Oso planning to go pro
More hyperbole. They want to dictate eligibility for PR reasons. Pure and simple.
The only thing a player gets in exchange for their services is an education.
The only thing a player gets in exchange for their services is an education. A player cannot receive an education if s/he isn't academically ready to benefit from it. If schools are allowed to "admit players who can't read" than the university is taking advantage of the players and paying them nothing for their services. That cannot be allowed.I don't care if the NCAA does it for PR. They still keep schools from taking advantage of these students. NCAA managing eligibility is a necessity. Does it lead to some dumb decisions? Yes. Does that mean we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater?
I would argue this is not true for the top players, most of whom regard an education as a secondary reason for going to college.Here's what Henry Ellenson received in exchange for his services:1. Exposure - The media was calling him a top NBA prospect before he ever stepped on campus, and such talk only intensified during his brief time in blue and gold. In addition to being exposed to the public and the media, he was exposed to scouts, dozens of them, game after game after game.2. Top-tier Competition - Henry got to play against great teams, including twice against the eventual national champions, and great players, including the No. 1 pick in the draft. Even games against less-talented teams and individuals game him opportunities to face all kinds of opponents and defenses.3. Coaching - It's too early to say how good Wojo and his staff are at player development. I believe there are many positive signs, but others might argue differently. Regardless of where one falls on that, however, it would be hard to argue that daily work with experienced coaches did not help Henry improve as a basketball player.4. Maturity - It's unlikely that an athlete spends a year at an academic institution and as part of a team without growing up some as an individual.5. Camaraderie - Henry got to play alongside his brother and also seemed to very much enjoy his other teammates.6. Education - I don't know what kind of student Henry was. If he took it seriously, he definitely benefited from intellectual stimulation. Even those that mostly blow it off get some schooling by "osmosis." One could argue quite convincingly that the main education top athletes get at college has little (or nothing) to do with books or lectures or tests; it is the education associated with "life lessons."I'm not necessarily saying Education was last on Henry's list (and on the list of many other star players), but I definitely don't think it was first - and absolutely not "the only thing a player gets in exchange for their services."For many of these kids, the education part of it is a sham. The schools use the athletes, and the athletes use the schools. Derrick Rose attended college for one reason and one reason only - because NBA rules mandated it (and he didn't want to go play in China or someplace for a year). The same is true of many others, possibly including Henry.
I do not think that word means what you think it means.And the NCAA does it only for PR??? That is inane. Your bias against the NCAA as some secret organization bent on taking advantage of athletes is showing. The one good thing the NCAA does is ensure athletes are prepared for a college education and are not purely being exploited as an athlete while stashed in some crap hole of a made up degree.
Tell me again how that worked out for all those kids at North Carolina?
Hmmm .... they seemed to do ok?
If I pay an NFL player and he doesn't cash his game checks or know how a bank works, is that on the NFL player or the team?Plus as MU82 points out, there are a lot of other benefits players get even if they don't get an education.
TAMUI do know, Newsie is right on you knowing ball.
You're comparing the wrong things. An NFL player not cashing checks still gets paid. That would be like a former college athlete getting an education but choosing not to use it and work at McDonald's instead. This is closer to an NFL player getting paid in monopoly money, something useless and without value to them.I do agree about the other benefits that MU82 mentioned, that should absolutely be counted. However, without the education, the other benefits are not enough to justify fair compensation.
and did they they get a legitimate education?
I disagree with your disagreement. It's not as if the academic institutions wouldn't let them attend class, they would have full access to all of the services and classes that all student athletes are afforded. If they are not able or unwilling to put themselves in a position to take advantage of that opportunity that's on society, not the academic institution which is providing them the opportunity in exchange for the play on the field.
Most did.
Exactly why the NCAA needs to manage academics. Schools can't be trusted to do it themselves. Now the NCAA is dragging it's heels and in all likelihood will pass the buck in order to protect unc. NCAA is far from perfect. But the answer is to improve the NCAA, not to blow it up.
18 year old young men who can't read are basically unemployable. Saying a school who gives them room, board, coaching, medical, exposure and an environment where they can mature, hone their game, meet successful alums, etc. is taking advantage of them is a bit of a stretch. I'd bet most 18 year olds who can't read would agree.
How do you define that....players were directed to classes where there were no expectations for course work or tests and seemingly no requirement to attend class....what did they learn in those classes?
To answer your final question...yes. Bucha chicken littles.
It is taking advantage. The schools isn't giving the students adequate compensation for the services they are receiving. Yes it is great help to the student for four years but once their scholarship runs out they are on the streets again with no degree, no job experience, and an education they learned nothing from because it was too far beyond their current learning level and they were too busy playing sports to ever come close to catching up. Better to go to a juco first or play professionally if basketball is truly going to be their career.
Or let the college decide if the student should be enrolled.
You could. Of course the college is most likely very self interested in having successful athletic teams. And the impact one player could have on their athletic team is exponentially higher than the impact one "kid who can't read" will have on their academic standing. So it is within the realm of possibility to assume that the college might not care if the student won't receive an education. So maybe having a neutral...er...closer to neutral 3rd party moderate isn't the worst thing.Really this comes down to whether or not you are ok with schools profiting off of athletes who aren't benefiting from the education they are receiving. I'm not. Others are. Nothing wrong with that.