The Kindest Cut of All?

The ACC makes a cut


The ACC has just voted to cap football travel squads for league games as a cost-cutting measure.

Don't be surprised if many of the other BCS conferences follow suit.

Believe it or not, this could be a good development for Ivy football.

As I have stated in the past, the loading up of even more top recruits by BCS schools over the past 15 years or so because of more college stars leaving early for the NFL draft has hurt the recruiting talent pool for the Ivies, especially at positions like running back. (Sorry, I realize that was a very long sentence).

Anyway, reduced travel squads might lead to a reduced number of overall players on football scholarships at the BCS schools. That might re-open some doors for the mid majors and the FCS schools.

It could also somehow make things worse if the BCS coaches throw caution to the wind and decide they need to carry even MORE players on their rosters and make the competition for the final 72-player cut even more fierce.

Remember, I don't think the Ivies are starved for talent at all the positions. The league is still producing more than its fair share of outstanding NFL prospects, especially at the positions where there are a lot of "late bloomers" that are easily missed by BCS recruiters who hone in on ninth graders these days. Many Ivy QB's and offensive linemen have fit into that "late bloomer-turned NFL prospect" category lately.

But I maintain the pronounced decline in 1,000-yard rushers in the Ivies is a direct result of the BCS stockpiling running back talent in a way that they did not do before "coming out early" became the norm for top backs.

Personally, I'd like to see the NCAA go back to some kind of 65 or 70-man rule for ALL games, home or away. (I'd also like to see the NFL ban undergrads from coming out early, but that's a pipe dream). I think there's a chance reducing the number of scholarship athletes on the BCS teams would help everyone. Among other things, it would encourage more students to try to walk on to teams, (does "Rudy" mean anything to you?).

I know the trickle down theory is being skewered in our society these days when it comes to economics, but in college football, what happens to the big boys definitely affects us every time.