Patrick Witt, Yale Quarterback, Forgoes Rhodes Scholarship To Play Against Harvard (VIDEO)

For many college students, the toughest decision to be made during a given week is whether to spend their last five dollars on a six-pack of domestic beer or a box of Ramen Noodles.

For Yale quarterback Patrick Witt, things were a little bit more complicated.

In recent weeks, Witt was been faced with an interesting conundrum: Does he lead his football team against hated rival Harvard or attend an interview for the opportunity to win a Rhodes Scholarship.

He couldn't have it both ways. The interview was scheduled to take place at Emory University in Atlanta on this coming Saturday. Unfortunately for Witt, Yale was scheduled to play rival Harvard in "The Game" on that very same day. With the interviews scheduled to begin at 8 AM and the game set to kickoff at noon, it seemed unlikely that Witt would be able to participate in both given travel time.

After careful consideration, Witt chose football.

"I will be playing in the Yale-Harvard game this Saturday," Witt said in a press release. "My focus this week is solely on preparing for The Game alongside my teammates and coaches."

According to ESPN, Witt asked the committee if anything could be done to accomodate his schedule, but they declined to alter their schedule.

"We have candidates every year miss games for the interview," Elliot Gerson, the American Secretary for the Rhodes Trust told ESPN.com. ""(The) Rhodes Scholarship is an academic award, and is not an award for 'scholar-athletes,' despite some popular perception of it in that explicit light."

While it was a tough decision to be sure, many supported Witt's choice to put team over self -- even in this extreme scenario.

@David_Gergen
David Gergen

If character counted on scoreboard, Yale has already won against Harvard. Patrick Witt showed selflessness we should applaud.

November 15, 2011 3:35 am via Twitter for iPad Reply Retweet Favorite

Fortunately for Witt, he can still apply for the award any time before he turns 24.

In the meantime, it looks like Harvard will have its hands full facing a Yale quarterback looking to prove that he made the right call.

WATCH VIDEO AT TOP

Comments

[elihusandusky]

08:35 AM on 11/23/2011

Check this out

http://www.ralphiereport.com/2009/2/23/768541/nebraska-quarterback-nix-t

http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_bb6f5366-9060-5643-a63b-e58d1b12c16c.html

http://www.wowt.com/bigredextra/headlines/12334226.html?storySection=story


Google for more

[ZenSufi]

02:45 PM on 11/17/2011

Witt needs to ask himself: What Would Tebow Do?

[Left Hook]

11:57 AM on 11/18/2011

Take a knee and Teblow the baby Jesus of course...

[gevan]

07:49 AM on 11/17/2011

Maybe after playing Harvard he'll beat Rhodes too.

[veritas88]

11:19 PM on 11/16/2011

Why does the interview have to be at Emory, of all places? Too bad it wasn't located closer to Yale; then he could make both.

[ZenSufi]

02:42 PM on 11/17/2011

Skype?

[lynnebrad]

06:25 PM on 11/16/2011

This shows everything that is wrong in our idoltry of college sports. How can David Gergen applaud him? He is a student first and an athlete second. What a bad role model he will be given how our educational priorities across the board are slowly being dismantled.

[profideous man]

09:00 PM on 11/16/2011

Really? Seriously? The kid carries something like a 3.8 GPA at freakin' YALE! I think he's earned the right to make this choice. Just because you don't like his choice doesn't mean he's a bad influence on anybody. It means that if you perform well enough in multiple facets of life, you get to make win-win decisions. Don't forget that this kid is also being talked about being picked up for the NFL. So who are we to judge a young man for making a decision that he has earned the right to make?

[ruolivert]

05:33 PM on 11/17/2011

He's not judging the Witt but the system that values Witt playing a game of football versus interviewing for a scholarship that could help him for the rest of his life. You're absolutely right in saying Witt had the right to make the choice but he should have never had to put into position to have to make that choice because, as lynnebrad said, he's a student before he's an athlete

[schneider360]

10:06 PM on 11/16/2011

you must have gotten picked last in kickball.

[mikesleeps]

06:16 PM on 11/16/2011

This guy was also arrested for third degree assault when he was at Nebraska. Maybe that's why he "declined" to finish out this Rhodes application - he probalby knew he wouldn't get it. http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_bb6f5366-9060-5643-a63b-e58d1b12c16c.html

[Emilybare]

05:31 PM on 11/16/2011

Guys, it is just a game.

[schneider360]

10:07 PM on 11/16/2011

college education, capitalism or football? i mean, seriously, whats the difference?

[gevan]

07:50 AM on 11/17/2011

For Yale and Harvard it is THE GAME.

[Forester]

04:58 PM on 11/16/2011

For a terrific movie, check out "Yale Beats Harvard 29-29".

I was a Yale Bowl rat back in the 1960's - great memories of some great games.

[cljvedelman]

04:13 PM on 11/16/2011

He is a member of a team and team members must be able to depend on one another. Not all who play team sports remember that. But this young man does. He is golden as far as I am concerned.

[CPAwADD]

09:03 AM on 11/17/2011

You have it right. You honor your commitments. Being on a team is a commitment.

[cljvedelman]

09:13 AM on 11/17/2011

I know I have it right and I thank you for your affirmation. My best to you.

[ruolivert]

05:36 PM on 11/17/2011

It doesn't bother you that he valued college football game over a scholarship opportunity that could be a boost to his career long after he's walked away from the game? I'm not knocking Patrick, more the culture we live in that values the out come of a football over scholastic achievements

[cljvedelman]

06:53 PM on 11/17/2011

No, it doesn't bother me in the least. He has an obligation to the team he is on. Obviously, he is also very bright and that will serve him well over the long haul. Also, he can still go after that particular scholarship until age 24. The decision he made speaks volumes about what he thinks of the group rather than the individual.

[Tater Salad]

03:47 PM on 11/16/2011

Hey a guy that puts team above self. Amazing.

[ruolivert]

05:40 PM on 11/17/2011

He's also a guy who put football over academics which is something this country needs LESS of.

[Tater Salad]

06:27 PM on 11/17/2011

Not true since he can still apply. Best of both worlds.

[Duffy Sinclair]

03:41 PM on 11/16/2011

When Florida State's, Myron Rolle, approached Bobby Bowden about his opportunity to take this exam on a gameday back in 2008, Bowden said, "It's a no-brainer, I know academics comes first."

Funny how the coach from football factory and state school, FSU, had his priorities squared away, while the guy from the top private school, Harvard, seems misguided by comparison. This may appear to be a selfless and admirable decision by most, but if I were a teammate of his I'd rather see him represent Yale for what it's known for most, academics.

Btw, Rolle did earn that Rhodes Scholarship, becoming the first person from Florida St. to do so. And another thing, Rolle was no slouch as a football player and was expected to be a top draft choice by the NFL. Good job, Myron, because in the long run, academics will help the world more than football.

[Duffy Sinclair]

03:44 PM on 11/16/2011

Oops, I got the school wrong, it's Yale not Harvard... same point though.

[ruolivert]

05:39 PM on 11/17/2011

So true. The funny thing about Myron was on his scouting report for the NFL draft he got downgraded essentially because scouts thought he was too smart, and thus, less coachable then other players lol. The coach at Yale should have said the same thing to Patrick

[piperflyer]

02:05 PM on 11/16/2011

The less travel Rhodes gets, the better the world.

[gevan]

07:52 AM on 11/17/2011

The Rhodes not taken?

[javajava]

01:53 PM on 11/16/2011

I doubt Oxford will miss him and wether or not he reapplies or is rescheduled he will most likely live a sucessful professional life. Totally his call.

[Boster24]

12:50 PM on 11/16/2011

He can still apply for a Rhodes Scholarship up until he reaches age 24. Yale-Harvard is what college football is really about, amateur student-athletes. And lest not forget, without the Rhodes Scholarship Interview, remember just an interview, he still will be receiving a Yale Degree, not to bad in the scheme of things.

[jmwaco]

12:49 PM on 11/16/2011

If he is on an athletic scholarship at Yale then he has a commitment to his school and his teammates to play. The Rhodes Scholarship board should have rescheduled the interview. I commend him for doing the honorable thing.

[elcastle]

01:18 PM on 11/16/2011

Ivy leagues don't have athletic scholarship. They do have need based scholarship.

[jmwaco]

05:01 PM on 11/16/2011

Thanks for reminding me elcastle. After I posted I remembered one of my ivy league friends telling me that. I still can't say the he did the wrong thing. I hope he will get another chance.