In the most recent video on Cracked Sidewalks, Buzz leads off with a story of the consequences the team faced when someone or all of them missed a class.
I don't know personally but I've heard stories about MU players simply not going to every class throughout the semester. Kids skip class, it's college.
We all know these guys have a busy schedule during the season, but do they really make it to every class (outside of away game absences)?
I saw Lazar in class every day in the class I had with him... Most of the kids I talk to also mention seeing them in class. Alot of them take summer classes tho
It's not hard for the academic support staff to ask the professors to let them know if a player misses a class.
Novak when he was a frosh didn't miss a class, albeit it was "History of the American Musical" :P
I had an Econ class with Wesley, and he was there every single day.
The same can't be said for yours truly after a few quality Thursday nights.
I had a Theology class with Trevor Powell his senior year. He sat in the back with his headphones on every day until basketball season was over. Then we never saw him.
Quote from: sarcastro on June 16, 2010, 08:55:26 AM
I had a Theology class with Trevor Powell his senior year. He sat in the back with his headphones on every day until basketball season was over. Then we never saw him.
Buzz would have whupped him into shape.
I've had Scott Christopherson, Trevor Mbakwe, Dominic James, and Jerel McNeal in classes and I can't remember them missing more than one class other than when they were on the road. The one with Dominic and Jerel was a 9 AM class and I remember times when they'd finish a game out east (I think I remember once being Providence specifically) at around 10 PM and clearly have to fly back (2 hour flight plus at least an hour after the game before they got showered, to the airport, through security and onto the flight), so they probably weren't back until Humphry until at least 1:30 AM and they were still in class the next day.
This was all under Tom Crean. I'm sure Buzz has continued this.
I took History of Jazz with D-Wade (he was frosh). He never missed a class, and always had the hood of sweatshirt up over his head.
I had the same major as Oluoma Nmamaka, so we had quite a few classes together and his attendance was what you might call spotty at best. Of course, mine could be characterized that way also, so maybe he was going to all the classes I missed.
Had a class with Wes and another with Fitzgerald. Neither missed a class unless they were on the road, except Fitz missed one because he was under the knife.
In my sat next to Craig Butrym and on the other side of Craig was Bo Ellis. they were almost always there.
If Buzz has proven anything to me, he has proven to be a man of his word. If he claims they ran 72 sprints in 72 minutes after having the first unexcused absence of the year, I believe him. Just as I believed him when he said the team dropped to a knee and prayed sometime in January, when Yous made his first basket in practice.
What happened under previous coaches is immaterial. Buzz is a whole new breed.
Why would he make this stuff up? He would look pretty foolish if it weren't true! Like Buzz says, he may be a bad recruiter but he is outstanding at telling the truth.
Quote from: sarcastro on June 16, 2010, 08:55:26 AM
I had a Theology class with Trevor Powell his senior year. He sat in the back with his headphones on every day until basketball season was over. Then we never saw him.
Dukiet?
Quote from: Skatastrophy on June 16, 2010, 08:58:04 AM
Buzz would have whupped him into shape.
Re: Trevor Powell and going to class ... Kevin O'Neill was a hard ass about going to class. He gave the team managers a master schedule of the team's classes -- if a manager checked and the player was not in class the entire team had to be at the old gym at 5am the next morning to run (I think it was a mile for time -- if one player didnt reach the goal they had to do it over). The only player who didn't run was the dude who skipped class ... he had to sit on a chair in the middle of the court and watch the team run. It was not pleasant but it didn't happen often.
As for 2H of senior year, clearly the pressure was off (and that year KO moved away from those seniors quickly). At that time hoops was not the extraordinary year-round commitment it is now -- there were no real expectations other than pickup games and weight room commitments. No excuse for not going to class, but circumstances were different 20 yrs ago.
Quote from: NYWarrior on June 16, 2010, 09:46:55 AM
Re: Trevor Powell and going to class ... Kevin O'Neill was a hard ass about going to class. He gave the team managers a master schedule of the team's classes -- if a manager checked and the player was not in class the entire team had to be at the old gym at 5am the next morning to run (I think it was a mile for time -- if one player didnt reach the goal they had to do it over). The only player who didn't run was the dude who skipped class ... he had to sit on a chair in the middle of the court and watch the team run. It was not pleasant but it didn't happen often.
The team managers were supposed to be snitches? And then also spend lots of time around these same players?
"Misaligned incentives"
Quote from: sarcastro on June 16, 2010, 08:55:26 AM
I had a Theology class with Trevor Powell his senior year. He sat in the back with his headphones on every day until basketball season was over. Then we never saw him.
Regular Sony Walkman or Yellow Sports Walkman...or, oh my god, no, did he have a Sony Discman?!
QuoteI had a Theology class with Trevor Powell his senior year. He sat in the back with his headphones on every day until basketball season was over. Then we never saw him.
Undoubtedly listening to the Stetsasonic tape he borrowed Freshman year and never gave back. The guy was like Kramer.
During my undergraduate years (2001-2005), had a stats class with Travis Diener as a sophomore. Showed up every day, but pretty much mailed it in (I think he changed his major to comm the next semester). Steve Novak sat behind me for Business Ethics senior year; definitely was there every day, participated in discussions, and even led a small group for a group project I worked on with him.
Even if the attendance was poor, I don't think you could indict the program. Freshman or sophomore year, I took a very philosophical politics class (in trying to look it up, I think it may have been Justice and Power). It wasn't for me and I'm guessing I was taking 18 credits at the time, so I ended up attending about one-third of the classes (looking back at it, I have no idea how I passed that class). However, my attendance for that class wasn't representative of my attendance as a whole.
My guess is that as a whole, I skipped a lot more classes than the basketball players. However, I always maintained a decent GPA and went on to become a successful professional. I'm not sure the singling out basketball players in individual classes exercise truly gives us a good indication of academic prowess or future success.
Jerel Dom and Burke were all comms majors that I saw in the big lecture halls my Frosh and soph years. they rarely if ever missed class. I assume the few times they did they were traveling because there was never a time when only Burke or Dom showed up. Kinda phoned it in for class.
Soph year my roommate was in Dom's public speaking class and my friend did a speech on how to shoot a free throw... something about a BEEF acronym. Exactly the same the other guys except my old roommate was an nonathletic suburban white kid, yet Ironically Dom could never make a free throw
I had a Medical Ethics class with Travis Diener and either he dropped the class or he never showed up except for the first two or three classes. Definitely seemed disinterested.
Had Yous in my Coaching class first semester last year. He was there every day and sat in the front.
I had Dwyane Wade, Scott Merritt and Odartey Blankson in my Public Speaking class in fall semester 2000. Wade wasn't traveling with the team at that point (partial qualifier) and he never missed a class. Merritt and ODB only missed classes when the team was playing on the road. The most amazing part was they had 1 gallon milk jugs full of water with them and they almost always put down damn near the whole thing during a 50 minute class.
I had a summer class between the 02-03 and 03-04 school years with Diener, Novak, and one other player that I don't remember. Their attitude towards that class was much more casual. Most days Diener would sit in the back and read a magazine or the Eastbay catalog or something like that for the whole class. On occasion, the prof would let us take a break halfway through the class and then Diener would usually leave. Novak was always there though.
Sophomore year I had some rudimentary Political Science class that I literally attended only three times, just the days I had to hand in papers. Somehow I pulled a B+....I love lib profs.
Second semester senior year I had a couple of credits to blow before graduation. Took "Individual and Dual Sports." Course consisted of tennis, golf, and bowling. Several basketball players were enrolled including Mark Ostrand, Kurt Spychalla, George Frazier, and Maurice Lucas.
Both Frazier and Lucas were part of my 4 man bowling team and we played at the YMCA on 10th and Wisconsin. George sucked at bowling and I don't think ever sniffed a score over 75. Luke, on the other hand, while fundamentally unsound, scored 160 the first game he played.
Quote from: cheebs09 on June 16, 2010, 05:20:09 PM
Had Yous in my Coaching class first semester last year. He was there every day and sat in the front.
Hopefully off to the side.
Quote from: Brewtown Andy on June 17, 2010, 07:57:28 AM
Hopefully off to the side.
I sat behind Kinsella during Phil 50. He set a really good screen on the teacher's line of sight, resulting in naps without consequence for me.
Quote from: Cooby Snacks on June 17, 2010, 12:50:23 PM
I sat behind Kinsella during Phil 50. He set a really good screen on the teacher's line of sight, resulting in naps without consequence for me.
I wonder if Chris Grimm switched seats often mid-class, frustrating the would-be nappers with a moving screen.
QuoteSecond semester senior year I had a couple of credits to blow before graduation. Took "Individual and Dual Sports." Course consisted of tennis, golf, and bowling.
Whatever happened to all these classes? Just a couple years ago, I too had some time to blow before graduation just to stay a full timer and would have loved something like this. Had to settle for two history classes on interesting topics. They were fine, but they weren't golf and bowling.
Quote from: MUBurrow on June 17, 2010, 01:34:06 PM
Whatever happened to all these classes? Just a couple years ago, I too had some time to blow before graduation just to stay a full timer and would have loved something like this. Had to settle for two history classes on interesting topics. They were fine, but they weren't golf and bowling.
I think they dropped them because you should be paying for an education, not a GPA.
I took History of Jazz, and Acting for Non-Majors... those were the biggest screw around classes I could find... I needed a break from all the biomed stuff... plus I took all of the Health Science classes... so I figured, what the hell.
Quote from: chapman on June 17, 2010, 01:21:47 PM
I wonder if Chris Grimm switched seats often mid-class, frustrating the would-be nappers with a moving screen.
+111110001015465468490
I had a science class with Lazar last semester, I only remember him showing up to class a few times, one time he waltzed in 30 minutes late in a huge lecture hall, the professor didn't seem to mind.
Science class? What was it?
Quote from: MUBurrow on June 17, 2010, 01:34:06 PM
Whatever happened to all these classes? Just a couple years ago, I too had some time to blow before graduation just to stay a full timer and would have loved something like this. Had to settle for two history classes on interesting topics. They were fine, but they weren't golf and bowling.
No kidding, this stuff didn't exist when I was there. Not that I remember anyway.
Quote from: AZWarrior on June 17, 2010, 11:52:14 PM
Science class? What was it?
It was called Concepts of Modern Science and it filled the core science requirement. It was a joke. I had that class with Zar too, and in fairness, all of the Seniors were given the option to take the class online and only show up on Mondays.
Quote from: sarcastro on June 16, 2010, 08:55:26 AM
I had a Theology class with Trevor Powell his senior year. He sat in the back with his headphones on every day until basketball season was over. Then we never saw him.
maybe he had a hearing impairment or the professors lecture was being translated into something trevor could understand-put into rap music...? ;D
Am I wrong in assuming that everyone who has had more than 2 basketball player classmates a communication major/minor?
I don't even think there was a person who could start on a middle school team in my classes.
Quote from: RawdogDX on June 18, 2010, 11:41:58 AM
Am I wrong in assuming that everyone who has had more than 2 basketball player classmates a communication major/minor?
I don't even think there was a person who could start on a middle school team in my classes.
I had 2 girls in one of my classes once. Stupid engineering school.
Quote from: RawdogDX on June 18, 2010, 11:41:58 AM
Am I wrong in assuming that everyone who has had more than 2 basketball player classmates a communication major/minor?
I don't even think there was a person who could start on a middle school team in my classes.
For the record, I was a communications major (should I be admitting that?), and I only had one basketball player in class in four years -- Ty Baldwin. If memory serves me, he attended regularly.
Edited to add that I just remembered I had Joe Nethen in a class freshman year. I forgot about that. So, I guess that helps prove the point you were making.
Quote from: Skatastrophy on June 18, 2010, 11:59:56 AM
I had 2 girls in one of my classes once. Stupid engineering school.
Depending on the years you were at Marquette, my wife might have been one of them (87-91).
Quote from: RawdogDX on June 18, 2010, 11:41:58 AM
Am I wrong in assuming that everyone who has had more than 2 basketball player classmates a communication major/minor?
I don't even think there was a person who could start on a middle school team in my classes.
I had 2 bball players in one of Prof Daniels upper level econ classes my senior year. (International Currency Markets IIRC)
Quote from: chapman on June 17, 2010, 01:21:47 PM
I wonder if Chris Grimm switched seats often mid-class, frustrating the would-be nappers with a moving screen.
This is a legitimate post-of-the-year candidate. Well done.
Quote from: RawdogDX on June 18, 2010, 11:41:58 AM
Am I wrong in assuming that everyone who has had more than 2 basketball player classmates a communication major/minor?
There's a lot of overlap between the Communications core requirements and the A&S requirements. So even the guys majoring in Communications have to take English, Philosphy, Theology, History etc....or at least they did back when I was in school.
Quote from: chapman on June 17, 2010, 01:21:47 PM
I wonder if Chris Grimm switched seats often mid-class, frustrating the would-be nappers with a moving screen.
This reminds me of one of my all time favorite comments on Chris Grimm
I happened to be attend the wedding of one of MU's former players where Grimm was in the wedding party along with multiple other MU BB guys. My friend next to me leaned over during the ceremony and said to me "that's the longest I've ever seen Grimm around the team without being whistled for a moving screen."
Almost lost it right there.
Quote from: RawdogDX on June 18, 2010, 11:41:58 AM
Am I wrong in assuming that everyone who has had more than 2 basketball player classmates a communication major/minor?
I don't even think there was a person who could start on a middle school team in my classes.
IT major eh?
Quote from: Ari Gold on June 18, 2010, 01:27:11 PM
IT major eh?
Computer science.
There were a few guys who were on a decent intermural flag football team every year. They beat my team in a championship game.
Quote from: Ari Gold on June 18, 2010, 01:27:11 PM
IT major eh?
In late 70's there was ONE big MU school computer. We learned a 10 line BASIC program, and genl theory. I guess 4tran and cobal (sp?) were also around...but engineers were just beginning to throw slide rules away!
We studied by reading books---do they still do that now--lol?
I did not have classes with any BB players, but Butch Lee smoked me often on the foosball table in the St. Union.
Doc Rivers and I actually got to know each other reasonably well through a Liberal Arts class (don't recall exact one) my Junior year. He was there every day and a decent B student as I recall. Have no idea if Hank and Rick were riding his butt but he was a very nice, thoughtful kid. Of course we know how his life turned out.
Through the years, most MU ballers have been very good guys and were well prepared by my university for life after B-ball.
I had a few classes with Tom Copa. Really nice guy. I only chatted casually with him, but he was always very gracious. We had a poli-sci class together during the spring of 87. Visiting prof. The prof announce on Friday that he would like to have a review session for our Monday final, but the classrooms are closed over the weekend. Being MU in the late 80's we suggest we meet at a bar for the study session. He expresses skepticism. We convince him to meet us at Hegarty's on Sunday evening. Turns out he had a weakness for Guinness on tap, which Heg's had. IIRC, Copa was the one who bought him the drinks as the prof became more expansive about what he wanted on his essay questions. I nursed a beer, took really good notes, and filled up a bluebook the next day in 45 minutes, acing the final. Ah, college.
for the record my roommie (who I miss so much it hurts sometimes) was not as unathletic as I implied. He played ball for countless years, baseball, ran cross country, and played hockey.
By comparison I was 3rd string b team in 8th grade, 3rd string 9th grade. A mediocre Jv golfer and broke my ribs in freshman football in practice. My roommate is far more superior athleticly than I am.
HOWEVER, I meant by comparison to the players in his athletic ability.
I'm bumping this thread to ask a question. The original poster mentions a video on Cracked Sidewalks from June 2010. I looked in the archives and found the thread, but the video has been removed. Anyone know where I can find it?
Quote from: chapman on June 17, 2010, 01:21:47 PM
I wonder if Chris Grimm switched seats often mid-class, frustrating the would-be nappers with a moving screen.
Rack 'em.
Quote from: RawdogDX on June 18, 2010, 11:41:58 AM
Am I wrong in assuming that everyone who has had more than 2 basketball player classmates a communication major/minor?
I don't even think there was a person who could start on a middle school team in my classes.
Engineer?? haha
(me too)
I did have Latin American History with Cubillan. haha. Being from Venezuela, we were able to just sit in the back on ESPN.com for the whole 1:15. I do remember a coach peering in every once in a while too.
Quote from: houwarrior on June 18, 2010, 05:11:15 PM
In late 70's there was ONE big MU school computer. We learned a 10 line BASIC program, and genl theory. I guess 4tran and cobal (sp?) were also around...but engineers were just beginning to throw slide rules away!
We studied by reading books---do they still do that now--lol?
I did not have classes with any BB players, but Butch Lee smoked me often on the foosball table in the St. Union.
Intro to computer science is still taught with books and chalkboard (at least it was in Fall of 2004). Pretty interesting class. Learning all the basics with pencil and paper.
Also, I had Grimm in an Education class (he was an education major, I believe...one of the few non-Comm. majors). He was always there, but also always sleeping in the back row.
I had Jerel and Scotty C in acting for non-theater majors (there were also 4 or 5 ladies from the women's bball and soccer teams, non-athletes such as myself were in the minority). Although the class was really easy (no homework, a monologue and a dialogue with a partner for a midterm and final) Jerel did a monologue from "Raisin in the Sun." It was actually really really good, you could tell he put some time into preparing...remembered his lines and put some emotion into it.
Speaking of weight room commitments, during the first semester of his freshman year Joe Krysziak (sp?) worked out on the crappy Universal at the rec center with the rest of us joes. He didn't even get use of the free weights upstairs that were part of the "weightlifting club". Things are a little different now.
Quote from: NYWarrior on June 16, 2010, 09:46:55 AM
At that time hoops was not the extraordinary year-round commitment it is now -- there were no real expectations other than pickup games and weight room commitments. No excuse for not going to class, but circumstances were different 20 yrs ago.
Sam Worthen and O Lee shared a suite in McCormick. I believe they spent every evening and many afternoons cramming for a course in Herbal Remedies.
"I wanted to defy the assumption of the black ballplayer who's stupid." -Ulice Payne
Quote from: 1001 N. 4th St. on November 15, 2010, 10:31:54 PM
"I wanted to defy the assumption of the black ballplayer who's stupid." -Ulice Payne
Coming out of high school UP was the Dapper Dan Roundball Player of the Year when that was a very big deal.
Great.
Charles Jefferson...
for Earth, Wind and Fire
and little brother.
I'll let you know when
they come around, okay?
Wow! Does he really live here?
I thought he just flew in for games.
Okay, I will show my age. I sat next to Bo Ellis and Craig Butrym in Theology of Marriage. They were there, except when the team was traveling. Dumbest question I asked Bo. They were going to play Kentucky in NCAA tournament and Kentucky suppose to be a good rebounding team. I looked at their stats and every player on Kentucky was averaging 6 rebounds a game. I asked Ellis how can they be such a good rebounding team when they had no good rebounders. He told me they were a very good rebounding team. Kentucky destroyed us.
Any of you guys ask any dumb questions?
Dwight Buycks is in my American History class, he sits a few rows in front of me, much to my suprise he has been to every class and every discussion section.
Here is the general rule of class attendance for male basketball players: Until they are in the 2nd semester of their senior year (and the basketball season is over), they must attend every class unless excused because of game travel Coach Crean assigned basketball staff to visit every class to make sure that student athletes were in class. Buzz does not utilize this method, except for freshman during their first summer session courses. Faculty are asked to submit periodic performance reports (attendance, test scores, paprs, etc.), but are not required todo so (and many don't). Of all the D1 athletic teams, the men's basketball program scrutinizes class attendance the most. And, believe it or not, coaches have no interaction with Professors, unless initiated by the Professor. Nearly all interaction between Professors and athletes is through academic support staff.
I'm currently a junior and DJO and Jamail Jones are in two of my classes they tend to be there all of the time
dom james and wes matthews were at every history 2 with naylor class their freshman year.
Quote from: SalsaMan on November 15, 2010, 09:28:39 PM
Sam Worthen and O Lee shared a suite in McCormick. I believe they spent every evening and many afternoons cramming for a course in Herbal Remedies.
[/quote
Oliver probably studied the Cliff notes on "How To Lift A Credit Card" also.