Eli Manning Leads The Way

I always have a positive outlook on the Manning family because I feel like they are good people in general.  Eli and his wife Abby's recent action of giving 1 million dollars to the academic scholarship program at Ole Miss, their alma mater, is a perfect example of why I would feel positive towards them.

The actual scholarship fund is the Ole Miss Opportunity program which rewards students who have both good grades but are not fully covered by grants or other scholarship programs.  The program that the Manning's gave money to was started with in the last year in response to the tuition increase at the school.

Their actions speak to something I have felt strongly about for awhile.  I feel that players who make it to the pro level should offer money back to scholarship funds for needy students, basically offsetting their free ride to a school for four years.  It's crazy that a player gets free schooling then goes on to make millions and doesn't specifically designate money for a schools scholarship program.  Read Here about what I think players that are "one and done" should have to pay back for leaving the school early.

Sure I know a lot of players give money back to the university but a lot of that money goes to improving the football stadium or to the booster clubs.  I feel that players should give money back to help kids go to school, just like they were given the opportunity before they hit it big.

I'm glad Eli has made a classy move and I hope that players will follow his footsteps because one it looks good on their part and two its good for the community.