Schools Can Make Collegiate Athletes Do Absolutely Anything (Jim Shorts Reports)

We all know that the NCAA has pretty strict control over its "student" athletes. The organization can restrict their work, eating habits, what they do with their likeness, and movement between teams (even if the coaches, who sit in players' living rooms, stare into the eyes of the player's mother and swear to treat him like his own son, pick up and move to greener pastures).

Just leave him there. He was only a 3 star recruit.

There have even been controversies involving players being disciplined by coaches for daring to attend classes instead of "voluntary" football activities. (Please see Robert Smith).

But this new revelation is ridiculous.

According to ESPN, before competing in the Orange Bowl (and receiving $0 for their efforts), several Wisconsin players were required to catch a 450 pound shark.*

I have heard of some very strange pregame motivational tactics including one involving a kicker cutting off his foot because his coach brought a giant log and an axe into the locker room, but catching a shark?! That is pure insanity.

League Sources reports that the tactic was inspired by former NFL great Michael Strahan's habit of catching sharks all the damn time.

Miraculously, none of the players involved, tight end Troy Fumagalli, defensive end Chikwe Obasih, nose tackle Garrett Rand, running back Taiwan Deal, and outside linebacker Garret Dooley, were injured in the asinine pre-game warmup.

Far more important than the players' health is the fact that the tactic worked and the Wisconsin Badgers won the game 34-24 over the Miami Hurricanes.

*No-one was required to do this.