Athletes Read on A 5th Grade Level

[gtg936g]

According to a CNN article this is the case at some colleges.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-athletes-reading-scores/index.html?c=homepage-t&page=0

 

[John]

Interesting but not really surprising.

Would they have contacted GT? I'd imagine they would since we'd be so easy to bug in person.

40 schools contacted.
38 schools listed on the site.
21 responded with data.
17 basically said "we'll get back to you" or flat out denied it.
2 schools contacted but not listed on site.

Under ugag:

And the athletes, he said, "a lot of them are majoring in eligibility."

Hawkins says he sees it as another form of cheating.

 

[gtg936g]

I would think so, but GT would probably not fit the tone of the article. UNC and UGAg were called out by the article.

 

[awbuzz]

Why are we not totally surprised? Offended yes... but not surprised

 

[Oldgoldandwhite]

If you saw the "stars" interviewed during the FB season, you might say they talk on the fifth grade level, "well, uh uh you know".

 

[Minawreck]

If we were somehow able to give up the farce of student athlets for a proessional minor league football system. GT would return to glory. No doubt in my mind.

 

[AlabamaBuzz]

You would have thought with time and all the $$ spent to improve education that maybe the pool of GT eligible players would have expanded greatly since the late 60s and early 70s, but NO, because money doesn't really guarantee a better education, especially since so many high schools are spending "bookoos" on athletic directors now......

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Strictly playing devil's advocate here, one could argue that the majority of these kids, the ones reading at a 5th grade level, were destined to fail at life anyway w/o college football. At best, college football gives them a small chance to climb out of their circumstance and shape their destiny for the better. At worst it gives them a 4 year "vacation" from their otherwise miserable lives, a small chapter where they're treated like royalty and rock stars.

 

[AlabamaBuzz]

Strictly playing devil's advocate here, one could argue that the majority of these kids, the ones reading at a 5th grade level, were destined to fail at life anyway w/o college football. At best, college football gives them a small chance to climb out of their circumstance and shape their destiny for the better. At worst it gives them a 4 year "vacation" from their otherwise miserable lives, a small chapter where they're treated like royalty and rock stars.

Very interesting way to look at it, DCS. Of course, there is the other side of the argument that would say if these guys knew they have to achieve academically to have any chance at success, maybe more of them would actually try harder, but I am sure that in some cases, they are trying as hard as they can, but maybe they just don't have the acumen for technical or other academic success. I see both sides of this discussion.

 

[Rodney Kent]

dressedcheese: That is why there should be some alternate plan for those who do not want the education, but just want to play sports. There could easily be minor leagues in football just as baseball. The kids who do not want an education could go to the minor leagues. They would also get paid, although the pay would also be minor for most of them. After a few years of this, the word would get around that only a few players were making it to the NFL. The rest would be making a meager salary for putting their body at harm's risk. Soon, many of the players would decide that an education and playing football at a College would be their best bet. If they were not taken by the NFL, they would still have their degree and education. During the education, they would have the benefits of free food, housing, education, medical, etal. Not a bad deal for most of them.

The NCAA could then get extremely strict with all the schools who give money under the table to athletes. Most of the schools would cease to be football factories, but educational institutions with College Sports. The College game would be on a more equal footing.

 

[Animal02]

The NCAA could then get extremely strict with all the schools who give money under the table to athletes. Most of the schools would cease to be football factories, but educational institutions with College Sports. The College game would be on a more equal footing.

I would not have a problem with allowing a monthly stipend to college athletes (nothing huge, money pizza money level) since their training schedule and expected personal time train precludes them from having any job opportunities. The only thing is that it would have to be consistent across the scholarships.....i.e. not paying "stars" more than others. The other thing should be a much stronger presentation to all potential college athletes regarding how few make it to the pros, and how even fewer are successful in the pros......it might wake a few kids and their parents up. For example......in the last four years of the NFL draft, 257 QB's were available, 48 were drafted.....18.6% and only 28 in the first 4 rounds -10.8% How many are still there.....I don't know, but was in that group and he is not playing. Way to much focus is placed on the few that make it compared to the thousands that don't.

 

[johncu]

Strictly playing devil's advocate here, one could argue that the majority of these kids, the ones reading at a 5th grade level, were destined to fail at life anyway w/o college football. At best, college football gives them a small chance to climb out of their circumstance and shape their destiny for the better. At worst it gives them a 4 year "vacation" from their otherwise miserable lives, a small chapter where they're treated like royalty and rock stars.

Let me tell you why I have a problem with that viewpoint.

For every kid that gets a college scholarship to play football, another one misses out on that opportunity. That's just how it works. So for every college football player that reads on a 3rd grade level and gets a scholarship, another kid who is actually competent academically is denied the opportunity to go to college.

That entire concept is offensive to me. As a high school teacher, this makes me think of 2 of my students who are above average both academically and on the football field. They're being looked at by some major schools like Clemson and USC, but I seriously doubt they get any legit offers due to lack of measurables. One told me recently that if he doesn't get an offer from Presbyterian (probably his last shot at this point) then he will probably have to enroll in a 2 year tech school, because he can't afford Clemson (his top choice).

This kid wants to major in engineering, and he is serious about it. It pisses me off to no end to read this stuff about functionally illiterate "student"-athletes who are wasting a free education when other kids like the one I mentioned are missing out on a free education that they would actually take advantage of.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

More red flags at FSU:

Then there was Brenda Monk. In 2009, the former Florida State University learning specialist told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that she was forced to resign from the university as a cheating scandal surfaced in which the NCAA said that tutors were writing papers for athletes and giving them answers to test scores.

Monk denied the allegation that she did too much work for athletes, but she said she saw some of them reading at second- and third-grade levels.

The NCAA levied sanctions against Florida State in 2009, including vacating wins and reduced scholarships.

Florida State did not provide CNN with records in response to our request.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-athletes-reading-scores/index.html

 

[KlausMikaelsonTheOriginal]

More red flags at FSU:



http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/us/ncaa-athletes-reading-scores/index.html

Did you see the AJC this morning?

One of our recruits from last year was finally able to enroll at GT after finally passing the GA HS graduation test.

Rumor is, is that our Recruit failed one portion.

Another rumor is that HS Srs. are allowed to take the test up to 6 times in order to pass the exam.

Shouldn't GT be recruiting players and giving schollies to players that have a good chance to graduate from GT?

Since you are an educator, do you think that a Recruit that fails a portion of the GA HS graduation test 6-times, would have a good chance of graduating from GT?

When issues like this arise sometimes it is better that we just observe from a distance, rather than throw stones at others.

 

[ATL1]

This is a very sensitive subject for me. Borderline pimpish /plantation economics.
Do I expect the majority of fans and even average students to care about the athletes personal lives and situations. No
But when the athletes provide the schools so much in the form of revenues, exposure, and quality of life for these institutions, yet the majority of these athletes receive very little back.
I realize the personal responsibility angle and these kids are provided the opportunity for a free education, but there's a caveat;
1. That assumes these students can comprehend the education that is supposedly provided for them. (If they are reading on a 5th grade level the answer is No)
2. That these institutions willfully and knowingly admit these kids knowing that wouldn't comprehend the education but only for the benefit of their athletic department. That is the exploitation and I find if borderline criminal.

Do these institutions provide these kids with any advanced level coaching, program, or plan to get them to catch up or even attempt to make them a sustainable student most likely no. It's highly immoral to me and another reason I'm so solid a Tech fan and I hope the school will continue to have some ethics in this regard, keep it's integrity, and not become like one of these factories.

 

[KlausMikaelsonTheOriginal]

Let me tell you why I have a problem with that viewpoint.

For every kid that gets a college scholarship to play football, another one misses out on that opportunity. That's just how it works. So for every college football player that reads on a 3rd grade level and gets a scholarship, another kid who is actually competent academically is denied the opportunity to go to college.

That entire concept is offensive to me. As a high school teacher, this makes me think of 2 of my students who are above average both academically and on the football field. They're being looked at by some major schools like Clemson and USC, but I seriously doubt they get any legit offers due to lack of measurables. One told me recently that if he doesn't get an offer from Presbyterian (probably his last shot at this point) then he will probably have to enroll in a 2 year tech school, because he can't afford Clemson (his top choice).

This kid wants to major in engineering, and he is serious about it. It pisses me off to no end to read this stuff about functionally illiterate "student"-athletes who are wasting a free education when other kids like the one I mentioned are missing out on a free education that they would actually take advantage of.

No, this is a very flawed argument.

If an illiterate Recruit is being wooed by a BCS college, then the only other player that will take that Recruit's slot is another player that has the SKILLSET the coach is looking for first and foremost, and then IF that "replacement" Recruit wants to major in Engineering, then that is a bonus.

CPJ, Saban, Urban Meyer, Malzahn or any other College HC is not going to replace "on-field talent" with a student that is serious about majoring in Engineering unless that recruit that desires to major in Engr. is at the SAME TALENT LEVEL OR VERY CLOSE.

The first, primary filter that BCS level HCs use is on-field talent, and then after that character, academics and everything else comes into play.

The most high-character recruit in the world won't get a BCS level scholly if his talent is not "close enough" to make a HC take chance on him, the same goes for the smartest recruit.

In summary the #1 criteria is talent for the game.

In the example above if your SA is waiting on Presby as his last choice, last hope, then he probably doesn't have BCS level talent.

It would probably benefit him to start contacting D-II and D-III schools to see if they have any interest.

Even at the FCS/D1-AA level many of those HCs "wait" for recruits that cannot get BCS schollies, so even at that level your SA is probably out of luck.

It all comes down to talent.

A music dept. doesn't give out a scholly/financial aid package to the student that is the smartest, they give it to the best singer or musician, that can also do the academics at that school.

There is a huge difference between talent-based schollies and academic-based schollies.

 

[ATL1]

Did you see the AJC this morning?

One of our recruits from last year was finally able to enroll at GT after finally passing the GA HS graduation test.

Rumor is, is that our Recruit failed one portion.

Another rumor is that HS Srs. are allowed to take the test up to 6 times in order to pass the exam.

Shouldn't GT be recruiting players and giving schollies to players that have a good chance to graduate from GT?

Since you are an educator, do you think that a Recruit that fails a portion of the GA HS graduation test 6-times, would have a good chance of graduating from GT?

When issues like this arise sometimes it is better that we just observe from a distance, rather than throw stones at others.

If you are speaking of Custis, it is my understanding that it was not the fault of Custis but one of the high schools. There is more to that story I hope someone more knowledgeable about the situation regarding Custis could speak on it in more detail.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

If there are significant numbers of illiterate college football players what does that say about NCAA minimum standards? This is why GT's minimum standards far exceed the NCAA's. There's some on this board who wish, we too, should accept NCAA min qualifiers. What a joke. Only in extremely rare and unusual circumstances and I mean extremely rare. My guess knowing the hill is the Custis situation falls into this catagory.

 

[KlausMikaelsonTheOriginal]

If there are significant numbers of illiterate college football players what does that say about NCAA minimum standards? This is why GT's minimum standards far exceed the NCAA's. There's some on this board who wish, we too, should accept NCAA min qualifiers. What a joke. Only in extremely rare and unusual circumstances and I mean extremely rare. My guess knowing the hill is the Custis situation falls into this catagory.

No one advocates operating at the NCAA minimums.

Also, once many recruits are identified as BCS level Recruits, they only care about scoring enough to get their scholly, from their viewpoint, their is no change in their Fin. aid package because once they get the scholly, they get the same package as an Andrew Luck that was a 4.0 Valedictorian.

I'm not saying that this thought process is good, in fact it is dumb, but many of these kids are Community college material academically, but the problem is that community colleges don't have 90K seat stadiums and $5.0MM per year HCs.

If that was the case, there would be nothing to talk about.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

No one advocates operating at the NCAA minimums.

You're wrong on this. I've seen it expressed in no uncertain terms on this board and others many times.