So your telling me that the Rhodes Scholar people are not flexible to move the interview a few days or even a few hours? that just doesn't seem like they are sending the correct message ot a student athlete. I am surprised and disappointed that they are not making a simple accommodation.

He should play his last game against Harvard. With his outstanding GPA and ambitious spirit, he will be a success at anything he tries. So, he should enjoy the time he has left in college.

This story is ridiculous. I can't imagine the Roads Scholar interview team wouldn't simply reschedule the interview to a day that does not conflict with the game. Maybe I've missed some part of the story other than what was aired this evening on the news. No person of that caliber should ever be asked to choose between the two commitments. The team should darn well have offered this young man the option of another time and date. I can't imagine wanting to honor a young man unwilling to fulfill his commitment to the team. I can't understand why the issue raised on the news isn't about obtaining a different interview time. I think this story sends a dangerous message that it's ok to ask kids to chose between two incredibly important issues. One a current commitment and the other an honor this young man has clearly earned. Isn't a quality of a road scholar not just academic achievements but the quality of the person as well. I would love to read up on the criteria used to judge a Roads Scholar Candidate. Why aren't we discussing how to teach children to ask for what they need. I am a parent, teacher, and coach. I teach my players to ask for what they need which is a skill not every child is raised with. I also mention that not everyone will say yes, but asking for what you need shows a person with confidence. This mentality assumes that people will help you to reach whatever goal you set forth to accomplish. Of course, not everyone will help, but asking for what you need assumes most people will.

He shows character worthy of a Rhodes scholarship by playing the game--honoring his commitment to his team. Scholarship committee should reward such character by rescheduling the interview!!!

Whoops I meant Rhodes Scholar.

He should play in "The Game"! What is wrong with the Rhodes committee in that they can't reschedule this gifted athlete for another day. And I went to Harvard! This student is clearly qualified to be a Rhodes scholar if he can achieve what he has at Yale and partake in an athletic program with total dedication. There is no reason that he shouldn't have a good chance at winning both.

honor vs prestige ? honor of course.. prestige will follow

Who really cares.....this kid is smart, good looking and athlete. He has it all, and you really think his story is news worthy, are you kidding? All the problems in the world and you save a couple of minutes for him. Do you really think I feel bad for him? I have a son whose father died when he was 4 (his dad had been sick since he was born) he worked thru learning disablies and his paying for school with loans and is currently working on his masters degree. He tried to get a job with a BS and could not even get a call back. I don't care about golden boy. Don't waste my time with a story about someone who has it all.

The fact that he thinks that the best advice is "Do what's best for you" seems to indicate that he is thinking only of himself regarding this decision--the game would be really thrilling and his last chance to play, or the Rhodes interview is an amazing honor and opportunity. What about his school? His teammates and coaches? There's no room in college athletics for missing games to personally gain. I wonder how his coaches and teammates would have responded were this the first game of the season and not the last? If he were my player, he'd be riding the bench for three months. And how long is he planning on holding out with this decision?

I may be wrong, but I believe the Rhodes scholarship is about character, not just athletic prowess and academic excellence. He would show character if he plays in the game, thereby honoring his commitment to the team. The scholarship committee should reward his character by rescheduling the interview.

If rescheduling the interview is not an option, I say play the game. You are an oustanding athlete, and can only capitalize on that while you are young. You will have your brilliance to rely on for the rest of your life! Wright Roussel, Kerrville, Texas

I'll get to the point. The Rhodes Scholar Committee are stupid if they don't rescedule the interview. Replace the Committee if they don't. They are not smart enough to make the decision.

I think the reporter should have interviewed someone on the commitee and pushed them to change the time and date. How inflexible can they be not to take into consideration his conflict. Maybe they can do a follow-up story and keep us posted. He has worked too hard in both academics and sports to have to make such a decision that will have a huge impact on his team and his life.

Glad to see that the general reaction to this conundrum is that the scholarship committee needs to reschedule. This young man is 22 - this is his future and a remarkable opportunity for his future life. I agree with above post - schedule an interview with the Rhodes people and ask them for the solution. They are the ones who look intractable. He needs to play his position in the Yale-Harvard game and be given the opportunity to interview for a Rhodes scholarship. Case closed

What a choice and everyone has an opinion of what he should do. Well the game is one day and football makes no promises. Education of this kind can go beyond his wildest dreams or imagination. I love the game of football and even if I am a girl I know the honor of the Heisman award and wow to play pro football. But if given that choice I would choose education as it's grounded and I win or lose without needing a running back or defense line. Education is everything rolled up in one.

The ONLY reason Nightly News aired this story is because the Versus network (owned by NBC Universal) will be televising the Harvard-Yale game on Nov. 19. Neither Brian Williams nor Anne Thompson care the slightest bit about Patrick Witt or the choice he has to make. They are just promoting an NBC property. They have tricked the Nightly News viewers into participating in a discussion about athletics vs. academics, when their actual goal is to get us to watch a college football game on an NBC network. This "news story" was nothing more than a two-and-a-half minute commercial for the Harvard-Yale game on Versus. Please be vigilant. Just about every story that airs on Nightly News has some sort of hidden agenda. Every night, every viewer should be wondering exactly what it is that Brian and his producers and correspondents are promoting or selling. Because the fact is, they are always promoting something.

I bought this book today, The Breath of God, because if looks like a good novel and also because

of the author Jeffrey Small who graduated summa cum laude from Yale University and magna cum laude

from Harvard Law School. He holds a master's degree in the study of religions from Oxford University.

It is his first novel and reviewed as a spectacular thriller. Look on the bright side, this young man

has a choice and not many have that golden opportunity. I wish him success whatever he decides.l

Oops at first glance I thought you wrote that this young man should play the game. Not with his talent

and potential and integrity>