Troy Polamalu, the all-pro safety from the Pittsburg Steelers, made a good use to this NFL lockout. Troy left the University of Southern California after his senior season of college to enter the NFL Draft.
Being drafted in 2003 didn’t allow Polamalu to finish up his college degree in history, because he had to forcus his entire self on The Pittsburg Steelers. Many top draft picks do not have the opportunity to be able to the finish their college education because of the high demand that NFL teams has for their players.
Most National Football League players don’t have the time of day in the off-season to do anything for themselves because they all prepare for upcoming NFL season in the fall. Mini camps usually start in the spring and last until the summer. Once the summer starts, training camp begins. Most NFL teams start at different times with their training camps and they all don’t last the duration of the summer.
With the NFL lockout this season, all the players got to have an actual offseason for the first time in many years, most since grade school. With Chad Ochocinco, of the Cincinnatti Bengals, riding bulls and trying out for an MLS team, Troy Polamalu decided to finish his degree from the University of Southern California. On Friday, May 13th, Troy Polamalu walked with about 1,000 other students who received their Master’s or Undergraduate degrees in Alumni Park.
Polamalu went back to get his degree not only because it is very important to him personally, but he wants to emphasize to people that education is the most important thing. Although he was able to go to the NFL and is blessed to be able to use his talents at the highest level, it most certainly cannot replace an education.
