I just finished reading the comments at ESPN and then the posts in this thread. I have to say, I'm a little perturbed that so many people are upset at what Ty's doing. He wants to spend time with his kids and get more involved in his community. How are those bad things? Additionally, how do they impinge on his job when the workouts are voluntary? He's working out and keeping himself in shape, so I don't see this as a commitment issue at all.
Some have mentioned that the degree itself is a flimsy excuse for an academic pursuit, and he should head in a different direction. I disagree. Agriculture is changing rapidly; people are finally understanding again how to use sustainable practices, and in a place like Texas, with its heat and lack of rain, knowing how to care for the land is incredibly valuable. Besides, this goes far beyond money.
And to all the people who say he could do this in five years: 1) his children will be older then, and he wants to spend time with them and set a proper precedent while they're young. 2) He wants to get involved in his community, which takes time more than anything, and thus he has to begin working on this now, rather than later. 3) What if he has a freak accident and concussions hinder his ability to learn? It's a lot to risk, getting a degree later in life, especially when the average lifespan for a football player is drastically less than the rest of the population (by decades, by the way). To be crass, he's already middle-aged, and time is now working against him.
4) The degree isn't just about the paper, it's also about the knowledge and information he gains from it. Perhaps he really finds agriculture fascinating, like I do, and wants to learn more about it and put that knowledge to use while planning for the future. It's possible he could miss out on opportunities in the next half decade because he lacks information. 5) He mentioned he wants to teach, eventually, which will probably require a master's degree. Why wait five years and then go through two degrees back to back, when you can get a jump on things now?
Ty Warren, I salute you.