[Bruce Wang]

http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/1...o-practice

TL;DR Kal first to exploit rule allowing former players (Marshawn Lynch) to "occasionally" play on scout team; Saban used Trent Richardson to simulate Leonard Fournette in practice.  Has Shaw done this?

I feel this undermines the amateur principle of college football, and makes the game an an even more unlevel playing field.  My initial reaction was "Good thing we have lots of former NFL Stanford alums."  Then I realized they are pursuing exciting careers and have better things to do with their time than play practice football e.g. does Owen Marecic really want to try to tackle Christian McCaffrey in practice?  I think not.

[Bruce Wang]

http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/1...o-practice

TL;DR Kal first to exploit rule allowing former players (Marshawn Lynch) to "occasionally" play on scout team; Saban used Trent Richardson to simulate Leonard Fournette in practice.  Has Shaw done this?

I feel this undermines the amateur principle of college football, and makes the game an an even more unlevel playing field.  My initial reaction was "Good thing we have lots of former NFL Stanford alums."  Then I realized they are pursuing exciting careers and have better things to do with their time than play practice football e.g. does Owen Marecic really want to try to tackle Christian McCaffrey in practice?  I think not.

[OutsiderFan]

[OutsiderFan]

[TreesAndBirds]

Stanford is in an area with 2 close by pro teams. If Shaw thought this was important I suspect he could find an ex 49er or Raider to help out. Or he could go the Dartmouth route and program a robot to imitate them :)

[TreesAndBirds]

Stanford is in an area with 2 close by pro teams. If Shaw thought this was important I suspect he could find an ex 49er or Raider to help out. Or he could go the Dartmouth route and program a robot to imitate them :)

[donkey687]

I am not worried about this undermining the amateur principle.  I think it is good for the college players to have former pro athletes as role models and instructing them. It is good for the pro athletes to be back at their alma mater and to have pride in their program and possibly be back taking classes to get the degree that they didn't get.  This isn't too different than all the former Stanford players now in the NFL who come back to campus to workout and train with Turley in the offseason. They aren't going to practice with the team as they have their own practice and job that conflicts during the season, but they are around the current team and serve as role models and inspiration. It's all good.

[donkey687]

I am not worried about this undermining the amateur principle.  I think it is good for the college players to have former pro athletes as role models and instructing them. It is good for the pro athletes to be back at their alma mater and to have pride in their program and possibly be back taking classes to get the degree that they didn't get.  This isn't too different than all the former Stanford players now in the NFL who come back to campus to workout and train with Turley in the offseason. They aren't going to practice with the team as they have their own practice and job that conflicts during the season, but they are around the current team and serve as role models and inspiration. It's all good.

[CompSci87]

I guess this new rule explains why it was OK for Casey Jacobsen to be one of the male practice players in the recent women's basketball open practice.    8)

[CompSci87]

I guess this new rule explains why it was OK for Casey Jacobsen to be one of the male practice players in the recent women's basketball open practice.    8)

[fullmetal]

I think it's okay.  I would not say Lynch was at peak physical performance when he suited up for the scout team--when he retired, surely he didn't keep training every day as he had been for Seattle.  It's a nice supplement, but I don't think it'll make/break a team's success.

If only Bama's players were as blind as Trent Richardson though...I remember that play when he was a Raider.  Clearly avoided the nice hold opened by the OL only to rush into waiting tacklers.  Classic.

[fullmetal]

I think it's okay.  I would not say Lynch was at peak physical performance when he suited up for the scout team--when he retired, surely he didn't keep training every day as he had been for Seattle.  It's a nice supplement, but I don't think it'll make/break a team's success.

If only Bama's players were as blind as Trent Richardson though...I remember that play when he was a Raider.  Clearly avoided the nice hold opened by the OL only to rush into waiting tacklers.  Classic.

[HisKneeWasDown]

Seems there's not much difference between having an ex-player be a coach (Shaw) and an ex-player being a tracking dummy.

I've seen a teensy bit of football practices, and I've seen coaches mixing it up on the field with the players.

[HisKneeWasDown]

Seems there's not much difference between having an ex-player be a coach (Shaw) and an ex-player being a tracking dummy.

I've seen a teensy bit of football practices, and I've seen coaches mixing it up on the field with the players.