Rules dim NFL scouts’ interest in cadets

Service before stardom
Unlike Army, Bryce Fisher (94) had to wait to play


Rules dim NFL scouts’ interest in cadets
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday May 17, 2008 8:59:24 EDT

Top high school football recruits don’t go to the Air Force or other service academies to get to the National Football League, said Tennessee Titan defensive end and Air Force Reserve Capt. Bryce Fisher.

That’s because the five-year service commitment, including a minimum two years on active duty, that comes with an academy commission keeps them off the field right after graduation. Even so, NFL scouts sometimes show up at the academy practice fields if they think they might have found the next Chad Henning — the Air Force Academy All-America defensive end who flew A-10s and then won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s.

Now, however, NFL scouts are more likely to head for West Point than the Air Force Academy. Three years ago, the Army approved an “alternative service option” under which an active-duty officer can break his service commitment and switch to the Army Reserve if his special talents could help recruit more soldiers. Army senior safety Caleb Campbell was the first West Point grad drafted under this new policy when the Detroit Lions selected him in last month’s NFL draft.

If Campbell makes the Lions’ final roster, he can skip his active-duty commitment and serve as a reservist at a recruiting station in Michigan while he plays professional football. Air Force NFL hopefuls, wide receiver Chad Hall and linebacker Drew Fowler, received invites to try out for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions, respectively, but neither one has the option Campbell does — no matter how well they play.

They must serve a minimum two years on active duty before they can apply to transfer into the Air Force Reserve and make an NFL roster. “The DoD policy is clear and the Air Force is in line with it,” Air Force spokesman Capt. Tom Wenz said.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/05/airforce_NFL_academy_051708w/

there should be exceptions for athletes (or anybody, except those injured while at school and undertaking an approved school activity) regarding post-graduation service obligations.