COMMENTARY: Life ain't fair, especially this year in so many different ways. It's just that when that roulette wheel spins and everything lands on your senior year like a ton of bricks, it stings, even though you're fully aware lots of people are hurting in lots of ways right now. Today, the final day of the NFL Draft when FCS guys tend to get picked the most, historically, and more than 150 traditionally get at least a week's shot at free agency through the tryout route … it just didn't pan out.
It's obviously a different world we live in today, and truly, these are first-world problems. But inside the heart of every football player in the FCS who trained all spring for one or two chances to prove himself — AGAIN — is the heart of a 10-year old Pop Warner player who dreamed of one day wearing an NFL jersey as a player, even if it was only for a week. A lot of those dreams were extinguished today because of bigger things that are out of our control.
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FCS To The NFL Draft Stories: All Things FCS In 2020 NFL Draft
Today, six FCS players were drafted out of 255 picks. This is the lowest number in FCS/I-AA's 40-plus year history and it's not even close. Because of the lack of ability of NFL teams to conduct on-campus Pro Days with smaller school players and an influx of talent coming from XFL teams that are now defunct, FCS opportunities were pinched. Last year the FCS saw nearly 200 players get at least a shot at a tryout, and the year before it was more than 200. This year, I'd be shocked if it gets to 100 (as of shortly before midnight, it's not even 70 yet).
And how can NFL teams even conduct rookie tryouts, which are held in May? Some teams have said they'll do it virtually, and we'll see how that works out. But overall, what we saw today is NFL teams keeping it conservative. In general, teams do like to look smart and find and evaluate that small school diamond in the rough … but this spring didn't allow for it, so they kept it simple and took Power Five conference prospects coming from big name programs. Again … life's not fair … but this traditionally isn't how it unfolds.
I was talking to my wife tonight about how this all shook out, and she mentioned to me that our seven-year old daughter was in tears today at the reality that the dance recital that she had trained for since August won't happen. She has the dress, she has worked as hard as a seven-year old can and would, and she's heartbroken that it's all gone. And my wife actually told me she felt the exact same way for the FCS guys, because she could put herself in their moms' shoes. She told me that she wondered what they're feeling … not about the money at all, because the money isn't astronomical for a guy fighting for a free agent contract anyway. My wife was talking about moms watching their little boys' dream of having one shot at this just disappear because they go to a "small school", even though they have talent. What a raw lesson. My daughter is learning this lesson, and a bunch of FCS All-Americans learned it today.
I've hit up several of those prospects tonight, the ones who we've talked to for years … wondering if any news has come. A few have responded, but most haven't. They're crushed and I don't blame them for not wanting to talk about it. This was it. Many who are usually upbeat are obviously shattered. It's one thing in a normal year to just time out and not get a shot after you get your Pro Day and teams just aren't interested. It happens every year. But this year? I'd say half of them who normally would have been drafted and half who would get at least a tryout shot may have absolutely nothing by this time next week. And there's no AAF and no XFL now, either. That one strike and you're out thing? Whew … what a brutal lesson to learn after so much work has been put into getting just one opportunity before you move on with life.
The good thing about the guys at this level is they weren't born with a golden spoon in their mouths anyway. Most of them drew little or no college interest five years ago, but they came to this level to get a degree and play college football for the final time — and very few have ever told me they had any realistic thoughts of playing in the NFL, just those childhood dreams we mentioned above. And then, as time wore on, they began to get the feeling that … hey, I might actually get one quick shot at this. And why not work toward that? And if doesn't happen? Fine … I have a college degree and I can deal with it. These aren't spoiled brats at this level, they've been humbled by the process before. They've lived through this "movie" before.
But this spring? That one "quick" shot didn't materialize. Pro Day was vital, and a vast majority of them didn't take place. Local Days didn't happen, in-person visits being banned made it very tough to really get to know a prospect that you didn't have a ton of prior connection with. NFL teams kept things simple, close to the vest … they were ultra conservative today.
We all know why.
Just a message to all of you guys who just wanted that one shot to prove yourselves and said repeatedly you could live with it if you didn't make it after that one opportunity: You're not really done. You might be done with football, but you're not done, you're just starting. You've been humbled … again … and that'll make you a better teacher to your sons and daughters, a better teacher if you become a coach or teacher, a better leader in the real world. You guys never were the spoiled brats of college football anyway, the ones who told NFL teams you didn't "want to play special teams" because you're too good for it. You guys were always the ones who felt like being on the kickoff or punt team would be a dream come true, and if you could hold on long enough, maybe just maybe you could prove you deserved a starting position on offense or defense. And if it didn't work out? No harm.
Today, because of circumstances beyond your control you're learning that you'll never get that shot. A cruel lesson, but reality.
Tonight? In the Mac household? We feel for you. Because life may not be fair, but that doesn't make it suck less when it isn't.
And COVID19? In so, so, so many ways, from so many angles … go F**K yourself.
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