Caleb Campbell-Hurry Up and Wait...

Certainly by now the majority of sports fans are familiar with Caleb Campbell, the USMA graduate who was drafted by the NFL Detroit Lions. Who can forget ESPN following him on draft day, as the crowd chanted USA! USA! What fan at home wasn't eagerly awaiting for this player who represented hard work, dedication and patriotism to be drafted? Someone that represented all that is right with college sports, that children could look up to, aspire to be and perhaps even be inspired to serve their country through the military.

Unfortunately, Caleb Campbell and several former USMA baseball players had their dreams cut short, when the U.S. Army revised their policy on July 8th. Sadly for Caleb Campbell, the US Army had absolutely no way to inform him about their policy change, until the night before training camp began. The greatest Army in the world, couldn't find a way to communicate to him, about the policy change; apparently all phones, media outlets, email and even the BAT SIGNAL were not available for use. He has since been ordered to return to West Point, to serve as a graduate assistant football coach for the 2008 season. Common sense here seems to lead me to believe he could have at least played this season for the Detroit Lions and then reported for training, as he will do once the West Point season concludes.

But I digress. Many people will argue that a Military Academy cadet should not have the opportunity to play professional sports, that they are receiving an education, with the intent to serve in the greatest Army in the world. However, this was a policy that was signed, advertised and sold to potential athletic recruits, then snatched away from them, in what can certainly be labeled as misrepresentation. The Army could have avoided this entire mess by amending their policy, but grandfathering in all cadets who have already started their junior year. After your sophomore year at West Point, you are free to leave without penalty, as Caleb Campbell could have done, once his athletic potential was realized. However, this policy gave him the option to be an officer and a professional athlete. How many current student athletes, musicians, or those who have uniquely possessed talents made the decision to stay at U.S.M.A. based on this policy and now have no recourse?

In April 2005, Army Secretary Francis Harvey approved a policy that allowed soldiers to apply for release from active duty, if they "possessed unique talent and abilities" to pursue an alternative service policy. Perhaps the public has already forgotten why this policy was written into affect. At the time the U.S. Army was 7,000 recruits behind in its goal for 80,000 recruits. It was meant to boost recruiting efforts, place the Army in a positive light and provide opportunity. Lt. Col Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, in April 2005 said, "the new program is a win-win situation. The soldier continues to serve, does something he loves and helps us man the force." I can only assume that the U.S. Army has reached its maximum number of recruits, that they are no longer short 3,000 mid-level officers and can simply rely on ARMY STRONG commercials to boost the interest of potential recruits.

Since the Army appears to be so desperate for bodies, is it safe to assume, that all cadets will now have to serve at least two years on true Active Duty, before being allowed to pursue Master's Degrees? Are all Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Churchill, Gates, Fulbright, Truman and East-West award winners on a plane back to their respective units? Or are we to infer that it is okay to delay your service by two years, if you are pursuing an academic degree? Will all WCAP and ALL ARMY athletes be pulled out of their programs as well? I find it hard to believe that a school which values "the athlete" as much as U.S.M.A. would place their athletes on unequal ground, not providing them with the same opportunity afforded to individuals pursuing a higher level of education. After all it was General Douglas MacArthur who stated, "On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruit of victory." Perhaps herein lies the truth about why U.S.M.A. and the U.S. Army needs its former athletes immediately in their ranks, and can afford the "scholars" the chance to continue their schooling after graduation.

Recently, Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk stated, "Our coaches are now operating under a significant handicap when recruiting head-to-head with Army. It may not be reflected on the playing field today, but I can guarantee you that it will result in a competitive disadvantage down the road." Well Mr. Gladchuk, you got your wish, all academies are now on "equal footing."
I am sure you have forwarded a memo to all your coaches, that they should not point out to a potential recruit, that if they attend U.S.N.A. their chances for deployment are significantly less then if they attend U.S.M.A. Also, please feel free to instruct your coaches not to mention David Robinson, as that would provide you with an unfair advantage, even though he is perhaps your most well known "recruiter". All is fair in love, war and of course recruiting.

I'm sure only true fans of college basketball and the United States Military Academy can tell you who led the country in scoring, at a different service academy, at the same time that David Robinson was playing, matching up against each other five times. Kevin Houston, a 5'11 guard for the United States Military Academy led the nation during the 1986-1987 in scoring, at 32.9 ppg, with a personal high of 53 points. Unfortunately, he never grew to be over 6'8, therefore couldn't be excused from his Army commitment at the time. Imagine the publicity he could have provided the ARMY, if he could have made a go of a career in the NBA. THE GENERAL vs THE ADMIRAL.

In any case, wouldn't the practical solution be for all the Academies to adopt the original policy drafted in April 2005. That way at the end of the day, the athletic departments of U.S.M.A., U.S.N.A. and U.S.A.F.A can utilize this policy to help attract a higher level of potential athletes to attend their school, who may not have originally considered an Academy. Clearly, not every athlete attracted will be drafted and the Army, Navy and Air Force would have a higher caliber of service person in their ranks. We are fortunate enough to live in the greatest country in the world, served by the greatest Armed Forces in the World. Together they should be united in their pursuit of greatness.