Per ESPN, Markus Kennedy ruled ineligible for 1st semester

[Rebel10]

SMU is to blame, everything else is tied to some completely antiquated concept of student/athlete that has no place in the current landscape. They took a kid who could barely read, promised him they'd look after his basketball dream of playing professionally, and then ruled him ineligible b/c he can't read. He was never smart enough too be eligible at SMU by any typical student standard, but they took him, profited off him, and now hung him out to dry. You brought him here to play ball and make you money. He's a sniper, an assassin, who never heard of SMU before we recruited him. Take care of him, profit.

This topic is completely cold. None of you know if we're better or worse w/o Markus, just different.

I love Markus, but Ben Moore per minute played is more productive. His numbers project nicely at 30 minutes per. Use Jmart at 4 on occasion, Sterling and Ben at 2 and 3, and you rebound very well at every spot on the floor but the 4.

Our 'lack' of bigs certainly isn't keeping us out of the tournament w/Moore/Cannen/Yanick and Jmart sharing minutes. That's a strength on most teams

Well said.

[ojaipony]

This is all on SMU. If you disagree, I'd like to know what color the sky is on your planet. Over here on mine it's blue.

[smusportspage]

As Cardale Jones once said, "Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS"

School should've taken care of that for him or at least made sure it wasn't going to happen...

Oh brother. At what point does some rational behavior set in with you folks? He transferred from Villanova which means he got admitted to Villanova. I am assuming he can do the work while others are assuming he can't. What makes some of you think he can't do the work? Really would like to know. He is a student athlete, not a D-league player. Until and if that ever changes in the world of college athletics then I maintain he needs to put the effort in the class room. Sure SMU can, and I maintain they do, provide the support for him to succeed. Beyond that, isn't it really up to MK? Some of you need a good class in RBT (Rational Behavior Training).

[Blunt Pony]

Just so we are clear, it seems that the opinion of most is since SMU admitted him, it is their responsibility to keep him eligible. So if SMU never admitted him, most on this board would be fine with that? Seems like we were all complaining about getting kids in and now when we do admit a kid that appears to not be able to handle the workload we complain that we can't keep him eligible.

I actually agree that if we admit a student athlete, it is on the school to keep him eligible provided the athlete puts in SOME effort.

Keep in mind, this thinking will raise the bar on who actually gets into SMU as opposed to who we can keep eligible. Damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Good luck to Markus. Hope he comes back hungry next semester and we can make a nice run.

[Pony_Law]

I disagree because I live on the planet where when there are basic requirements set by a 3rd party and the school gives the student every opportunity and legal advantage to meet said requirement it is on the student to meet said requirement and it is not the schools fault for that student's failure.

SMU doesn't owe MK anything more. SMU has given Mk an opportunity to showcase his talent through SMU media exposure, access to one of the best if not they best coach to improve his game (for a chance to play the game professionally), and all the legal help they can in giving him a chance to earn a degree that long term is worth literally millions over the course of his life. All of that at exactly zero cost to MK with the only requirement is that he play a game that he loves to play.

[Rebel10]

As Cardale Jones once said, "Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS"

School should've taken care of that for him or at least made sure it wasn't going to happen...

Oh brother. At what point does some rational behavior set in with you folks? He transferred from Villanova which means he got admitted to Villanova. I am assuming he can do the work while others are assuming he can't. What makes some of you think he can't do the work? Really would like to know. He is a student athlete, not a D-league player. Until and if that ever changes in the world of college athletics then I maintain he needs to put the effort in the class room. Sure SMU can, and I maintain they do, provide the support for him to succeed. Beyond that, isn't it really up to MK? Some of you need a good class in RBT (Rational Behavior Training).

Suppose he is putting in the effort and doing the best he can but can get his grades up. You do realize that things like that have happened to people before. You might need to go to RT (Reality Training).

[Stallion]

Except its based on a premise that is not true. Markus didn't have to play COLLEGE Basketball. Markus didn't have to voluntarily sign with 2 Top 60 academic private prestigious universities. Markus realized it was a great platform to devekop his talents and was ecstatic to be given the opportunity. Markus could have applied for the NBA Draft last year. Markus could have gone to play Basketball internationally any time he wanted to. In fact, Markus wasn't good enough for the NBA Draft last year. Markus may never be good enough for the NBA. Markus may never make a decent living playing Basketball. Hell if Markus is ineligible he's not required to come back for his 2nd semester. Strictly voluntary-he's free to pursue other avenues to reach his dream. That's not on SMU-that's on Markus. Markus played College Basketball to get an education and coaching from 2 prominent college coaches who were at schools that gave Markus Kennedy the platform to play in nationally prominent conferences with all their games on national TV. These schools did this before Markus was an economically viable product for professional basketball. Markus signed with Villinova and SMU knowing full well what was required of him academically. Markus is being held to the same standards as hundreds of thousands of other student athletes have been held. Markus used the major college basketball platform just as much as SMU used Markus. Just as much as Lawyer or Doctor used SMU to get to graduate school BEFORE they were an economically viable lawyer or doctor. In fact, the long term earning potential of those students is greater than the long shot-short term-speculative NBA career of Markus Kennedy.

[EconPony'10]

As Cardale Jones once said, "Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS"

School should've taken care of that for him or at least made sure it wasn't going to happen...

Oh brother. At what point does some rational behavior set in with you folks? He transferred from Villanova which means he got admitted to Villanova. I am assuming he can do the work while others are assuming he can't. What makes some of you think he can't do the work? Really would like to know. He is a student athlete, not a D-league player. Until and if that ever changes in the world of college athletics then I maintain he needs to put the effort in the class room. Sure SMU can, and I maintain they do, provide the support for him to succeed. Beyond that, isn't it really up to MK? Some of you need a good class in RBT (Rational Behavior Training).

I guess the same point at which you lost it. Just because he got into a school doesn't mean he is qualified mentally to handle the curriculum. For Athletes, schools usually admit the lowest scores and GPAs possible to get them there. SMU is a tough school and believe it or not, if we let every under qualified person in America in, most would flunk out.

[Pony_Law]

I actually agree that if we admit a student athlete, it is on the school to keep him eligible provided the athlete puts in SOME effort.

But there is only so much the School can do while abiding by the rules set by the NCAA. Every school could theoretically have a deans list student write all of a student's athletes papers and take the student athletes test for them.

SMU has provided MK with every opportunity to remain eligible. First the requirements for eligibility are NCAA minimums (which SMU has no direct control over), MK has access to free personal tutors in any class he takes. His coaches mandate specific time he has to dedicate to studying or risk punishment for violating team rules. The school has degree programs that are not what would be described as academically vigorous. What is one thing other than straight telling a professor to award a grade to MK he did not earn (which is a major infraction under of NCAA rules) that SMU could have done?

[smusportspage]

What makes you think that MK can't do the work?

[Rebel10]

Except its based on a premise that is not true. Markus didn't have to play COLLEGE Basketball. Markus didn't have to voluntarily sign with 2 Top 60 academic private prestigious universities. Markus realized it was a great platform to devekop his talents and was ecstatic to be given the opportunity. Markus could have applied for the NBA Draft last year. Markus could have gone to play Basketball internationally any time he wanted to. In fact, Markus wasn't good enough for the NBA Draft last year. Markus may never be good enough for the NBA. Markus may never make a decent living playing Basketball. That's not on SMU-that's on Markus. Markus played College Basketball to get an education and coaching from 2 prominent college coaches who were at schools that gave Markus Kennedy the platform to play in nationally prominent conferences with all their games on national TV. These schools did this before Markus was an economically viable product for professional basketball. Markus signed with Villinova and SMU knowing full well what was required of him academically. Markus is being held to the same standards as hundreds of thousands of other student athletes have been held. Markus used the major college basketball platform just as much as SMU used Markus. Just as much as Lawyer or Doctor used SMU to get to graduate school. In fact, the long term earning potential of those students is greater than the long shot-short term speculative NBA career of Markus Kennedy

You act like the NBA is the only place he could have played ball. You are forgetting international ball. Also, I think someone mentioned that Duke has backdoor remedial programs for kids like this so Villanova might as well. Somehow I don't think Dwayne McClain and Ed Pinckney could have gotten into Nova if they were not athletes.

[Stallion]

As Cardale Jones once said, "Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS"

School should've taken care of that for him or at least made sure it wasn't going to happen...

Oh brother. At what point does some rational behavior set in with you folks? He transferred from Villanova which means he got admitted to Villanova. I am assuming he can do the work while others are assuming he can't. What makes some of you think he can't do the work? Really would like to know. He is a student athlete, not a D-league player. Until and if that ever changes in the world of college athletics then I maintain he needs to put the effort in the class room. Sure SMU can, and I maintain they do, provide the support for him to succeed. Beyond that, isn't it really up to MK? Some of you need a good class in RBT (Rational Behavior Training).

I guess the same point at which you lost it. Just because he got into a school doesn't mean he is qualified mentally to handle the curriculum. For Athletes, schools usually admit the lowest scores and GPAs possible to get them there. SMU is a tough school and believe it or not, if we let every under qualified person in America in, most would flunk out.

Well I guess that leaves Markus with 2 choices-

1. Apply himself in the classroom and meet the academic standard
2. Puruse his long shot, speculative professional career through the NBA or other avenues

[Rebel10]

What makes you think that MK can't do the work?

What makes you think he can do upper level history work at low reading level? Those that are blaming him seem to think he can.

[Pony_Law]

Suppose he is putting in the effort and doing the best he can but can get his grades up. You do realize that things like that have happened to people before. You might need to go to RT (Reality Training).

If he is putting in the effort and using all support avaiolable to him (which he is not because he has decided to take a challenging major), then that mean he just can't hack it and he doesn't deserve to be eligible. That's called life you have to earn what you get. If you can't meet NCAA academic requirements you don't get to play college basketball. If you can't get a decent LSAT score your don't get to go to law school. If you can't get a passing grade on the bar exam you don't get to be a lawyer. If you can't pass your state medical board exams you don't get to be a doctor. If you can't pass organic chemistry you don't get to go to Med school. If you can't earn the grades you don't get a degree from SMU. If you aren't better then the next available person you don't get to play professional basketball. You are not entitled to any station in life.

[Pony_Law]

Except its based on a premise that is not true. Markus didn't have to play COLLEGE Basketball. Markus didn't have to voluntarily sign with 2 Top 60 academic private prestigious universities. Markus realized it was a great platform to devekop his talents and was ecstatic to be given the opportunity. Markus could have applied for the NBA Draft last year. Markus could have gone to play Basketball internationally any time he wanted to. In fact, Markus wasn't good enough for the NBA Draft last year. Markus may never be good enough for the NBA. Markus may never make a decent living playing Basketball. That's not on SMU-that's on Markus. Markus played College Basketball to get an education and coaching from 2 prominent college coaches who were at schools that gave Markus Kennedy the platform to play in nationally prominent conferences with all their games on national TV. These schools did this before Markus was an economically viable product for professional basketball. Markus signed with Villinova and SMU knowing full well what was required of him academically. Markus is being held to the same standards as hundreds of thousands of other student athletes have been held. Markus used the major college basketball platform just as much as SMU used Markus. Just as much as Lawyer or Doctor used SMU to get to graduate school. In fact, the long term earning potential of those students is greater than the long shot-short term speculative NBA career of Markus Kennedy

You act like the NBA is the only place he could have played ball. You are forgetting international ball. Also, I think someone mentioned that Duke has backdoor remedial programs for kids like this so Villanova might as well. Somehow I don't think Dwayne McClain and Ed Pinckney could have gotten into Nova if they were not athletes.

We get kids eligible to be admitted and do everything we can to keep them eligible. If SMU did not how can you explain KF?