OT: Urban Meyer Says: "Cardale Jones STILL didn't come to play School" (paraphrased)

Submitted by boliver46 on

Oh, those pesky college class requirements for COLLEGE athletes.  They apparently get in the way of player development, especially in the case of Cardale Jones.

Jones infamously stated that he "ain't come to play SCHOOL", and his coach Urban Meyer backs up why this was such a concern to Mr. Jones:

“A really good skill set, intellectual, very smart, wasn’t necessarily very good at school. I wonder if that kind of set him back a little bit. That’s one difference between pro and college — now he doesn’t have to worry about classes and going to school and all that stuff. He can focus completely on football.”

I am sure Mr. Jones is much relieved that the burden of getting an education no longer stands in the way of football.  We can also all breathe a sigh of relief for this heavily burdened young man. /s

Link

Ohio State's Third-String Quarterback "Ain't Come To Play SCHOOL"

PopeLando

April 18th, 2016 at 11:32 AM ^

Lol I actually feel bad for Cardale. A bit. Ok, not much. His NFL rookie contract, no matter when he is drafted, will be enough to set him up for life. Even the league minimum over 2-3 years is enough to get you set up for life, and he'll make much more than the minimum. But if doesn't learn from his teachers or listen to his coaches, he won't listen to his financial advisor.

mvp

April 18th, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^

Pro athlete money is fantastic, but a rookie contract isn't enough to set you up for life. 

League minimum is roughly half a million each year, which translates to $300K after taxes.  Figuring a minimum of $75K a year in expenses leaves $225K, or $675K over three years if the player is very careful about their spending.  That's certainly nothing to scoff at, but isn't enough to sustain a comfortable lifestyle for the next 50 years.

If you can earn 3% after tax on your money (to keep it very safe) that's less than $30K a year for the next 50 years.  And I guarantee in 2066 $30K won't buy what it does now.

PopeLando

April 18th, 2016 at 1:51 PM ^

I should have stated my assumptions better: assumed he would actually do some kind of work for some kind of income until age 65. Trust me, I did the math and he'd be better than fine if he gets market returns, follows the 4% rule, and can live off of the income from his second career (selling cars in Ohio? Couldn't resist...) I'm a retirement expert, and if you're investing for 3%, you have really missed out on the past 6 years of economic growth. And inflation is factored in - it's the difference between real return and nominal return. But you're basically right, he'd have to be careful. I agree more with the guy below, that Cardale is in serious danger of not being drafted or signed.

wolverine1987

April 18th, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^

First, as the guy above me states, minmum salaries aren't enough to be set for life. Second, while I haven't followed the draft closely this year, I would be shocked if he went anywhere before the fourth round. Personally I think he's undrafteable, best as a free agent. Immature, undeveloped, big arm but makes big mistakes, coming from a Meyer offense. Stay away, this guy could be the next Jarmarcus Russell. 

PopeLando

April 18th, 2016 at 1:50 PM ^

I agree with everything except your first sentence (see above). It's not enough if you want to sit on the couch from age 25-death, but if you do almost anything for work from age 25-65, a $600k headstart on retirement savings at age 22 is incredible.

Truthbtold

April 18th, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^

National Champion QB 5 years from now he will probably be the only QB from this draft still in the league. Kid has all the tools. He has 4 sets of gold pants too.

DreisbachToHayes

April 18th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^

12 guage!!  He does have a very reasonable chance of being the 3rd best ever NFL QB from OSU.

I'm putting the career stat lines of Kent Graham and Mike Tomczak out of his reach.

ScruffyTheJanitor

April 18th, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^

I mean, don't get me wrong: if he flames out of football, his lack of focus on his studies will probably come back to bite him. But he got a scholarship based on what he could do on the football field, and the idea of "student" in "Student athlete" is, for too many (though by no means a majority) a joke. I guess what I am saying is that if he wants to take that stance and he can get away with it, more power to him. I don't think he has any moral obligation to be an upstanding citizen. 

laxmangl29

April 18th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^

I mean... Yeah. 

I agree, sure, some kids come to college on a football scholarship for the education opportunities that they provide. But your kidding yourself if you think EVERY kid that plays college football wants to earn their degree in case they flame out at football.

Sure, a Michigan Degree is an excellent boost in the job market and I'm sure michigan "prepares you for life" whatever that means.

A few million from the NFL gives you opportunities that no degree can.

Truthbtold

April 18th, 2016 at 5:12 PM ^

Of the UM football players get ? It's one of the least impressive in the Big10. It's a joke, UM players are studying things like general studies and parking lot design. It's pathetic. UM is a great academic institution, no doubt, but the 95% of the football team doesn't benefit.

True Blue Grit

April 18th, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^

is it a good idea for the school's head coach to take such a wishy-washy sounding stance on academics by supporting Jone's lack of interest in academics?  I don't think so.  Most of these kids (even at OSU) are going to have short or non-existent pro careers.   College degrees have value in getting your foot in the door over other applicants.  

Blue Ballin'

April 18th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^

Sure hope he's 'intellectual" enough to determine how to best cheat on his Wonderlic test.

I could be wrong, but every time I hear his name I think of JaMarcus Russell. Hope for his sake he doesn't wind up the same. I don't doubt his motivation (unlike Russell's) is okay, but NFL playbooks are notoriously thick and often require more than one season to comprehend properly. I see him as a project at best.

Don

April 18th, 2016 at 10:43 PM ^

It's a high-falutin' 21st-century term for what was once known as "Home Economics."

Which back in its 1950s heyday was strictly a course for girls, prepping them for their impending roles as wives and mothers. How to shope at the grocery store. The proper way to bake an apple pie. How to balance the household budget to allow for the occasional trip to the movies and a box of JuJubees and still sock money away for Junior's education at the local community college.

 

74polSKA

April 18th, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^

This is a serious question. Was Jones ever diagnosed with a learning disability? If not, the statement "... intellectual, very smart, not necessarily very good at school." makes no sense at all to me. It did come from Urban though, so I guess it makes perfect sense.

Magnus

April 18th, 2016 at 9:56 AM ^

I don't know if he was ever diagnosed with a learning disability.

However, smart people aren't always good at school. And you can still be very knowledgeable or pick things up quickly on the football field, in the film room, etc. without getting an "A" in Physics or Shakespeare.

oriental andrew

April 18th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^

I don't think either of the previous posters commenting on this particular topic care about his academic achievements. Rather, they are pointing out that Cardale Jones saw college as a means to an end (NFL), and classes as a necessary evil. It is entirely possible he didn't care one whit about learning anything other than his playbook and only went to classes and got by so he could retain his eligibility. 

And this is in no way an arrogant statement about how Michigan is so much better than osu in every way (although it is). Obviously, there were kids on our football team (or other sports teams, or even just regular students) who were just at college because they had to be and didn't care about class. 

74polSKA

April 18th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^

I know what you're saying and that there are plenty of genius level people throughout history that struggled in school. That was a different era in education though. With all the IEP's and special consideration given in the modern education system, I don't see how someone who is "intellectual, very smart" can't at least be an average student. Maybe I expect too much from people.

Magnus

April 18th, 2016 at 10:11 AM ^

Unfortunately, I think you do expect too much from people. Not more than you *should* but more than what actually exists. A lot of kids just aren't interested in school and don't see the benefit when they think they're going to be millionaires from playing football and never have to work a day job in their lives.

Also, Glenville does not have the greatest reputation when it comes to academics and demographics. He didn't go to school in Silicon Valley. It's in the Cleveland area, which is pretty run-down these days, a lot like Detroit.