C’mon Marve
I was a bit surprised to see the news regarding Robert Marve’s decision to transfer from Miami scroll across the screen while I was soaking in some great bowl games over the holidays. However, I was even more surprised at Yahoo sports columnist Dan Wetzel’s assessment of the situation.
Wetzel stops just short of calling the University of Miami and the NCAA slave traders. He argues that Miami’s restrictions on where Marve can transfer are overreaching and that universities and the NCAA take advantage of all of the student athletes that operate under its banner.
While the NCAA is far from perfect, Wetzel’s argument does not hold water due to three concepts: the universities must protect themselves as much as possible on a risky investment in an 18-year-old kid, Marve is still free to transfer if he is willing to sit out a year, and the simple fact that head coach Randy Shannon is trying to protect his team by not letting Marve come back and haunt the ‘Canes in upcoming seasons.
First, even as unstable as the global financial markets are, I find it hard to label another investment as risky as an 18-year-old male athlete. It is true schools and the NCAA make ridiculous amounts of money off of the athletic programs they sponsor. However, it is a return on the thousands of dollars invested in the education, room and board, and football operations that is allotted for each player (even for just one year).
How many times has a big time prospect not panned out once they are in school? Generally, when a player falls flat on his face on or off of the field, the school is unable to recoup any of those funds. The best they can hope for is the player flunking out of school or getting in legal trouble, in order to revoke the scholarship.
Marve should be thankful of the opportunities he has received at Miami. He may feel he has received the proverbial short end of the stick due to playing time, but at least he has gotten a fairly high profile audition for the schools he can transfer to in order to continue his playing and educational career.
Even if Marve has been treated unfairly by the staff at the University of Miami, it is not as if he is completely out of options. In the end, it may work out to his advantage to be able to mature mentally and physically before he steps under center for another Division I college program. Another option is to transfer to a highly regarded Division I-AA (FCS) or Division II school. This option seems to have been a golden ticket for Joe Flacco, and after Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan last year, many are finally giving the athletes that play for those programs some respect.
This rule is in effect to try and protect the university’s investment in the recruitment and enrollment of the student athlete. Also, it helps protect the student as well. The first year of college is a tough enough adjustment for students who do not participate in athletic programs. The stipulation of transfers makes the athlete think long and hard about his or her decision, instead of relying on unrealistic whims. Marve may not like the choice he has in front of him, but it is still a choice.
Finally, Coach Randy Shannon is trying to protect his team. This, unbelievably, is his job. Why should he allow an unhappy player transfer to a school that has a chance to beat his team? That could cost the dozens of players who have stayed and dedicated themselves to the program a chance at a win over a rival or even a championship.
Also, Coach Shannon is evaluated each year on how he performs against those rivals and the conference foes. Why should he potentially lose his job just because a player is unhappy?
Marve committed to the Hurricanes last February and he should try to honor that commitment. If he is unable to, he must accept the consequences of his decision to leave.
The University of Miami is not hardhearted because of this decision. They are trying to do what is in the best interest of the school and the student athletes who choose to attend the school. That being said I wish Marve and his father the best of luck as they move forward in this tumultuous time.
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