Yesterday, Pitt Panthers safety Paris Ford opted out of the final four games of the football season Ford surprised Panther fans when he chose to play this season in the first place. He was projected to be drafted high in the 2020 NFL Draft.
However, after the Panthers fell to 3-4 overall and 2-4 in conference, Ford declared for the 2021 NFL draft. I, for one, have no problem with this. I actually applaud him for exposing the flaws of NCAA football.
It’s Like an Internship for Ford
Essentially, Ford treated his college career like an Internship. When participating in an internship, an individual receives job training until they have built their resumé. Once their resumé is strong enough, they move on to a full-time job.
Sometimes internships are paid and sometimes they are not. However, they are always compensated less than the full-time equivalent. Furthermore, companies offer internships because they profit off of the cheaper labor.
Is this not exactly what Ford did? He took an internship with the University of Pittsburgh. Furthermore, he agreed to be compensated with a free education and job training — and in return Pitt profited off of his cheap labor. When Ford had built his resumé to be strong enough, he elected to enter the full-time work force.
Imagine you are at an internship and you had a choice. You could stay and continue to receive the minimum compensation, but you could potentially sustain a career-ending event. While your other choice would be to end your internship and in a few months you will receive an exponentially higher compensation with no risk of a career-ending event.
This is not even a choice. It is a no-brainer.
"Paris is a tremendous football player and tremendous person."
Pat Narduzzi confirms Paris Ford has opted out.
— Jim Hammett (@JimHammett) November 2, 2020
Changes Are Needed
I will also not hear the argument that these players owe something to the university. The Tuscaloosa mayor stated that if college football did not happen this year they would lose upwards of $1 billion. That is billion with a “B.”
So, you’re telling me, the players owe these universities more than the billions of dollars they already help to generate? Get over yourself if you feel this way. Your fan-hood is not bigger than these young adults’ livelihoods.
I am happy Paris Ford handled this the way he did. It exposes the NCAA for its pure corruptness. I hope the NCAA takes note and begins to compensate their athletes appropriately or we will see more and more of what Ford did. Or, just continue to accept that these players are completing an internship by allowing universities to profit off of their cheap labor until the players have built a strong enough resumé.
I wish Paris Ford nothing but the best and I hope he finds continued success.
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