your thoughts on clowney

[cajunhawk]

I agree with you. With that said, he should just quit the team.

Oh man, that would set such a huge precedent...I don't know if the whole of college football would be ready for that. But it's something that needs to happen. I hope he does it. Pure chaos.

[moorecajun]

And when he gets to the combine and blows people away with what they already know about his size and speed, all those question marks will fade into oblivion. It's not like the guy is suspended or anything. Had he been suspended I would agree that those kinds of question marks might make a difference. But all the guy is doing is taking it easy, so he doesn't end up like Marcus Lattimore with a twice blown out Knee and an uphill climb to make it in the NFL.

I think his body of work is already #1 pick material and nothing he does this year beyond getting hurt or robbing a bank will change that.

Why does the name Jordan Jefferson come to mind?

[CrazyCajun]

If he can't do anything but hurt his stock, then quit and start training for the combine.

[jumboragncajun]

If you own a piece of property that has been proven to hold a fortune in Oil & Gas reserves, but you cannot contact anyone to drill for that oil for 3 years, and someone from the local university wants to do underground explosives and seismic testing on your piece of property for free that may alter or shift the formations and reservoirs where your fortune lies...are you a head case for not allowing them to do the testing, or are you using your head by being conservative and not allowing that opportunity to go to waste? The kid is just doing it the smart way.

Very poor analogy. Thought you would have come up with something better. If I am the coach, "You either play for this team, or you don't" Both HUD and Marlin have a philosophy of it all being "ABOUT THE TEAM". Quen Griffin, JJ Thomas are examples of guys that were about themselves more than the team.

[cajunhawk]

Very poor analogy. Thought you would have come up with something better. If I am the coach, "You either play for this team, or you don't" Both HUD and Marlin have a philosophy of it all being "ABOUT THE TEAM". Quen Griffin, JJ Thomas are examples of guys that were about themselves more than the team.

I agree it's a weird analogy but it fits. If he could, Clowney would have gone to the NFL out of High School. Just like in the analogy, had the person been allowed to drill for oil and not wait 3 years, they would have done it so fast it would have made your head spin.

Clowney is in a precarious position. The NFL says you cannot get drafted until you are 3 years removed from High School. He has very few options in that case. He can either play 3 years of college ball and hope and pray to god he doesn't blow out his knee once or twice. Or...he could not play football at all...wait three years...be forgotten and have to train on his own dime for three years until he can cash in. College Football is the best option at the moment.

But with two years in, and watching a special talent in Marcus Lattimore have his dreams literally crushed right before Clowney's eyes, you cannot blame him for having a "Me First" mentality. Some kids go to school to learn, Clowney went to school because it's the only feasible way to get that big NFL contract.

I don't see how you can put guys like Qyen Griffin and JJ Thomas and compare them to a guy in a situation like Clowney. Neither of those guys had sure fire NFL draft pick slapped on them coming out of high school. They were guys who had to play on a team, and play well to even be considered for that opportunity. They weren't sitting out of games to protect themselves from undue damage to their bodies so that the mutli-millions they were literally guaranteed wouldn't be ____ed away for a game that in the grand scheme of things means very little. Griffin and Thomas were selfish because they chose to be. Clowney is being selfish because he needs to be.

[CharlieK]

You go to college to learn a trade to earn money. Most people have to get a degree for that to mean anything. Clowney is already marketable in his coming trade. The system is setup to benefit the schools 95% and the athlete 5%. He didn't set that up, but he has every right to use whatever leverage he has to make sure he protects his interests. I completely understand where the detractors are coming from on the teamwork over individual opinions. And I hate that he is doing this too. But I blame the broken system as much (not only, but as much) as him.

I wonder how many here...if you had two semesters left but already had a guaranteed job making money at the absolute top of your expected pay range when you graduated would put 100% effort into every class. I'm not saying its right, just that we should maybe not throw too many stones.

[jumboragncajun]

I agree it's a weird analogy but it fits. If he could, Clowney would have gone to the NFL out of High School. Just like in the analogy, had the person been allowed to drill for oil and not wait 3 years, they would have done it so fast it would have made your head spin.

Clowney is in a precarious position. The NFL says you cannot get drafted until you are 3 years removed from High School. He has very few options in that case. He can either play 3 years of college ball and hope and pray to god he doesn't blow out his knee once or twice. Or...he could not play football at all...wait three years...be forgotten and have to train on his own dime for three years until he can cash in. College Football is the best option at the moment.

But with two years in, and watching a special talent in Marcus Lattimore have his dreams literally crushed right before Clowney's eyes, you cannot blame him for having a "Me First" mentality. Some kids go to school to learn, Clowney went to school because it's the only feasible way to get that big NFL contract.

I don't see how you can put guys like Qyen Griffin and JJ Thomas and compare them to a guy in a situation like Clowney. Neither of those guys had sure fire NFL draft pick slapped on them coming out of high school. They were guys who had to play on a team, and play well to even be considered for that opportunity. They weren't sitting out of games to protect themselves from undue damage to their bodies so that the mutli-millions they were literally guaranteed wouldn't be ____ed away for a game that in the grand scheme of things means very little. Griffin and Thomas were selfish because they chose to be. Clowney is being selfish because he needs to be.

Too long...did not read. It's not the oil field. If you don't want to play, don't commit to an fn team where others depend on you, and then let them down. Let someone have that spot who gives a ____. I would love to see what Saban would do to this jackleg if he tried that ____ on him.

[cajunhawk]

Too long...did not read. It's not the oil field. If you don't want to play, don't commit to an fn team where others depend on you, and then let them down. Let someone have that spot who gives a ____. I would love to see what Saban would do to this jackleg if he tried that ____ on him.

He has no other choice...this is a very closed minded and ignorant view point you have. This isn't ____ing Friday Night Lights...it's Clowney's future. Saban would let him do it also because without NFL talent, Bama is nothing...hell the entire SEC would be nothing. Maybe you should have read with I put up there...may do you some good.

[moorecajun]

He has no other choice...this is a very closed minded and ignorant view point you have. This isn't ____ing Friday Night Lights...it's Clowney's future. Saban would let him do it also because without NFL talent, Bama is nothing...hell the entire SEC would be nothing. Maybe you should have read with I put up there...may do you some good.

You may be right, but I'm going to disagree with the Saban theory ... I think, if a player is cleared by the team doctors, but he doesn't want to play because he is "saving" himself for the pros (and I know this is just conjecture at this point) ... I think Saban (Hud would) tells the player to hit the road.

What good is a "star" player if he doesn't play ... he's taking up a scholarship and letting down the team. I think this sets a horrible precedent and will not lead to anything good for college athletics.

[cajunhawk]

You may be right, but I'm going to disagree with the Saban theory ... I think, if a player is cleared by the team doctors, but he doesn't want to play because he is "saving" himself for the pros (and I know this is just conjecture at this point) ... I think Saban (Hud would) tells the player to hit the road.

What good is a "star" player if he doesn't play ... he's taking up a scholarship and letting down the team. I think this sets a horrible precedent and will not lead to anything good for college athletics.

Think of the collateral damage if that player reached out to other SEC recruits and started telling them about what happened. Bama and the SEC depends on keeping themselves as close to being Minor League football for the NFL. Without that...their tenuous grasp on the throat of college athletics floats away. Saban would be a fool, as would Hud be a fool to let the word get out that no one is special. That is the main reason these 5 star recruits go to these schools in the first place. To be placed high on that athlete pedestal. Take that away by giving the old, team first talk and you are liable to lose the top conference spot.

Causality...the NCAA allows these schools to go after top talent that has no interest of getting an education in the first place. The precedent has been set for years now. This is the blow back. This is the chicken's coming home to roost. Pandora's box is about to ripped open, and all the NCAA's dirty money plays will come back to bite them in the end.