Per ESPN, Markus Kennedy ruled ineligible for 1st semester

[ponyinNC]

If he makes an honest effort to do the work he should be passed with a minimally acceptable GPA to be eligable. It hurts nobody, it benefits us athletically AND him intellectually. Nobody said I couldn't have an engineering degree because I couldn't dunk a basketball.

couldn't agree more!

[redpony]

absolutely!

[redpony]

honest question- does the athletic dept, in addition to the LEC, not have people checking with the professors to see how athletes are doing in class? It would seem to me that somebody should be talking with the profs and asking if a player is not doing good what can be done to improve his performance in class. IMO this would also demonstrate to the prof that the athletic dept. is interested in making sure the players are doing their part in being a 'student-athlete' and not just looking for a free ride in grades.

[smusportspage]

If he makes an honest effort to do the work he should be passed with a minimally acceptable GPA to be eligable. It hurts nobody, it benefits us athletically AND him intellectually. Nobody said I couldn't have an engineering degree because I couldn't dunk a basketball.

couldn't agree more!

I am all for honest effort. I can get on board with this.

[SoCal_Pony]

If he makes an honest effort to do the work he should be passed with a minimally acceptable GPA to be eligable. It hurts nobody, it benefits us athletically AND him intellectually. Nobody said I couldn't have an engineering degree because I couldn't dunk a basketball.

couldn't agree more!

I'm calling BS on this one.

Me strongly suspects many don't even make an honest effort, whatever that means. And can you really blame them? What's an 'honest effort' anyway?, 20 hours per week?, 30 hours?

They are here to hone their skills so they can earn a decent living overseas making 5x+ more per year (much more if they hit the NBA lotto) than their fellow students. Many are attending schools that if not for their own athletic prowess, would never ever be able to attend.

So that 20 or 30 hours per week some on here want them to spend studying sciences, art or history...well maybe they have different ideas. Whatever decision these kids make, I don't blame them or judge them. And they can always resume their schooling once their BB careers are over.

I read recently that college athletics is now a $10 Billion+ per year industry. $10 Billion.

If this was truly market driven, and not 'amateur athletics', Markus would be making 6 figures right now playing for SMU against Lamar.

[SoCal_Pony]

Brown has stated Markus' level when he entered SMU in the past, specifically at booster functions, and around the industry. Its been no secret he's made huge strides, but a long ways to go.

BTW, it's hilarious to hear privileged, mostly white and middle aged lawyers, speak to the mutual benefits of the NCAA/Student contract. 2014 is calling, gentlemen

Hoopmanx,

What impact will this ruling have on future recruits who, like MK, may have academic difficulties in a Tier 2 school like SMU.

[ojaipony]

If this was truly market driven, and not 'amateur athletics', Markus would be making 6 figures right now playing for SMU against Lamar.

Who says he's not? (I think all top players at all top programs are getting nicely compensated).

[coloradoStang]

If this was truly market driven, and not 'amateur athletics', Markus would be making 6 figures right now playing for SMU against Lamar.

Who says he's not? (I think all top players at all top programs are getting nicely compensated).

If he is, hopefully he's not for this semester.

[EconPony'10]

If this was truly market driven, and not 'amateur athletics', Markus would be making 6 figures right now playing for SMU against Lamar.

Who says he's not? (I think all top players at all top programs are getting nicely compensated).

If he is, hopefully he's not for this semester.

You can't just stop the payments!

[OhioBrownFan]

Brown has stated Markus' level when he entered SMU in the past, specifically at booster functions, and around the industry. Its been no secret he's made huge strides, but a long ways to go.

BTW, it's hilarious to hear privileged, mostly white and middle aged lawyers, speak to the mutual benefits of the NCAA/Student contract. 2014 is calling, gentlemen

Hoopmanx,

What impact will this ruling have on future recruits who, like MK, may have academic difficulties in a Tier 2 school like SMU.

Not Hoopman but that really shouldn't have an impact on recruits. Larry knows what he can and can't get away with. And everyone not named Stanford, Northwestern, or Ivy League is Tier 2 as far as I'm concerned. UNC is one of the best schools in the country and they've never had an issue getting kids in or eligible. Just takes some effort from the AD and the athlete.

[SoCal_Pony]

If this was truly market driven, and not 'amateur athletics', Markus would be making 6 figures right now playing for SMU against Lamar.

Who says he's not? (I think all top players at all top programs are getting nicely compensated).

If he is, hopefully he's not for this semester.

Very funny. I meant by SMU directly. The same SMU that has now ruled him ineligible.

[SoCal_Pony]

Brown has stated Markus' level when he entered SMU in the past, specifically at booster functions, and around the industry. Its been no secret he's made huge strides, but a long ways to go.

BTW, it's hilarious to hear privileged, mostly white and middle aged lawyers, speak to the mutual benefits of the NCAA/Student contract. 2014 is calling, gentlemen

Hoopmanx,

What impact will this ruling have on future recruits who, like MK, may have academic difficulties in a Tier 2 school like SMU.

Not Hoopman but that really shouldn't have an impact on recruits. Larry knows what he can and can't get away with. And everyone not named Stanford, Northwestern, or Ivy League is Tier 2 as far as I'm concerned. UNC is one of the best schools in the country and they've never had an issue getting kids in or eligible. Just takes some effort from the AD and the athlete.

Thanks OBF.

I meant it within the context of would potential recruits feel the SMU administration might not be as supportive as other schools. In other words, if they can rule such a key player as MK ineligible, they can do it to anyone.

[OhioBrownFan]

Not Hoopman but that really shouldn't have an impact on recruits. Larry knows what he can and can't get away with. And everyone not named Stanford, Northwestern, or Ivy League is Tier 2 as far as I'm concerned. UNC is one of the best schools in the country and they've never had an issue getting kids in or eligible. Just takes some effort from the AD and the athlete.

Thanks OBF.

I meant it within the context of would potential recruits feel the SMU administration might not be as supportive as other schools. In other words, if they can rule such a key player as MK ineligible, they can do it to anyone.

I would say without being in the SMU athletic department, it's hard to say how supportive or unsupportive they may be. SMU is very unique in the fact that they will always feel the NCAA looking over their shoulder for the foreseeable future. As far as recruits, no offense, but that's gotta be one of the VERY last things they are thinking about or have thought about. Hell, many of them wouldn't be in college if it weren't for a scholarship so I can't say for certain, but pretty confident in saying that it wouldn't make a difference. Would you even think to consider that when you were 17 years old? Then place yourself at 17 and growing up with nothing and not even thinking about giong to college til you had a full-ride to play ball, would that thought cross your mind? Sure as hell wouldn't cross mine but that's me.

[Pony_Law]

Brown has stated Markus' level when he entered SMU in the past, specifically at booster functions, and around the industry. Its been no secret he's made huge strides, but a long ways to go.

BTW, it's hilarious to hear privileged, mostly white and middle aged lawyers, speak to the mutual benefits of the NCAA/Student contract. 2014 is calling, gentlemen

Hoopmanx,

What impact will this ruling have on future recruits who, like MK, may have academic difficulties in a Tier 2 school like SMU.

Not Hoopman but that really shouldn't have an impact on recruits. Larry knows what he can and can't get away with. And everyone not named Stanford, Northwestern, or Ivy League is Tier 2 as far as I'm concerned. UNC is one of the best schools in the country and they've never had an issue getting kids in or eligible. Just takes some effort from the AD and the athlete.

Are we seriously looking at UNC as a model for keeping kids eligible? They literally had no show classes/assignments and if they weren't a blue chip program they would be looking at a multiple year scholly reduction and a multi year ban from post season play.

[smusportspage]

Agree, no offense OhioBrownFan but that stood out to me as well. Let's keep things in perspective.