to $5.1 million in the final year of the deal.
Meanwhile, the mother of one of the most important players on Auburn's SEC champions and national runners-up couldn't afford to travel to watch her son's final college game.
There's something wrong with that picture.
Steve Spurrier raised that issue again last July at SEC Media Days. He said that he and his fellow SEC coaches had voted unanimously that players in the league in the major revenue-producing sports of football and men's basketball should be given a stipend to pay for their parents to attend their games.
The idea combines common sense and common decency.
If Robinson hadn't developed into one of the best blockers in college football last season, Auburn might not have made that run through the SEC to the BCS Championship Game. His mom should've been there with him in Pasadena, and the program should've been allowed to pay for it.
Until major college football finds a way to reconcile its old notion of amateurism with its new reality as a money-making machine, it'll continue to be embarrassed by that kind of sad detail in otherwise inspiring stories like Greg Robinson's.
His mother is not alone and I tend to think - so what?
Not everyone can afford to watch their kids play - I was not able to fly to Europe to watch my daughter beat a few national women's hockey teams - but then again - that is only women's hockey.
Mind you they were not part of the multimillion dollar club that can only be entered if you are an accident of genetics and people worship at your feet like you are a God.
People need to remember that sports is entertainment but it is not LIFE - and it seems to me that many do not.
Especially college players who cannot graduate and legibly write their name.
This author can kiss my butt for the pity party - had to sell a bunch of cows just so the my daughter's team could make the trip.
Sound bitter? Possibly.
Do I give a rats azz about athletes in general? Nope
But I hate articles like this.
How entitled.
bc