Saturday, June 26, 1999
OSU's Murphy sets sights on NFL
Supplemental draft option
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Rob Murphy
|
Before Rob Murphy packed up his Columbus apartment Friday, he made his first pro move by petitioning the NFL for a spot in next month's supplemental draft.
Murphy, Ohio State's two-time All-America guard from Moeller High School, was stirred, not shaken, by this week's academic dismissal from school.
“I want people to know that I can look in the mirror and say I tried everything to stay in school,” Murphy said from his Montgomery home.
“I tried to petition, I tried to take as many classes as I could. I took 23 credits and it just didn't happen. I'm trying to make a negative into a positive and get my pro career started.”
If the NFL agrees with Murphy that he made the effort to get the grades, the league most likely will grant him a spot in the July 8 draft.
Supplemental picks are reserved for players who, because of extenuating circumstances, become eligible after the NFL draft and can't be used to circumvent the bigger draft in April.
When it all dies down next off-season, Murphy hopes to go back and get his sociology degree.
OSU athletic director Andy Geiger said Murphy's dismissal isn't a reaction to the publicity stemming from former linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer's academic problems.
Coach John Cooper had said, “We're not going to go through another summer like we went through last year,” when Katzenmoyer, Murphy and strong safety Damon Moore didn't become academically eligible until the week before the opener.
But Geiger said Murphy didn't have the same chance this year to make up grades in the summer, because he was dismissed from school and can't return for two quarters.
“I'm not going to blame anyone,” Murphy said. “I had four great years there. There's been some nice things being said in Columbus. Andy Geiger. (Radio personality) Kirk Herbstreit. (Offensive coordinator) Mike Jacobs. They're saying I'll always be a Buckeye and that's how I feel.”
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Murphy never hid his desire to play in the NFL and nearly went into the draft as a junior. He has heard he'll go anywhere from the first to the fourth round, and will model himself after former No. 1 pick Orlando Pace, a Buckeye tackle playing for the Rams.
“(Pace) is a guy who just punches the time clock and goes about his business,” Murphy said. “I think I'm physically and mentally ready. You put on the film and I think they'll see an aggressive guy who can be a leader.”
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