DID ANDREW LUCK MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION?

It looks like in Andrew Luck's case, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Luck stunned the sports world on Jan. 6 by passing up on the NFL Draft in order to get his architectural design degree.

What did he pass up?

Well, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, a lot of possible guaranteed money, and the opportunity to finish his college career on a high note, but this is not your typical athlete and Stanford is not your typical college.

Luck excelled on and off the field at Stratford High School and was named co-valedictorian of his senior class. Then he went to Stanford, which ranks third in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, and is doing the same on the gridiron and the classroom.

Is he taking a risk for staying in school?

Yes, but you cannot knock a kid for wanting to continue getting his education either.

This decision however, will be seen as good or bad depending on the following college football season and his NFL career. There are two great examples, one for each side.

The good? Peyton Manning chose to forgo the 1997 NFL Draft to stay at Tennessee. He did not win the Heisman or the National Championship, but he was the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. In 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, he has started every game, was named MVP four times, and won Super Bowl XLI.

The bad? Matt Leinart passed on the 2005 NFL Draft in order to give USC another title, and if it was not for Vince Young's epic drive in the Rose Bowl, USC would have won again. The move proved costly for Leinart, he slipped to the No. 10 pick in 2006, never became a starter at Arizona, and was released and became a backup for the Houston Texans this year.

On the field, this decision will be judged, especially if Luck does not have any luck with his professional career. However, regardless of what the decision would have been, he still would have made the right decision off the field. Stay committed to your education so you can have something to fall back upon.

As the axe helmet stickers show, Luck has been the cutting edge of all college QB's this season.

Luck and coach Jim Harbaugh have brought Stanford from
Pac-10 doormat to title contenders in a short amount of time.
However, can Luck still perform well in Harbaugh's departure to
the NFL?