Defense secretary steps in, OKs Navy grad’s pursuit of NFL dream

Chad Hennings played at USAFA - Outland winner yet honored his contract, flew A-10 in Gulf War and then went on to play pro ball for Dallas - won 3 super bowls.
Roger Staubach won the Heisman Trophy at Navy, yet did two tours in Nam and then went on to play pro ball for Dallas won 2 super bowls.

When students accept admission and continue their education at a service academy, there is an understanding and acknowledgement that they will upon graduation be commissioned. Every Midshipman or cadet attends on the same terms and each has the same responsibility to serve. So what if a cadet wants to pursue acting or politics after graduation will they get the same deal?

I don't agree.

I think the standard should be that 100% of the time, a cadet must complete their commitment upon graduation before being allowed to play. No deferments. IMO, this situation has come about bc of the ego of the senior officers of each service, who think that "beat Navy" or "beat Army" really means something in the real world, and therefore they want to try and recruit the best players available. Without dangling the carrot of possibly getting a deferment, some may not choose to play at an academy. And that's fine. So an absolute, no exceptions policy would preclude the issue.

But that said, the problem is that over the years, deferments have been granted, and the policy has changed back and forth. And in particular this year, with this case, three other players were given deferments to play pro, though from other service academies. But imo the policy should be the same DOD wide. So it is hard to justify denying this deferment while other members of the same graduating class got one. So I support this exception. I would close the door on any future ones, though.