The middle of August can be a slow time for my literary contributors. By now, Tennessee footballfans are weary of reading about what might happen.
They want games.
Nonetheless, a few readers were sufficiently motivated to comment on my column examining the pros and cons of Tennessee commitment David Gabriel Georges skipping his senior season of high school. After all, he's already assured of a life-changing NIL deal.
Virgil writes: I agree with your points regarding running back David Gabriel Georges playing or not playing his senior year. You covered both sides well. This issue is just a symbol of what we have become ... and what might become. Think of further ramifications:
Pros now in many sports limit their "contractors" from things like piloting,
skydiving, (maybe deep diving) or other hazardous endeavors. They have an investment and mutually agree to contractual rights. How far away could high school kids be?
True, money has (supposedly) not changed hands. But there is great expense, risk, and long-term planning involved when you sign high school rising seniors. Are juniors far behind?
My response: Almost every aspect of sports has become money driven. And sometimes, even the teenage participants are forced to make business decisions.
Your senior season of high school football can produce memories that last a lifetime. But is that worth taking a million-dollar risk?
Michael writes: That concept (skipping your senior season of high school football) makes huge sense. Some positions − and some sports −are inherently more dangerous than others.
Running backs and linebackers in football both involve high-speed hits from very fast opponents. In women's basketball, the ACL tear is always lurking. In men's basketball, it's nearly pointless for some guys to be playing against regular high school competition.
At what age is the cutoff? I don't have a clue. Women are often better athletes in their mid-teens. Men kind of broaden out in their mid-20's.
Then there are the rarities, a Bo Jackson or Herschel Walker or LeBron James. I think you maybe just let the system pay for what it wants to pay for.
My response: Running backs obviously have a short career expectancy. But you make a valid point about women basketball players and their susceptibility to ACL injuries.
In many cases, elite high school girls basketball players are talented enough to skip their senior season and enter college a year early, provided they can handle an accelerated academic pace.
Doug writes: Nice article regarding Jim Knowles and his similarities to Monte Kiffin. You should really consider doing this writing thing for a living.
My response: Thanks. I have been thinking more along the lines of P&P, plumbing and podcasting. I could write as a hobby.
Mike writes: Thanks for a good, balanced article on Josh Heupel.
I wonder if this year will be his toughest challenge. Tennessee is very young, has a tough schedule, and the new coaches and strength coach have had less than one year to impact the program.
Next year’s version looks like a team that could contend for a College Football Playoff spot.
My response: I agree that next season looks more promising when you evaluate UT’s depth chart. But, as Tennessee fans know as well as anyone, seasons frequently don’t play out as preseason prognostications suggest they will.
Instead, the best seasons sometimes arrive sooner or later than expected.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Readers weigh in on whether David Gabriel Georges should skip senior season | Adams
