Just like everyone else in the NFL world, American Underdog Kurt Warner also sat down to watch college football highlights from last year. As the NFL Draft approaches, analysts and former players alike put out their thoughts on what shape the draft might take.
Advertisement
It is standard practice. But this time, the Former Rams QB put out an opinion that instantly garnered both civil and “uncivil” blowback.
I know many of you LOVE college football, but as I start to dive into these college QBs, it’s hard for me to even watch: very few play on schedule, the pass concepts are a mess most of the time, they run the same play over & over, a million bubble screens, can’t find many…
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) February 23, 2024
To the point where Warner had to clarify his stance while asking social media users getting at him to be less “childish” when dealing with disagreements:
You guys know I love this platform & how it can connect all of us but two things that drive me crazy:
1) If we don’t agree, we will just insult the other person – so childish
2) Ppl don’t actually read & process what you say & so you have to defend things you never even said???…
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) February 24, 2024
His comments did make a lot of noise. Soon enough, from inside the noise came people who had a serious topic to debate: What is the role of the lower level coaches in building the careers of the thousands of football players and athletes that they come across in their journeys?
My comments today led to an interesting debate… What is the job of a lower level coach? (Note: they can have more than one job & I use lower level coach bc I understand their are some inherent differences once on pro level)
My answer was “Success”, which for me can be defined…
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) February 23, 2024
Or are the constraints and demands of the job and the realities of the college athlete world so different that the goals are not aligned with building professionals?
Kurt Warner’s Stance Had Fans Riled Up
It was not an easy comment to digest for college football and high school football fans. And the ones vocal on twitter let Warner know what they thought. One of the most in depth analysis on his take and the questions arising from there was done by Coach Tony Franklin. Coach put up a whole essay with specific pointers as to what the role of the head coach at the high school and college level. Here, have a look:
@Kurt13Warner & other disciples of the belief that high school and college coaches’ jobs are to prepare their QB’s for the NFL:
1) The idea that a high school and college coaches’ job is to prepare their QB for the NFL is incorrect at best. 99.8% of high school quarterbacks will…— tony franklin (@coachtf) February 24, 2024
There were other comments that said they are discrediting Kurt Warner as the source for reliable QB analysis. But at the same time, Warner agrees that he doesn’t know much about the sport at the college level. And looked open to taking in new information or at least open to peaceful disagreement.
It also started a debate around an important issue that helps all athletes grow and learn. Whether the high school and college level coaches try to prepare the athletes for pro level stage or they prepare them for life, at the end of the day it is about building the young men of tomorrow, and that has to be done seriously and with care.
