Linebacker Dahman McKinnon enrolls as Virginia Tech’s first summer school session begins
Virginia Tech’s first summer school session begins today, with one of the Hokies’ 2012 signees enrolling in class.
Dahman McKinnon, an outside linebacker from Hope Mill, N.C., is the only Virginia Tech signee who will participate in the first summer session, according to an email from John Ballein, Tech’s director of football operations.
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The first session goes from today until June 30. More players will begin in the second summer session, which begins July 2 and ends Aug. 11.
The Hokies report for preseason practice on Aug. 1, beginning preparation for the season with the first of 21 practices the following day. Summer workouts and conditioning programs are independent of the coaches, who cannot work with players until they report as a team.
Virginia Tech had two January enrollees from its 2012 class — running back J.C. Coleman and cornerback Donaldven Manning – and another who grayshirted in 2011, defensive lineman Dewayne Alford.
May 21, 2012 - 9:45 AM
I honestly think it is dumb that coaches can’t have interaction with the players during the “dead” period between the end of spring and beginning of summer practice sessions.
Does that mean players are entirely on their own for work out, conditioning, and practicing plays together so they can be so familar with each other, they see it in their dreams?
I mean, face it, football is increasingly becoming a 24/7/365 days of sport, and fans are already looking forward to the first kickoff.
Trust me, he is getting coached. All the instruction he needs was provided before he ever enrolled for summer school.
The only way the “dead period” makes sense is if you believe the NCAA believes that the kids need to be protected from over eager coaches who would suck up there time with activities during critical end of semester exams and school activities.
We all know there are kids on scholarship who want an education and those who want a career. We know that maybe 1 in 10,000 of football players can make it in the NFL long enough, and are smart enough, to be financially secure.
The list of broken stars is very long.
I love college football (Hokies anyway) and am no fan of the the NCAA and many of their rules. But I also believe that college athletic scholarships are meant to be a way to get through school and that colleges should not be a minor league for pro football.
I also think that the reality of the money is that the draw to the pro ranks is so strong that people willingly sacrifice themselves. This does not mean they need to be encouraged. If you really believe that college football should be 24/7, 365 then let’s drop all the pretense of school, pay the kids and move on.
In truth, many schools already operate (and have operated for decades) as a minor league and I think the hypocrisy of it is a corrupting influence in society. To act “shocked, shocked I say to find gambling at Rick’s” is simply ridiculous.