Morris: Stay or go to NFL? Coaches know best

South Carolina has a problem when it comes to the NFL draft. Most of its underclassmen are getting, and accepting, bad information. Beyond that, those players appear to lack any loyalty to the program.

The result? Safety Emmanuel Cook stops attending class during the second semester of his junior year. He does not play in the Outback Bowl and declares himself eligible for the draft. He is not selected.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn shuns the advice of Steve Spurrier and foregoes his senior season at USC to enter the draft. He is selected in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers, and is now a long shot to play in the NFL.

Two years ago, receiver Sidney Rice does not heed Spurrier’s advice and enters a draft loaded with top-level receiver talent. He is selected in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings. He receives a $1.3 million signing bonus, but probably costs himself at least another $1 million by going out early.

“We try to show our players at South Carolina all the facts, but they don’t believe you,” Spurrier says. “They don’t believe the facts because they listen to these little agent guys telling them they’re going to be second-round ... first-round (picks).”

The problem is players are listening only what they want to hear from agents, advisors and various tag-alongs. Then they are tuning in to their iPods when USC begins to present the other side of the story. It is perplexing to Spurrier and Eric Hyman, USC’s athletics director.

“I don’t know that it is unique to South Carolina,” Hyman says. “I think to a certain extent it is kids today. I don’t think they’re getting the reinforcement from home. I don’t think they get the part of education. I don’t think they understand they have a better chance of getting hit by lighting than playing professional football.”

USC is trying to get its message across: Stay in school, earn a degree, don’t be lured by agents promising dollars they can’t deliver.

Hyman speaks to athletes every year about the long odds of making it in professional sports. He brings in guest speakers such as Bob McNair, a USC graduate and owner of the NFL’s Houston Texans, who once addressed the football team about remaining in school.

Spurrier also calls on guest speakers and quotes from one article in which Southern California coach Pete Carroll says a player should never leave prior to his senior season unless that player is projected by NFL experts to be a first-round pick.

At Florida, eight of Spurrier’s players opted out of their senior year to enter the NFL draft. Every one was a first-round selection.

“The players, when I was (at Florida) would say, ‘Coach, should I stay or go?’” Spurrier says. “I’d give my opinion. Most people think (coaches) are always telling them to stay.”

That is not necessarily true, Spurrier says.

Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony were the first to sit down with Spurrier at Florida and seek advice. The Gators were coming off a national championship in 1996, and Hilliard and Anthony had played on three consecutive SEC championship squads.

“Ike,” Spurrier recalls saying, “there’s no question you’re going to the NFL because you’re a first-round pick. You’ve done all you can for Florida. Reidel, same way. You’ll be a first-rounder. We’ll just shake your hands and wish you guys the best.”

There were many others who returned for their senior seasons at Florida. In most cases, they earned degrees and/or improved their draft status.

The same is not always happening at USC, although Hyman is quick to point out Kenny McKinley and Jasper Brinkley returned for their senior seasons. Also, Eric Norwood changed his mind and will return to USC next season after first saying he was headed to the NFL.

Of the seven players under Spurrier who have left early, only tight end Jared Cook had the coach’s blessing. Ko Simpson, Johnathan Joseph, Rice, Stanley Doughty, Emanuel Cook and Munnerlyn all left early against the advice of Spurrier. Simpson, a fourth-round pick in 2006, and Joseph, a first-rounder the same year, remain in the NFL.

Spurrier advised Jared Cook to leave early partly because Cook was projected to be a high draft pick and partly because Cook already had spent four seasons at USC. Cook was a third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans.

In many of the other cases, Spurrier never got a word in with the players. Emanuel Cook announced his decision before the end of the regular season. Munnerlyn said he was leaving immediately following USC’s bowl loss.

Players at other schools, particularly traditional powers such as Florida and Georgia, almost always wait to consult with coaches and administrators before making a decision. At Georgia this year, quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno were certain to be first-round picks. Yet both waited until they had discussed the issue of leaving with coach Mark Richt before departing.

Spurrier says it is a matter of loyalty to one’s school.

“The players usually down there enjoyed playing at Florida,” Spurrier says. “I don’t know if some of these guys enjoy playing here. I don’t know how much loyalty to the school they have. That’s just telling it like it is.”

Unfortunately for USC, the likelihood is only winning and establishing a championship program will solve that problem.

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