Ah, it is that time of year again. The time when athletes can make or break themselves. The time when they set themselves up for a 4 or 5 year ride or can blow it all down the drain.
It may sound like I'm talking about spring sports, but I'm really talking about something smaller, but this ways in much more important than a tenth of a second in the 40 or 10 points in your batting average.
What I'm really talking about is something I recently had to go through. The most dreaded of all things for the hopeful college athlete. The (drumroll please) ACT (and SAT if you want it included).
At no other time in a young athlete's life (or student for that matter) can something that takes only 3 or 4 hours, have such an impact. This test is supposed to deem whether or not you are considered at "college level ability". It is supposed to determine if you will be able to make the grade. It is supposed to be the number one indicator of someone who is ready to go on in their life academically. As these students sit down, some of them munching gum, chewing fingernails to nubs, or twiddling their thumbs, they all know that any hope of an athletic scholarship hangs in the balence. Or truly does it for some of these student-athletes out there.
Somehow there are always athletes (and sometimes students) who are kicked out of college and off of teams after 1 or 2 years because they couldn't make the grades. I mean they aren't even close most of the time. They are pulling D's and F's and the college has to kick them out or else they will face the academic penalties.
Now you tell me how they got there in the first place. We've all heard of those gifted athletes at our favorite schools who have been kicked off the team and out of school because they are academically ineligible. I know from first hand how very gifted athletes can take one extra "test" and manage to make it into a college that initially rejected them. We know about Spurrier and how he wants to recruit athletes who are slightly lower on the academic scale so he can field a better football team. You can see Lisa's article if you don't believe me.
How come colleges always seem to find room for these amazingly talented athletes who can't make the grades but can't seem to find room for kids who have passed all their tests but are more likely to be in the chess club (sorry for the cliche) than to try out for an intramural sport?
All I'm really wondering is how come all these colleges will take on a troubled athlete but not a good student? What has happened to the integrity of what are supposed to be some of the finest facilities of learning in our nation? Where has the sense of honor gone?
Kal, this is excellent. I've wondered the same thing for years. The only answer I can think of is that the athletes make money for the schools. I wonder what percent of athletes (all sports) that enter college actually make it in the "big time" games? Again, I enjoyed this. Thanks.
Good point, but obvious answer. The chess club at USC, Notre Dame, TX, etc., brings in zero revenue for the school. You can cry about all day long, but without the football team these schools lose a lot of revenue, and when revenue goes down it hurts every department. If you do attend a big sports school just think of any dim-witted sports star (and not all of them are, but there are examples i.e., Shaq when he was at LSU) walking around campus undeservedly, save for their physical attributes and abilities, as a necessary evil. Without him bringing in truckloads of money to the sports programs you would have much diminished academic programs as well....that plus people are just plain greedy. I suggest that whichever school you attend make sure they have a big athletic department (because it is fun), learn how to make a kickass beer bong, and don't join a frat. They're dorks. We threw fruit at them. Hope this helps.
Thanks Volfan. I don't think the U's will ever tell us that answer.
Arthur- Its sad that that is what is supposed to be our establishments that empower learning and knowledge spurn the smart kids though. And I'll keep that in mind at college.
kal, my daughter was a National Merit Scholorship Winner. She took AP courses her last 2 years of high school. Her only sport was Fencing. She did go to the Jr. Olympics and get two Bronze, one Silver, and one Gold. Anyway, when she graduated she got a one-time scholorship for the National Merit--$2,000.00 her first year in college. She went to The University of the South. She got a 4-year degree in 2 1/2 years. She got her Masters at UNC. A girl she graduated with got a $5,000.00 scholorship a year for 4 years. It was for cheerleading. That young lady took regular courses and never took one AP course. My daughter is an Assistant Unit Operator at a nuclear plant. That girl never finished her first year of college. Does that tell you anything?
You are the future of this nation. I understand your frustration. You are obviously a very bright kid, and am sure your parents are so proud of you. Heck...I'm honored to know you. You are a shining example of what a perfect student-athlete is.
Don't let the idiots who skate through school and can't read or write get to you. In the end, you will win. When they get hurt, they will have nothing, and you will have the respect of everyone.
Dumb jocks are not respected.
Good luck, and let us know how you do! That would be blog-worthy!
Thanks Lise. Don't say dumb jocks aren't respected. They are, but it is still pathetic and by fickle people. Why would you want to idolize someone who would work at BK for their entire life if they couldn't juke?
I'll be sure to let you guys know when I get the results.
Kal...they aren't respected, they are envied. There's a diff. When you are envied, people wish they had your money. When you are respected, they think your choices in life and what you have to say are valued.
There's a huge diff, and trust me, I would rather have respect than envy. I am so dang proud of you! Hugs and kisses and a giant noogie!
Kal, keep on doing what is right and stay true to your beliefs.
The answer to that question is: MONEY. Programs want to win NOW, and they'll take a chance on a troubled student that has mad enough game to play in the NFL now. And they'll keep giving him chance after chance after chance. As long as that school wins with that troubled student, all is well in their little world. But it DOESN'T benefit the student AT ALL.
Lise- Don't take this the wrong way but you are starting to sound like an older sister. My older sis is actually pretty close to like. Not quite as into sports and the X's and O's, but she finds time to watch the big games.
jon- All I can say is true to that.
r- Yeah I didn't think it was actually that bad. I was worried about the time limits but I finished everything easily.
Ed- It is true that you can specialize and the ACT may be not necessary for certain things. Are you hinting at something with that elite minority line?
kalbrecht 17 very good points!!!!! but im fearing that guys /gals coming out high school now dont think of college as school??? to someday graduate???? no the NBA,NFL, MLB????? i still think the NCAA should consider a MUST!!!! for students to go at least 3 or better yet??? 4 years????? llok at guys like now ex UCLA kevin love one year... good luck dude...yea the money is hard to pass up!!!!!!! but???? anyway again good thoughts kal!!
As everyone else says, it's all about the money. I remember sitting in my high school algebra class struggling to make a B while the athletes just sat there collecting D's and F's; yet, when eligibility forms went out every week, those same athletes were passing with flying colors.
College wasn't much better. I'd pass by classrooms where the students were taking a test, and there on the back row was the star football player with all his notes out and textbook open. The professor saw him and did nothing.
I taught at the same university for two years. I hated having football players in my classes. They were excused from class on away game Fridays, but on home game Fridays, they couldn't be bothered to come to class- too busy getting themselves psyched for the game. They were no shows on Mondays as well, either still hung over from celebrating the win or too ashamed to show their faces after a loss.
Basketball players- both men and women- were a different story altogether. We received a memo from both coaches at the beginning of each semester asking us to notify them of any player with an excessive amount of absences, bad attitude, etc. If a player on the men's team had too many abssences, all I had to do was call the coach, and coach personally escorted the errant player to class.
Lisa is right. When academically challenged athletes get hurt, it's over. Just Google the name Gabriel Rivera and read about his promising but all too short NFL career.
Sorry about the long rant, but this is one teacher who can't stand to see athletes passed through life.
Last edited by SpeedBeagle20 on May 16th at 8:04 PM.
kelly- Thanks for stopping by and its something that will always be looked at.
Speed- I couldn't even imagine being a professor and having to put up with things like that. At least both the basketball coaches must be good people with a level head on their shoulders, not letting the kids get caught in the hype. And I've got no problems with rants. I like to do it too from time to time.
They were. The women's coach retired 2 years ago, and the men's coach retired in the middle of the season this year. Unfortunately, the media never saw the side of him that was equally concerned with his players' academic achievements as well as what they did on the basketball court.
Just remember, they can take your money; they can take your posessions; they can even take your freedom. No one can ever take away your education.
kalbrecht The student athlete is now becoming somewhat passe' especially when you've got the situation where parasatic agents and coaches swarm around these kids like vultures over a dead carca*s.
Is it any wonder why the likes of Bush and Mayo have behaved the way that they've done in college ? They're not the only one given the privilege of attendhing only be tempted to cross over to the dark side. That being said the lure of the money also has a great deal to play in the decisions that they ultimately make.
As to the SAT's and ACT'S a lot of these kids are competent allegedly to take it and pass. But yet once in college so many of 'em are failing miserably in class in even the most mundane of subjects. What gives there ?
rampant' aka tophatal ...........
Last edited by rampantfanatic on May 20th at 6:21 AM.
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I'm a 17-year-old sports fan that lives in the northwest corner of Minnesota about 20 miles from Canada, who would love to be a sports writer. I have played organized sports all my life including football, baseball, golf, hockey, and, though I'm not too proud of it, basketball for a weekend.
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