Semi-amateur

We’ve all seen examples of former professional baseball players who have given up on their first choice and pursued a college football career without running afoul of the NCAA’s amateurism protocol.

I can’t help, though, but wonder if an envelope is being pushed a little more strongly with the news that Auburn has signed a “former Australian Professional Footballer” to a college scholarship as a punter.  The sports may not be exactly the same, but it’s hard to deny that the skills he was paid for are largely the same skills that Malzahn values now.

It’s February, and devious minds turn to cheatin’.  How far could a well-heeled booster push things with a summer “football, but not exactly American football” league that paid players?  How different would the rules have to be to pass NCAA muster?