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Yale QB chooses ‘athlete’ over ‘student,’ forgoes Rhodes scholarship to play Harvard

Yale quarterback Patrick Witt has decided to forgo an opportunity to become a Rhodes Scholar to play against rival Harvard.

"I will be playing in the Yale-Harvard game this Saturday," Witt said in an official press release. "My focus this week is solely on preparing for The Game alongside my teammates and coaches."

Two weeks ago, Witt became a Rhodes Scholarship finalist, but the joy of the news was dampened when Witt learned the interview would be on the same day as The Game against rival Harvard. With interviews at Emory University in Atlanta, Witt would never have had enough time to do the 8 a.m. interview and fly back for The Game, which starts just four hours later.

Can't say that I agree with his decision. But, that is his, and his only.

I don't know enough about the Rhodes scholarship to comment. Does its effect on your life/career depend on your field of study?

I know that I read that he can reapply. Would they take this decision into account?

He's not going to the NFL. The Rhodes sets him up for an outstanding graduate experience with the sky's the limit in future careers. I'm sorry to see himn make this choice.

frinq wrote:He's not going to the NFL. The Rhodes sets him up for an outstanding graduate experience with the sky's the limit in future careers. I'm sorry to see himn make this choice.

While I wouldn't put the NFL past a Yalie (the Bungles once had a player from Yale), I agree with frinq on principle.

The kid will have a Yale degree with a Rhodes Finalist footnote on the resume. But the thing that would catch my eye if I was interviewing him is that he is a Team Player. There are plenty of book smart assclowns in the world that only care about themselves. You can't swing a dead cat on Wall Street without hitting one.

I support Witt's decision. He's a mature young man who considered all the pros and cons and chose his teammates over himself.

Plus, I'm sure he doesn't want to be a member of yet another Yale FB senior class that never beat Harvard!

CAA Flagship wrote:The kid will have a Yale degree with a Rhodes Finalist footnote on the resume. But the thing that would catch my eye if I was interviewing him is that he is a Team Player. There are plenty of book smart assclowns in the world that only care about themselves. You can't swing a dead cat on Wall Street without hitting one.

+1

Ivytalk wrote:I support Witt's decision. He's a mature young man who considered all the pros and cons and chose his teammates over himself.

Plus, I'm sure he doesn't want to be a member of yet another Yale FB senior class that never beat Harvard!

haha....

Care to put in a wager on the game?

Proceeds go to CS?

grizzaholic wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:I support Witt's decision. He's a mature young man who considered all the pros and cons and chose his teammates over himself.

Plus, I'm sure he doesn't want to be a member of yet another Yale FB senior class that never beat Harvard!

haha....

Care to put in a wager on the game?

Proceeds go to CS?

Grizza, I'm on record as predicting a 13-point Harvard victory, notwithstanding the hoopla about Mr. Witt. I'll put my money where my virtual mouth is: $25 on Harvard, straight up (no points), payable to CS.com if Yale wins. You?

Ivytalk wrote:

grizzaholic wrote:
haha....

Care to put in a wager on the game?

Proceeds go to CS?

Grizza, I'm on record as predicting a 13-point Harvard victory, notwithstanding the hoopla about Mr. Witt. I'll put my money where my virtual mouth is: $25 on Harvard, straight up (no points), payable to CS.com if Yale wins. You?

I am not up to date on all of this big IVY League talk. I wasn't going to go search your past posts... $25 sounds great. Hell, Chris probably needs the extra cash anyways.

Grizza-Yale wins
IVY-Harvard wins

If you guys had balls, you would bet a 24-hour visit to the local Occupy camp.

grizzaholic wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:
Grizza, I'm on record as predicting a 13-point Harvard victory, notwithstanding the hoopla about Mr. Witt. I'll put my money where my virtual mouth is: $25 on Harvard, straight up (no points), payable to CS.com if Yale wins. You?

I am not up to date on all of this big IVY League talk. I wasn't going to go search your past posts... $25 sounds great. Hell, Chris probably needs the extra cash anyways.

Grizza-Yale wins
IVY-Harvard wins

I said 34-21 Harvard, just for the record, on the Ivy League Week 10 thread. You're on!

Although I've also picked UM by a FG...

Ivytalk wrote:

grizzaholic wrote:
I am not up to date on all of this big IVY League talk. I wasn't going to go search your past posts... $25 sounds great. Hell, Chris probably needs the extra cash anyways.

Grizza-Yale wins
IVY-Harvard wins

I said 34-21 Harvard, just for the record, on the Ivy League Week 10 thread. You're on!

Although I've also picked UM by a FG...

Picking MSU by 9 would have been a better bet.

Hate to break it to ya, the thread I am on is Yale QB chooses. Some IVY grad...

I support his decision too. I think it makes the Rhodes committee look bad, as they apparently aren't willing to accommodate. I can't envision many college athletes, let alone a qb, skipping out on the team's biggest rivalry game, let alone in his senior year. A teammate of mine chose a Rhodes scholarship over playing in the NFl. He had been drafted in about the 6th round. He played in two post-season all-star bowl games. After his Rhodes, he came to the same law school I attended, and we were the two defensive backs on the same intramural team. I don't think we got beat deep much. We communicated using our old college secondary signals.

GrizFan5 wrote:I support his decision too. I think it makes the Rhodes committee look bad, as they apparently aren't willing to accommodate. I can't envision many college athletes, let alone a qb, skipping out on the team's biggest rivalry game, let alone in his senior year. A teammate of mine chose a Rhodes scholarship over playing in the NFl. He had been drafted in about the 6th round. He played in two post-season all-star bowl games. After his Rhodes, he came to the same law school I attended, and we were the two defensive backs on the same intramural team. I don't think we got beat deep much. We communicated using our old college secondary signals.

This. If the committee had a hair on their ass they'd reschedule or let him swap interview times with someone NOT affiliated with the football team.

All of the interviews are that day. The award is not aimed towards atheletes, and I am sure they don't want to set a pattern of making changes for applicants.

pantherrob82 wrote:All of the interviews are that day. The award is not aimed towards atheletes, and I am sure they don't want to set a pattern of making changes for applicants.

Mr. Rhodes’ Will contains four criteria by which prospective Rhodes Scholars are to be selected:
1.literary and scholastic attainments;
2.energy to use one’s talents to the full, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports;
3.truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship;
4.moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings.

http://www.rhodesscholar.org/faq.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Myron Rollewas a finalist for the Rhodes Scholar a couple years ago. He had a big game against D that day and he had to go to I think Alabama for his interview. He went to his interview, the NCAA allowed him to charter a flight to MD for the game and he got there I think during the third quarter (FSU won the game and he was named a Rhodes Scholar)

grizzaholic wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:
I said 34-21 Harvard, just for the record, on the Ivy League Week 10 thread. You're on!

Although I've also picked UM by a FG...

Picking MSU by 9 would have been a better bet.

Hate to break it to ya, the thread I am on is Yale QB chooses. Some IVY grad...

Hey, IVY, sorry, I misread your post.

He goes to Yale. That's enough for a resume. On the flip side, not many people get to play in that rivalry as the starting QB either.

Let's see. You spend 4 years in a football program working out and practicing and playing games. You are the starting QB in one of the biggest rivalry games in the country in your senior year. The interview committee would rather that you abandon your teammates to attend an interview rather than providing the flexibility for him to do it the day before or after. What message are they sending here?

The message is that you can work for a company on a particular project that lasts 4 years. In the fourth year, you are now leading the project as it approaches it's final stages. But if another opportunity pops up, it is OK to leave the company for "greener pastures" and let your co-workers fend for themselves.

F@#k academia. Many in that world have no idea what it is like in the real world. Kudos to the decision to lead your teammates in an important contest. Damn I'm fired up. I'm gonna dedicate my first couple of drinks tonight and toast him.

bulldog10jw is conspicuous by his absence in this thread.

CitadelGrad wrote:bulldog10jw is conspicuous by his absence in this thread.

Who ?

Since Witt could re-apply for the Rhodes next year, I think his decision ended up being a no-brainer.

I also think, even if he COULDN'T re-apply, the decision to stick with his teammates, finish what he started and made a commitment to do, and to try to win the biggest game of the year is the correct one.

CitadelGrad wrote:bulldog10jw is conspicuous by his absence in this thread.