[CTcard]

[quote author=socalstanfan1 link=topic=11576.msg111217#msg111217 date=1421738241]Also, totally agree with Ferrari's bigger point about athletes being forced into college.  NFL and NBA need to stop using college athletics as their only farm system.  Take a lesson from baseball and hockey: offer a legitimate minor league, + a university option for student-athletes who want the college experience.  I've held that opinion for a while now.

NBA has the D-League, but no one cares about it. I don't think this is a problem the leagues alone can solve, ...
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There's really two problems here.

The first stupac notes. Just saying there is a minor league isn't enough to make it a practical option. I don't know how many athletes have skipped college for the D-League then became legitimate NBA players - but it can't be many I would think.
Minor league hockey and baseball are both popular because both are clearly legitimate routes the the big league. In fact, both have a reputation of providing better development than the college option. Of course this is also connected to the relative level of popularity of college hockey and baseball vs football and basketball. Solving the "problem" might kill the golden goose - which perhaps would be good overall but not what most are looking for. 

The second issue is what is the motivation/responsibility. socalstanfan states, "NFL and NBA need to stop using college athletics as their only farm system.  Take a lesson from baseball and hockey". Sure, NFL and NBA probably should do this. But, why would they? It's pretty clear that they are happy enough with their minor leagues and creating their own would cost a lot of money. And do either the NFL or the NBA have a responsibility to save our universities from themselves?

[CTcard]

[quote author=socalstanfan1 link=topic=11576.msg111217#msg111217 date=1421738241]Also, totally agree with Ferrari's bigger point about athletes being forced into college.  NFL and NBA need to stop using college athletics as their only farm system.  Take a lesson from baseball and hockey: offer a legitimate minor league, + a university option for student-athletes who want the college experience.  I've held that opinion for a while now.

NBA has the D-League, but no one cares about it. I don't think this is a problem the leagues alone can solve, ...
[/quote]

There's really two problems here.

The first stupac notes. Just saying there is a minor league isn't enough to make it a practical option. I don't know how many athletes have skipped college for the D-League then became legitimate NBA players - but it can't be many I would think.
Minor league hockey and baseball are both popular because both are clearly legitimate routes the the big league. In fact, both have a reputation of providing better development than the college option. Of course this is also connected to the relative level of popularity of college hockey and baseball vs football and basketball. Solving the "problem" might kill the golden goose - which perhaps would be good overall but not what most are looking for. 

The second issue is what is the motivation/responsibility. socalstanfan states, "NFL and NBA need to stop using college athletics as their only farm system.  Take a lesson from baseball and hockey". Sure, NFL and NBA probably should do this. But, why would they? It's pretty clear that they are happy enough with their minor leagues and creating their own would cost a lot of money. And do either the NFL or the NBA have a responsibility to save our universities from themselves?