Talk about your two cultures!

Georgia Tech’s Prof. Lipton has posted an amazing story that you’ll enjoy.

It’s about Frank Ryan, the NFL quarterback with a PhD in math, who was a professor at Case Western Reserve University while he was still a star in the NFL.

Prof. Lipton notes that today no NFL team would sign a player with such a significant outside commitment, and of course he’s right.  On the flip side: how do faculty hiring committees and promotion committees view outside activity?

Also, beyond the epic awesomeness, Prof. Lipton makes an interesting point about his former teacher’s approach to teaching mathematics.

Thanks to Matt Knepley for the link.

P.S. Yes, I know these aren’t the two cultures C. P. Snow discussed.  That’s the joke.