Per ESPN, Markus Kennedy ruled ineligible for 1st semester

[Grant Carter]

...Markus could have gone to play Basketball internationally any time he wanted to...

You act like the NBA is the only place he could have played ball. You are forgetting international ball.

You literally quoted Stallion's post which literally said "Markus could have gone to play Basketball internationally any time he wanted to." Then you accused Stallion of forgetting international ball. Not sure I follow your train of thought there. Can you help me understand?

[PonySnob]

Was the paper that MK had to turn in originally due in summer school?

[Rebel10]

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.

He helped SMU get to a high level and make money. So entitlement is not the question here. You seem to be suggesting that now that SMU is back on there feet because of Marcus then now just say to heck with him. Kind of like you do when you send a plow horse to the glue factory when he can't pull the plow for you anymore. There are lawyers with book sense but no common sense and that seems to be the area that you fall in.

[Stallion]

Yes you have described a mutually beneficial agreement voluntarily entered into by both Markus and SMU from which both have benefited. Part of the contract is to abide by NCAA academic standards which we certainly hope Markus can meet so the mutually beneficial agreement can continue.

[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.

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?

I hope you don't eat your words about KF at some point. Also, KF may have had a higher reading level than MK.

[Rebel10]

Yes you have described a mutually beneficial agreement voluntarily entered into by both Markus and SMU from which both have benefited. Part of the contract is to abide by NCAA academic standards which we certainly hope Markus can meet so the mutually beneficial agreement can continue.

Let's hope so.

[Pony_Law]

I hope so too but I have a feeling Keith will be ok because he is truly taking advantage of all the support (he is a sports management major). Also everyone is assuming MK can't read which i don't think a) is confirmed and b) like every activity if you practice you get better absent a learning disability.

[Rebel10]

I hope so too but I have a feeling Keith will be ok because he is truly taking advantage of all the support (he is a sports management major). Also everyone is assuming MK can't read which i don't think a) is confirmed and b) like every activity if you practice you get better absent a learning disability.

I hope KF is okay as well. MK may very well be an extreme case in reading level as Hoopmanx has pointed out. And Hoopmanx is very close to the program.

[ojaipony]

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.

Very well stated and is a very strong sounding argument indeed.

However, the reality is that major college athletics operates within a capitalistic market place where supply and demand make the rules, and I know for a fact that other major programs operate in that gray area so that they can provide the supply to meet the demand. Name ONE program that has consistently been elite (in men's basketball and/or football) for any significant amount of time that at least did not have a single NCAA investigation (minor, major, public, private). What that says is to a body like the NCAA is that, in order for us to win in the system you created, we have to game said system.

[Alaric]

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.

? Who's saying we "owe" anything to Markus? Just keep him eligible so he can play hoops. It's unilateral. If he coincidentally benefits, all the better (if you have a guilty conscience, start with remedial reading and ensure he's at a higher grade level than when he started). I'd also hazard a GUESS that most of the guys who fail out at top levels programs were guys taking up scholarship spaces that coaches wanted.

[OhioBrownFan]

His job is to play basketball for the school. To think otherwise....well you might as well be in bed with Dr. Emmert. He might care about his degree, I haven't ever personally asked him but he is there to play basketball and the school is there to collect the checks from your donations and butts in seats. Get him eligible, this isn't the NCAA suspending him, figure it out.

[ponyinNC]

His job is to play basketball for the school. To think otherwise....well you might as well be in bed with Dr. Emmert. He might care about his degree, I haven't ever personally asked him but he is there to play basketball and the school is there to collect the checks from your donations and butts in seats. Get him eligible, this isn't the NCAA suspending him, figure it out.

it's amazing - it is always the Non-SMU people that seem to get it.

Thank you OBF for actually living in REALITY

[hoopmanx]

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

[couch 'em]

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.

[ponyinNC]

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

preach