Army Navy Game players-- hired hands or regular students..?

[pangaia]

Anybody watching the Army/navy game?
Gotta question.. Are the players chosen from the Corp of Cadets and the Midshipmen? Or , like in 'college' football, are they basically 'brought in' to play football?

For example... all the bigger military bands are open to audition only in the same way that symphony orchestras are open to audition. The top military bands are superb organizations because the musicians are basically professional musicians hired to play in the bands... and not to be 'soldiers, sailors, etc... Openings are announced nation-wide and there can be over 100 applicants for one job. Pay is pretty good as well.. starting at $56,000-$64,000 whether or not one has dependents. Free health care, 30 days paid vacation...

[rocktivity]

1. They're SUPPOSED to be regular students who serve in the military after graduation

Last edited Sun Aug 17, 2014, 01:37 PM - Edit history (2)

in exchange for their free education. Which means that student athletes with other career goals -- pro sports in particular -- aren't going to find a service academy attractive.

According to this DU thread, the service academy football team coaches can come from "the outside":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1878082


rocktivity

[pangaia]

2. Thanks. That was my uneducated guess.

Especially watching this game.


Although they said that the 2 teams were #2 and 3 in Div 1 in offense. !

[alp227]

3. There are exceptions:

David Robinson and Roger Staubach attended the Naval Academy.

[rocktivity]

4. Neither of them got to turn pro right after graduating

Last edited Sun Jun 29, 2014, 12:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Robinson was deemed too tall, and Staubach too color blind, to serve at sea effectively. Instead, Robinson spent two years training civilian engineers for the Naval Reserves. And Staubach began his NFL career at the age of 27 after a hitch that included time in Viet Nam.


rocktivity

[getting old in mke]

5. Napoleon McCallum, too

Played with the Raiders (in LA) in 1986 while on active duty in Long Beach. Finished out his hitch in the Indian Ocean (made it tough to continue his football career those years and came back to the Raiders in 90-94.

[Stallion]

6. Real Students

They actually don't receive NCAA scholarships but are required to receive appointments just like other students. The academies are not limited by normal NCAA scholarship limits which allowed them to "recruit" more players. They also utilize prep schools to develop from a larger pool of generally not highly recruited players. But they are otherwise required to abide by the rules and regulations of the academies

[Packerowner740]

7. They are recruited just like other college athletes

They are required to fulfill there commitment to the navy after graduation. Many don't know what they are getting into and leave after a year to attend a more normal college.