Ya know I see the accomplishments of each of these players and I wish them well and much success.

What bothers me is loosing undergrads to the NFL/ABA. Sure we can always say that we recruited top notch players..But isn't the real reason the commitment to the university is to play sports for that school and shouldn't the coaching staff encourage players to stay in school, persue a degree and graduate?

In my mind if a player accepts a scholarship from any university he/she should be held accountable for that offer if he/she accepts it and should honor it up to and including graduaon and if that commitment is broken by the student athlete before graduation shouldn't the remaning balance of that scholarship be repaid to the university by the student?

After all the school is investing thousands of dollars in education and giving a student athelete a platform to showcase his ability?

It bothers me that U of M has lost many great football/basketball players to the pros without a dregee and several coaches leaving the program...Just seems to my nieve mind that we should be encourageing them to stay..... Merriman, Davis, Henderson, Gaither(and I know I'm going to get jumped on on this one) Blackney & Taffee et al?

I just feel that if a school offers a scholarship to a student athete that student should be required to fulfill the commitment that THEY chose.

Just one man's view.

Tom,

I agree with your point, but just so you're aware, Erin Henderson graduated last month; because of his redshirt season, he was able to stay on track for graduation despite having only played three seasons for the Terps.

For once, one of our players leaves early the RIGHT way. Best of luck, Erin!

I think you need to take into account the tremendous amount of $$$ these athletes generate for the university, both directly through TV and gate receipts, but indirectly as well through increased donations from fans and alumni when the team is winning. Everybody from coaches to the Athletic Department cashes in big time, except for the product, I mean players. The amount of money spent on Football/Basketball scholarships pales in comparison to the revenue generated by these student athletes for the athletic department. W/o these players, we would not pony up to watch. why should they continue this indentured servitude without also participating in the $$ in a meaningful way?

i personally don't begrudge any player talented enough to pursue his/her sport as a professional to doing so on their own timeline, not the fans.

Rick