The Exception

Last day to declare.

The moment when college football coaches and teams hold their collective breath while superstar players mull the decision between going pro and finishing their college career.

As is often the case, most of the players succumb to the wiles of the big-money- NFL. Did most of them win a national title while in college? No. Did most of them accomplish everything they dreamed when they first signed that national letter of intent while still in high school? No.

The reasons for leaving are really not that hard to understand. Here are the top three: money, money, money. Millions of dollars can't be wrong, and playing the game minus having to attend classes and maintain a certain GPA sure can't be beat.

So the players bolt. "Thanks, coach for your investment. It's time for me to run." "Hey, teammates, sorry you are not at my level and I know we talked about winning a national title, but hey, things change."

The more appropriate statement is "money changes things."

Thankfully, in a world of Adrian Peterson, Ted Ginn, Jr., and JaMarcus Russell, there are a few who can resist jumping into the mounds of millions, and actually attempt to finish what they set out to do.

Brian Brohm, junior quarterback for the Louisville Cardinals, is one such player. Projected to be one of the top three quarterbacks taken in the draft, the stellar quarterback opted to return to school for his senior year.

Now, the NFL scouts and sports agents work overtime to put the "injury-fear" into the minds of underclassmen wrestling with turning pro early. Such fears are unwarranted. Could a devastating injury occur? Yes. You could also blow out your ACL stepping off the curb. In a world of insurance, there is plenty of protection.

Brohm reminds us that it is important to finish what you start. It is worth the extra year of classes and research papers to get one more shot at the national title.

I am not a Louisville fan, but next year I will be pulling for the Cardinals' quarterback and hoping that while his peers are sitting on various benches in the NFL that Brohm fulfills all his collegiate dreams.

Brian, do it for all the rest of us who never had a chance to go pro early.