Wow. This has been entertaining to read.
I've read everyone's complaints and general gripes about athletes and the special treatment they get, etc. etc. Now, I have a few questions for those who seem to have some strong views on this topic.
Since Powe was brought up, lets use him as an example. IF grades are just given to athletes, test scores are bogus, etc. etc. , then why was Powe ruled academically ineligible last year, and why did he have to attend a prep school (Hargrave) for an entire year working to gain eligibility? And if the ACT testing process is bogus, then why did Powe have to take this test multiple times, and take prep courses for the test, just to be ablie to achieve a sufficient score to become eligible? And if Powe is diagnosed by a doctor with ADD, then why should he not be given an untimed ACT --- a regular student would be given the same option of the untimed test if that student had ADD? And why is it not possible for a young man, in his senior year of HS, to wake up and realize that he needs to start studying and applying himself or he will never be able to play Div. 1 college football?
Some Answers: The athletes are NOT getting grades given to them, or they would not be having eligibility problems. The testing process is obviously being run correctly (or someone should have some strong proof otherwise), or there would be no need to take the test multiple times --- they would have been successful the first time if there was really cheating going on. And young men mature at different times. Some finally get motivated enough to work hard and accomplish a goal at some point in their lives. Unfortunately for Powe, by the time he decided to get serious and really work hard, he had dug his hole too deep. It was quite a feat for this young man just to become eligible to attend Hargrave, given his status at the end of his junior year in HS. By all accounts, he worked hard while at Hargrave to complete eligibility requirements and continued to mature. It is my understanding that he now has his grades and his needed test score. Whether he has been cleared by the clearinghouse or not is not 100% known, since he is not enrolled in summer school.
With regard to other alleged "benefits" to athletes, anything above tuition, room and board and allowable incidentals is not legal. I grow very tired of hearing allegations of cheating at (fill in the blank) school, with the proponents of such having NO proof of such a thing at all. I suppose it is beyond most folks' comprehension that a student-athlete's family could possibly have enough money to provide a car or other amenities to their child attending college. Especially african american student-athletes. Folks, here is a newflash : there are african american families in MS doing quite well financially, with jobs, etc., who can afford to provide things to their children, especially when the school is picking up the tab for tuition, room, board, etc. (the normal scholarship things). Some of you need to get out a little more.
And I will finish this dissertation with the following: the college athletes of today have a huge workload playing college sports. In addition to their school work, which they must do well enough in to stay eligible, they have lots of responsibilities for practices, games, off-season workouts, "voluntary" workouts, etc. etc. Most earn that scholarship.
Many regular students have academic scholarships (some have multiple scholarships well exceeding the cost of the school), financial aid, etc. The student-athletes, per NCAA rules, are not allowed anything beyond the normal scholarship allowed by the NCAA and whatever financial aid the NCAA allows ---- both of which are way less than what a normal student could get if qualified. Yes, regular students often work part-time jobs to pay the bills, etc. But, an athlete really has no time during the school year to work a part-time job. Their plate is full with the sport they are playing and their academics. And that sport they are playing, especially football, is pretty much paying the bills for every other sport on campus --- men's and women.
So enough already with all the gross negative generalizations about student athletes. IF you truly have evidence of a specific incident of cheating with respect to a particular player, then lets hear exact details. Otherwise, it just sounds like sour grapes. Not all student-athletes have bad character. And not all athletes who have once committed some bad act are bad people. Some, like all of us, have done some things in the past they are not too proud off. And like most of us, they try to put it behind them and move forward with their lives, trying to be a better person. The difference is that as star athletes, no one ever forgets what they have done and constantly bring it up --- the media, opposing fans, etc. ----even years afterward. Yes, it goes with the territory, but it is something most regular students do not have to contend with.
