I get it – ballplayers have big egos and they want to get as much money as they can. I’m sure no one associated with Gio Bernard – by all accounts a classy, intelligent guy – will say he has a big ego or is motivated by money.
But, come on, here’s a talented if undersized running back with two years of eligibility left – time where he could grow in so many ways. In fact, he could grow into a legendary figure – that is, legendary for more than running back a game-winning punt return against N.C. State.
“I feel like the best decision for my future is to enter the NFL draft this year,” Bernard said. “I want to thank Coach (Larry) Fedora, this coaching staff and the previous coaching staff for putting me in a position to succeed. I am on track to graduate and I plan on coming back to earn my degree in the Spring of 2014.”
A college experience is more than coming back to earn a degree. Next year would have been a fourth year at Carolina, so even though he would be a junior athletically, he’d really be experiencing a senior season. Looking back on my senior season, it was one of the very best years of my life. Many people I know say that about their college senior years. When your life is over, I’m not sure how much one of the very best years of it is worth financially but to me it’s priceless.
Predictably the media is squarely behind Bernard’s decision. “To have returned for 2013 and maybe 2014 would have been too risky,” said the News & Observer’s Caulton Tudor. “One more knee injury could have equated to a multimillion-dollar mistake.”
That’s a reasonable stance but, actually, the money would still be there after next season. If he doesn’t get hurt and spends a season as a Heisman candidate, you can bet the money would be even greater. Plus, insurance policies would even ensure that should he get hurt and go undrafted, he’d be financially set for life.
I guess I’m more philosophical about these things. If he’s going to hurt his knee, he’s going to hurt his knee – whether it be in college or the pros. The only difference I guess is that he’d be getting paid for not working if he injures it after starting his pro career.
It’s not often that Carolina has a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Bernard would have started the season on the short list. That would have been a good way of showing his thanks to the University of North Carolina.
He could have grown as a player, had a chance for the Heisman and possibly lead the Tar Heels to an ACC championship. UNC’s chances are greatly diminished – in essence so that Bernard can make a boatload of money a year or two earlier and so he can be a small fish in a big NFL pond. But, again, players’ egos won’t allow them to believe they’ll be anything but a first-year starter, MVP and Super Bowl winner I guess.
I concede that we don’t really know all that is going on in Bernard’s life. Who knows? He could be making the better decision for his individual circumstances. I wish him luck. He’s been a pleasure to watch. Still, it could have been the year of a lifetime to compete for the Heisman and an ACC title.