OPINION:
As a 1963 Penn State graduate, I was disappointed with the loss to Mississippi in the Peach Bowl — and irate with the key Penn State football players who sat out the game (“Dart leads No. 11 Ole Miss to Peach Bowl rout of No. 10 Penn State’s proud defense,” web, Dec. 30).
Four of those players signed up for the NFL draft, and one entered the transfer portal.
These players enjoyed full scholarships during their years at Penn State and were held in high regard as potential graduates.
Yet the current transfer portal system has created the Wild West of college football. Players can transfer during the election period, and conceivably transfer schools four times during their college years. This adds tremendous instability to football programs and adversely impacts student athletes’ educations.
The four Penn State football players who sat out the bowl game for fear of being injured and losing out on NFL contracts let down the school, the alumni and themselves, but most of all they let down their teammates, their so-called brothers who relied on them to be there.
These dropouts deserted the team. What’s more, having watched almost all of the bowl games, I can attest that there were no injuries that would have affected future contracts.
College football players should be required to finish the season, including bowl games. Their football scholarships for a given year should stipulate as much.
DONALD MOSKOWITZ
Londonderry, New Hampshire
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