Did the Clarett ruling kill college football?

By David Martin Sports Central Columnist

Maurice Clarett's fight to gain eligibility for the National Football League's Entry Draft in April is, for intents and purposes, if not legally, over. And, his recent announcement that he will take advantage of a court's ruling permitting his -- and that of any non-minor in the nation, for that matter -- eligibility is not at all surprising.

Pundits find it easy to decry Clarett as either a scourge to the game, or hail him as some seminal worker's movement leader. Whether a bust or a stud in the pro game, Clarett's choice is made. Just as the Ohio State University turned its back on him when he ran afoul of laws in such a way as to suggest he had also run afoul of NCAA regulations, and suspended him from playing for the school, Maurice Clarett has chosen to eschew a college education and let some reasonable facsimile of Jay Mohr from "Jerry Maguire" "show him the money."

Clarett's case raises the hackles of football fans most everywhere. NFL followers are frightened beyond belief that the NFL will become flooded with immature, unknowledgable, unprepared upstarts ruining the game with a lack of fundamentals and larger than deserved egos. College football followers are concerned the NFL alarmists are right, and all the truly great talent will forego college altogether and leave college football a vapid space where only players who couldn't go pro would even bother playing. As if basketball's travails even remotely translate to football.

Will Clarett succeed? It's difficult to know. Guessing, as a purely amateur pundit and as a fan of the game, I'd say: not right away. But, neither am I completely convinced that University of Pittsburgh sophomore wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is ready, either. Of the two, Fitzgerald is the more accomplished, more draft-worthy commodity. Still, Fitzgerald will require time, just as many rookies do, to learn the speed and toughness of the professional game.

Of particular interest in the run-up to March 1, with the gates open, will there be other sophomores, freshmen, and 18-year-old high schoolers signing up to get into the draft? And, if there are, what effect, really, on the college game?

Just as college basketball has missed on star power the likes of which following Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, college football may miss out further awe-inspiring catches from Southern California's Mike Williams and ... who else in college football a year ago stands out as being ready for the professional game? Perhaps a lineman with whom most aren't familiar, or hadn't been considered ready due simply to being under the age of 20?

There aren't that many players in college who are truly ready, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Coaches in programs that churn out pro prospects on a yearly basis know the difference, and will have more pressure to advise their young charges accordingly. Beginning next year, we will surely see a smattering of sophomores applying for the draft, as it should be. Some will be frightened off by Clarett's sitting his first season. More would be so frightened if he goes undrafted, which is a circumstance I'm evilly relishing will come to pass.

Still, the vast majority of high school players will continue to go straight to college, and will continue to bring fans joy, agony, rivalry, and passion. The vast majority of high school superstar roundballers still go to college, believe it or not. The situation will be similar in football, too.

There is question regarding college eligibility that arises, now, though, that I think the NCAA needs to address sooner rather than later. Suppose Maurice Clarett goes undrafted in April. Should he necessarily be stripped of his remaining two (likely three under appeal, actually) years of eligibility? In the current system, he would be, which means that Clarett fans would be watching him pass his career away in NFL Europe, Canada, or one of the two Arena leagues. Time has come now, with the Clarett ruling, that the NCAA lift its strict eligibility rules regarding amateurism in football.

The NCAA doesn't lord over players drafted by Major League Baseball organizations regarding their positions as amateurs. The NCAA allows basketball players to enter the NBA draft one time without losing any eligibility if they go undrafted. Football players need the same regard, in light of the Clarett ruling. In fact, I would suggest that eligibility be available to even drafted football players until the end of rookie camp.

A 19-year-old kid could be drafted late, get to rookie camp, living more or less on his own for a short while, and realize that he isn't ready to be on his own just yet, or what have you. Jumping into the draft out of high school shouldn't be equivalent to forgoing a college career.

Meanwhile, fans will miss Clarett and Fitzgerald next college football season, but they are hardly the end all, be all in college football. The sport is long from doomed. Of course, maybe you should check back in five years. I may have changed my mind.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.