Everybody has an opinion. We hear it all the time. That’s especially true when the conversation turns to sports – the more passionate the subject, the more vehement the position. I suppose I am no different. But there is one new area in college athletics that has me on the proverbial “fence”. I just do not know where I stand.
There is a new eligibility rule that will go into effect in 2016 for high school athletes looking to compete in college athletics as a freshman. The rule, adopted in 2012, requires that a high school athlete has a grade point average of 2.3 (up from 2.0) in 16 (up from 13) core courses, 10 of which must be completed by the junior year. The NCAA adopted the change to insure young athletes are more academically prepared for the rigors of college academics. This standard must be achieved in order for a student-athlete to play as a college freshman.
The new standards will most impact college basketball and football. The NCAA reported in a poll taken in 2010 that, under the new standard, 43% of college basketball players and 35% of football players would not have been eligible to play as freshmen (15% for all athletes).
The NCAA likens this to an academic redshirt year. Students can still receive scholarships and practice with the team and be considered a freshman the following year in terms of eligibility. The hope is that students are as academically prepared for the demands of college as much as being athletically prepared. It sounds good.
On one hand, requiring greater standards for college students cannot be a bad thing especially in light of the grading scandals that have occurred recently at some of the more revered college programs. Some would certainly argue that a student who cannot meet this minimum requirement does not belong in college anyway.
Many coaches, however, disagree. They point to the fact that a student’s senior year in high school has little or no value if minimum standards have already not been met by their junior year. The NCAA found that 37% of New York students and 44% of Philadelphia students would not be certified to play under the new rule. Historically, that number had been about 10%. Some coaches feel that the new rule unfairly targets young minority athletes from both low-income homes and less than stellar school districts. Add to that, those who go to prep school can only use one course to apply for certification. The critics of the rule cite many examples of student-athletes who used the opportunity to attain a college degree to create a better life.
I would be happy to tell you where I stand on this issue, but I just don’t know. But I will be quite interested to follow the ramifications of the new rule. Will students adapt and raise their personal standards and achieve more or will fewer students ever get the opportunity to attend college as a reward for their athletic abilities? Stay tuned.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- The Stanley Cup final should be great – Tampa Bay is the #1 offensive team and the Chicago Blackhawks are the #1 defensive team. Both teams are exceptionally quick and loaded with talent. Well worth watching.
- Steven Bowditch (ever hear of him?) won the AT&T Byron Nelson Golf Championship on Sunday. It was his second win in two years. So what? Read his story, however, and you will be quite amazed that he is ever got to play: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/05/steven-bowditch-suicide-clinical-depression-to-win-on-the-pga-tour
- What happens to World Cup soccer if the best teams in Europe do not show up? That seems to be a plan being considered in order to force reform from FIFA after 14 officials were charged this past week by the FBI for numerous offenses. The plan – no viable teams = no sponsors = drastic changes within FIFA.
- I just finished the District XI baseball playoffs, but I never saw anything like the AAA championship finish in Washington this past week. Watch what happened:
- Remember when the Phillies had a six-game winning streak? I bet you thought – “There’s a chance!” As of Monday they have lost six straight, eight of 10, are 10 games out of first place and the Reds and Giants are coming to town. The only question now is: Who gets fired first?
