Remember Freshman Phenoms are Just Kids

Another story on the stellar freshman class in college football, that includes Calvin Johnson - link here.

Just this season, referencing true freshmen only -- excluding red shirts and prep school products -- there is a plethora of physical phenoms making serious contributions on the field: Quarterbacks Eric Ainge and Brent Schaeffer of Tennessee, Brian Brohm of Louisville, Chad Henne of Michigan, running backs Peterson, Hart, and Darius Walker of Notre Dame, linebacker Dan Conner of Penn State, and wide receivers Dwayne Jarrett of USC and Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech are the most publicized. Linemen and defensive backs are jumping in here and there as well.

I hope and pray they all do well. They are challenged on a daily basis by the classroom, tutoring, weightlifting, media swirl, agents, parasitic alumni, bright lights, parties, alcohol, controlled substances and the passions of youth. There is also the omnipresent specter of gambling and its pervasive influence that can destroy in a moment every decent aspect of the experience.