*** 8) While Jim Tressel has been stealing most of the headlines in college football this week, an interesting story came out of Stanford in the past week, where it appears that some athletes were getting preferential treatment picking classes. From CaliforniaWatch.org, a “nonpartisan center for investigative reporting:” A drama class in “Beginning Improvising” and another in “Social Dances of North America III” were among dozens of classes on a closely guarded quarterly list distributed only to Stanford athletes to help them choose courses. Stanford officials said the list was designed to accommodate athletes’ demanding schedules and disputed that the list was made up of easy classes. Officials discontinued the list last week after student reporters working for California Watch began asking about it. The list, which has existed at least since 2001, was widely regarded by athletes as an easy class list. More than a quarter of the courses on the list did not fulfill university general education requirements. “It’s definitely not going to be a hard class if it’s coming off that list,” said Karissa Cook, a sophomore women’s volleyball player who consulted the list to pick classes in her first quarter at Stanford. The classes on the list were “always chock-full of athletes and very easy A’s,” added Kira Maker, a women’s soccer player who used the list her freshman year. Titled “courses of interest,” the list was distributed by the Athletic Academic Resource Center. Advisers in other departments at the university said they were unaware such a list existed. Stanford claims that any student could get their hands on this report, but it was only made available in hard copy in the office of Athletic Academic Resource Center. This is hardly the type of news that moves the needle, but it’s interesting considering the noise Jim Harbaugh made when he called out his alma mater Michigan for doing similar things.
More hypocrisy, this time from a storied academic institution. I would think this would really piss the "paying" customers off.
Stories like this don't bother me in the least. At ND athletes have preference for courses because of their schedules. There are always courses at schools that have profs. that are easier than others. My junior year I embarked on what I called my All-American program. I tried to have courses that had at least 2 All-Americans in them. My electives included Fr. Brennan's Language and Logic a freshmen course, and Fr. Murray's Irish history. Both had plenty of "jocks." To me this is a non story. Now at Michigan they had complete programs designed just for athletes. That was in my mind quite different.
Do you mean that a kid can go to Notre dame and take a class in social dancing? And earn a college credit? ****, tell me that isn't so.
No! Not at the Beacon on the Hill? Stanford is bad enough, but not the "Beacon"? I thought all of the football players at Notre Dame were majoring in Microbiology, graduating in 2 1/2 years and Nobel prize nominees? Beginning Improvising??? :wink:
Hell some day they may even take Sarcasm Major transfers from Alabama if they improve the quality of students.
Much ado about nothing. There are relatively easy ELECTIVE courses and instructors at all schools. Gip and I were only a few years apart in the late 1800s, and I remember Fr. Brennan's and Fr. Murray's reputations. The key word here is ELECTIVE courses, which amount to only about 10-15% of the student-athlete's total course load over 4 years. The real rubber meets the road in how the student-athlete handles the other 85-90% of his course load, the required courses, and how he progresses toward graduating in 4 years. That's where the Beacon On The Hill shines forever. :wink:
KP may not be qualified to talk on this topic 8) http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=722328
George, Nope I may not be qualified. Of course, my school doesn't pretend to be the "Beacon". The names we get called are alot different. 8)
:idea: Wow. Take a good look at those grad rates that George posted. The rates for California schools are a disgrace! I was wondering where all those surfers waiting for the tsunami to hit came from. They must be Berkeley or Southern Cal players...
Wow! is right. Disgraceful is a good word as well. Wouldn't it be interesting if coaches had to recruit these kids with the following NCAA approved pitch lines: "If you agree to play football ( and attend class ) at ___________, I can promise you that you will have this chance, ______ ( fill in your school's documented grad rate for the sport in question ) to actually graduate with a degree although there is a high probability that it will have no bearing on you obtaining non-football related employment in the future and I can document that you will have less than a one per cent chance of eventually earning a living in the ________ (fill in the pro sport league)." The balance of power might shift a little.
On the other hand, given your self reported description of your time at Ohio State....I have a hard time imagining you attending class before noon! :wink: :wink:
Terry and George, brace yourself. I actually failed a course my sophomore year and had to take it over during the summer. To paraphrase what Charles Barkley said years ago....I don't want to be nobody's hero. :lol: :lol:
Well I blame it on your adviser, he never should have suggested you take advanced quantum mechanics as an elective!
My time at Ohio State was brief but eventful. Very eventful. Did I mention that my room mate and I finsihed second in the foosball tourney at the Agaora one year? Or that Woody yelled at us in a doughnut shop one Sunday morning because we stunk of beer? And then it was on to Wright State.......