The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

Mike’d Up: (2/10/12)

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By Michael Kelley ’14 & Mick Kowaleski ’14

Peyton Manning: Where is he going?

Kowaleski: One of the biggest stories heading into the NFL offseason is the fate of superstar quarterback Peyton Manning. After Manning missed the entire season following surgery to repair a damaged nerve in his neck, the Indianapolis Colts, with whom Manning has played his entire career, are rumored to move on from their franchise QB. Word is that they’ll release Manning and draft Andrew Luck out of Stanford with the number one pick in the upcoming draft. Assuming that the Colts do decide that Manning is part of their past, where will he end up?

It’s going to be a serious risk for any team, given that the nerve mainly affects the strength of his throwing arm. But if any team would and should take the risk, it will be the Arizona Cardinals. Actually, it can be broken down into an equation: Peyton Manning + Larry Fitzgerald. The mere notion of having a healthy Peyton Manning teaming with one of the top three wide receivers in the game can make any fantasy football player’s mouth water, and would translate into instant points for the Cardinals.

There is an issue that needs to be taken care of—Arizona just signed QB Kevin Kolb to a $65 million deal at the beginning of the season. He hasn’t panned out, but the money will be a serious issue. If they can find a way to avoid paying Kolb, then there would be no reason that the Cardinals shouldn’t pursue Manning. Doing so would make them instant Super Bowl contenders.

Kelley: You say Cardinals, I say Dolphins. And here’s why. Manning is 35 and by no means does he want to go to a rebuilding franchise. Miami has an offense featuring Brandon Marshall, a stellar O-line loaded with former #1 pick Jake Long and 2011 1st round draft pick Mike Pouncey, and a run game headed by Reggie Bush who is coming off his first 1,000 yard season and is finally running between the tackles. The defense had the 6th ranked scoring defense in the league last year, giving up only 19.6 points per game and are led by Karlos Dansby, Vonte Davis, and Cameron Wake. All of the pieces are there for a playoff team…except a reliable and elite quarterback, which Peyton Manning will more than supply. It only helps that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has openly said he will pay whatever it takes for the team to get a better quarterback. Finally, it is a little interesting that Manning and his wife own a place in Miami. Who knows if Manning can even play but if he does, playing for Miami will certainly be something he looks into heavily.

 

UCONN:

Kelley: ESPN recently reported that the University of Connecticut has proposed reducing the number of games it will play next season if the NCAA allows them to play in the NCAA tournament. Currently, UConn is not allowed to play in the tournament due to below-standard academic results.

UConn would reduce the number of regular season games. They would play from 27 to 23 and would also not allow Jim Calhoun, their hall of fame coach, from meeting off-campus with recruits during the fall. The hours they would miss from playing basketball would be dedicated to academics.

I think it’s a professional and respectable move to punish yourself for your mistakes but a lesson and a standard needs to be brought down from the NCAA. UConn and the rest of Division I need to be taught a lesson that academics are just as important, if not more important, than athletics. These kids are student-athletes. Students first. These athletes need to know that their academics come first and that if they do not perform in the classroom, they cannot play on the court. If a high standard is set and a strong punishment is delivered by the NCAA, programs will place a higher emphasis on their athletes’ grades.

Kowaleski: First off, I’m shocked that a Division I school is actually being held responsible for the academic standings of its athletes. My opinion is that UConn should look to dole out punishment along with the NCAA-mandated ban. I’m glad the NCAA is making Connecticut an example, but the school should take responsibility and take extra action in addition to the NCAA ban, not in place of it. How else are they going to make it clear to these oft-worshiped athletes that most of them won’t make it to the NBA, so their degree should come first?

It would set a great precedent for the rest of the schools to follow, especially after Syracuse center Fab Melo missed a couple games already this year for similar academic violations. The NCAA has a reputation for being corrupt, and giving special treatment to athletes has been a notorious trait for many Division I schools. It’s been a big year for college sport scandals, which may actually be a good thing. The levels of corruption that are being unearthed are making it apparent what needs to be changed, and this is a similar situation.

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