Printers’ decision unjust
Commentary by Ram Luthra
Sports Editor

When Casey Printers was recruited by TCU, then-head coach Dennis Franchione wrote many letters to Printers that emphasized the importance of being a student-athlete.

One letter stated that at TCU “you will be a scholar-athlete who has the unique chance to mature academically, athletically, socially and spiritually in a family-type setting unlike many others.”

Obviously, Printers did not read that letter or forgot about being a student-athlete.

Two days after throwing four interceptions in the 28-9 loss to Texas A&M University at the galleryfurniture.com Bowl, Printers sent out a statement to local media outlets showing his interest of leaving TCU. He officially requested his release from the university the following day from head coach Gary Patterson. His release was eventually granted Jan. 5.

Printers decision to leave put him in the same category as other athletes who decide to go pro after their freshman year or those athletes that simply forgo college all together to go to the NBA straight from high school. Printers is searching for a school that allows him to pass the ball more in order for him to be a better NFL prospect. That shows his lack of desire to obtain a college degree.

His decision to leave reveals that Printers wanted more than anything to be a professional quarterback, even at the expense of his own education. When coming to TCU, Printers and other athletes made a commitment to themselves to complete their education and then to be an athlete. Printers took another route. He decided that his education was less important than throwing a football.

It is beside the fact that Printers’ decision was based on his own personal self-interest.

His decision ignored the commitment he made to the TCU coaching staff and his teammates. His decision was more than a slap in the face to the fans and alumni who bought tickets week in and week out to watch him. His decision was selfish and only benefited one person: Casey Printers.

If he stayed for one more year, Casey could have made strides both on the field and in the class. He was ranked in the top three in many statistical categories. If he played his final year he could have overtaken the likes of Max Knake and Sammy Baugh as the all-time leaders in touchdowns thrown. But that won’t be the case.

Printers ended the fall semester with a 2.5 GPA as he worked on his communication degree, Patterson said. But he can throw that all away, probably better than he can throw the football. That GPA won’t matter when some of his courses don’t transfer over to his new school.

Both Printers and Patterson have said that there are not any harsh feeling between both parties. But some members on the team have openly taken shots at Printers, both as a player and as a person.

Patterson & Company will have their hands full for the next couple of months. With the annual anxiety and excitement of high school recruiting, the coaching staff now has to calm the storm left by Printers’ departure. The older players must come together and fill the void. At the end of every year, some players leave as expected because of graduation, but the loss of Printers was not expected. His loss will be a test for the team to step up and prove themselves.

As other athletes, who are serious about their education and their role as students, flip through their textbooks in preparation for an upcoming test, Printers will be running his fingers through a book of his own: “A Dummies Guide to Getting in the NFL.”

Sports Editor Ram Luthra is a senior news-editorial journalism and political science major from Fort Worth. He can be contacted at (r.d.luthra@student.tcu.edu).

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