It was his agent. Campbell was being alerted to something of a stink regarding his status as a West Point Cadet training for a job in the National Football League.
Someone higher than a three-star general couldn’t keep him from staying at camp, so he’s back at West Point as a cadet… or, as he was making the rounds on sports talk radio, driving back to West Point.
Something stinks from high heaven. Or, maybe, something stinks from Capitol Hill.
I think the latter is more accurate in this situation. I don’t have any concrete evidence of it, but it’s what I’m gleaning from his interviews.
And, for another time in too short a time table, the United States Government comes out looking like a collective group that can’t get out of its own way.
And that is a shame…
Department of Indian Givers Affairs…
Ever since Caleb Campbell ((pictured, thanks freep.com/Eric Seals)) was playing as a sophomore at the Naval Academy, the school and his superior officers were answering his questions about the possibility of being a professional athlete. All the words he was hearing were indicating that he could pursue a dream of being a pro.
All he had to do was balance his time between athlete and recruiter while he was serving his mandatory term as a cadet. That was the deal that had been figured out.
He had done interviews leading up to the NFL Draft all over the place. He was allowed to train by his supes to get a good look-see for that purpose. And, on Day Two, he was picked up in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions. Campbell, in his heart, thought he had a good chance of making the squad. For that matter, so did Head Coach Rod Marinelli- an Army veteran.
And I can’t think of a better example for kids and adults to have someone from the Armed Services of the greatest country on this or any other planet playing as a poster child for all that is right about chasing the American Dream and balancing it with the ideal of showing what the Armed Services can do for character, morale, pride, and effort all year long.
It’s an unmistakable opportunity. And leave it to some superior somewhere to make a mistake.
Someone with an axe to grind, maybe…? Someone thinking that the Army was getting to play favored son…? Over that juggernaut Merchant Marine or Coast Guard football team…?
“Hey. None of our nuclear physicists get to go straight to the private sector, so why should a football player head straight to the NFL…?”
Yep. The logic is staring me right in the face on this one…
After all the negative press the military is dealing with after all the Pat Tillman findings in the Oversight Committee manifesto, you want to pull the rug out from one of your own…?
Where is the honor there…?
Simply put. There is none.
If that is one of the tenets that the defense of a nation is based, then when was a bait-and-switch allowed as part of the by-laws in the proceedings…? But in the land of $900 toilets and $265 screwdrivers through military contracts, why should anything be expected to be different…?
Hell, any soldier that serves this country should be fortunate enough to get a paycheck with a contract that warped… so why is it as equally warped to think that in the land of “Honor, Code, Country” that the code should be a constant…?
dot…dot…dot…
Here’s the Army’s take…
“The U.S. Army revised its policy related to Soldiers participating in professional sports. The policy change now allows for a request for waiver of service after two years of active duty. This action was taken to uniformly apply military service obligations for all members of the U.S. Army. Once those affected complete two years of active duty, they are eligible to pursue professional sports opportunities.
“Once 2nd Lt. Campbell completes a minimum of two years of active service in the Army, he may apply for release from active duty for the purpose of pursuing a professional sports career. Clearly, 2nd Lt. Campbell deserves the well-earned recognition he's received for his outstanding football career at West Point and subsequent selection by the Detroit Lions. He is an outstanding athlete who displayed the dedication, determination and discipline required of a champion. He has the qualities we expect of our leaders, and is the kind of leader our Soldiers deserve.”
This change was, apparently, made July 8th but no one told Campbell until mid-week. He was at West Point as late as last week. There wasn’t even a sniff of this change in the by-laws by anyone close to the situation. Campbell even stayed at West Point after that Sophomore year because he was under the impression that he could do what he had done…
Until Wednesday…
With someone as high-profile an example as Campbell was turning out to be, how was he left to hang and operate under what he thought was his SOP…?
And with someone as high-profile an example as Campbell now is ((and should be)) for anyone who looks at our Armed Forces with a cocked head or raised eyebrow these days, how can anyone in Washington look themselves in the mirror and justify their decision…?
Got me…
Hopefully, now that Campbell will be a Graduate Assistant Coach at either West Point or NAPS next season, cadets can learn what it means to exhibit honor at every turn, adhere to a code as a way of life, and love a country for its failings and faults as much as its freedoms and fine points by following his superior example of being a blue print for all.
If only teaching went up the ladder as much as it can work downstream…
Well done, Lieutenant…
Play it safe, everyone… I’ll talk to you soon…
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