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In response to your exasperation over Coach lamenting Grosso's decommitment because he was destined to play on Sunday, I think you missed the point. Coach was merely regretting that we were losing a kid who had pro potential. This said, in response to your question of whether we might imply it is easier for a kid to get into the pro's at NU, I would actually make a strong argument for yes. Consider, the number of pro's that you have is largely a function of the talent you've brought in, more than how those kids develop once they are at FSU. Considering all the 4 and 5 star talent you bring in, it would be a shock if you didn't put more kids into the pro's (this is considered one of our best classes, at least since Barnett was here, and we have not a single consensus 4 star player). OTOH, no one does better than Northwestern at taking 2 and 3 star talent and sending them to the NFL. Consider the 2004 OL. Every starter is now on an NFL team. Not a single 4 star player, and most of them 2 stars. One of the 3 star players (who now plays for the Saints) was a 1st team All-American. On the other side of the line, we took a couple 3 star DL who played for NU the last couple of years and made one into a 1st round pick and All-Pro and another a 4th rounder and All-Rookie team and starter. They are amongst the most accomplished and best young talent at their positions in the league. Kids who come to NU have a much better chance at starting and shining than at FSU, where they are going to compete with a plethora of 4 and 5 star kids. In the end, you'll get your shot no matter what school you go to, if you prove yourself (see the plethora of Division I-AA talent in the league). The NFL scouting system will find you. At NU, I'd argue you have a much better chance of getting reps against the best in the nation, earlier in your career, filling out under the guidance of possibly the best strength coach in the nation, and in the end proving yourself on the field. I didn't do the math, but if you factor the number of stars our respective schools bring in and do a quick calculation on how successful we take the raw talent we bring in and make them pro's, I'd guess Northwestern actually does much better, pro per star. Comments? [Links to the Post on the Purple Basketball Board]
