Per ESPN, Markus Kennedy ruled ineligible for 1st semester

[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.

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.

You just proved my point. What do you care about? Your team being good or the highest order of academic integrity? I'd rather my team be good and cut a few corners while seeing a few turn a blind eye.

You proved my point, great school who made sure their players were eligible and they've won. A slap on the wrist is coming UNC's way, might as well prepare yourself.

[OhioBrownFan]

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

I wasn't trying to say that the program needs to be run like UNC whatsoever. But EVERY SINGLE school that is good has a bit of UNC in them. I can tell you about the strip club the school I was with before took recruits to, that's an NCAA violation. I can also tell you about some of the courses they took. And this was a small school breaking the rules. If people don't like to know the dirty details, then don't get into sports or an athletic department. The athletic department is a business and out to make money, people's jobs are on the line when expectations aren't met just the same with any other job. Coaches and ADs don't keep their jobs because all their "student-athletes" graduated Summa Cum Laude while the team sucked on the court.

[smusportspage]

So, it is ok to short change these student athletes as long as the program is winning? I for one don't want to go down that road.It seems to me quite a few of these athletes have been short changed on education for a good portion of ther educational life. If they are in school they can learn. Good grief folks we are not reinventing the wheel on what a college exists for. I don't want that for MK. There are minimum standards...even for a basketball player.

[OhioBrownFan]

So, it is ok to short change these student athletes as long as the program is winning? I for one don't want to go down that road.It seems to me quite a few of these athletes have been short changed on education for a good portion of ther educational life. If they are in school they can learn. Good grief folks we are not reinventing the wheel on what a college exists for. I don't want that for MK. There are minimum standards...even for a basketball player.

That's fine, and you consequently get players that are ineligible. Don't kid yourself to think the minimum standards set forth are even halfway representative of a true SMU degree.

[smusportspage]

Not kidding myself on anything. That is where the guid pro quo comes into play. Capeche?

[EconPony'10]

So, it is ok to short change these student athletes as long as the program is winning? I for one don't want to go down that road.It seems to me quite a few of these athletes have been short changed on education for a good portion of ther educational life. If they are in school they can learn. Good grief folks we are not reinventing the wheel on what a college exists for. I don't want that for MK. There are minimum standards...even for a basketball player.

Ken Pye is that you?

[Rebel10]

So, it is ok to short change these student athletes as long as the program is winning? I for one don't want to go down that road.It seems to me quite a few of these athletes have been short changed on education for a good portion of ther educational life. If they are in school they can learn. Good grief folks we are not reinventing the wheel on what a college exists for. I don't want that for MK. There are minimum standards...even for a basketball player.

MK might have taken a class in which he was way over his head. If they are in school they can learn but not all at the same pace depending on your educational background. You act like a person that came in 2 years ago with a 7th grade reading level can get to college level reading in just 2 years. You are on the delusional side if you think the is the case.

[smusportspage]

So, it is ok to short change these student athletes as long as the program is winning? I for one don't want to go down that road.It seems to me quite a few of these athletes have been short changed on education for a good portion of ther educational life. If they are in school they can learn. Good grief folks we are not reinventing the wheel on what a college exists for. I don't want that for MK. There are minimum standards...even for a basketball player.

Ken Pye is that you?

Not quite.

[smusportspage]

So, it is ok to short change these student athletes as long as the program is winning? I for one don't want to go down that road.It seems to me quite a few of these athletes have been short changed on education for a good portion of ther educational life. If they are in school they can learn. Good grief folks we are not reinventing the wheel on what a college exists for. I don't want that for MK. There are minimum standards...even for a basketball player.

MK might have taken a class in which he was way over his head. If they are in school they can learn but not all at the same pace depending on your educational background. You act like a person that came in 2 years ago with a 7th grade reading level can get to college level reading in just 2 years. You are on the delusional side if you think the is the case.

I don't know, I read pretty good when I was in 7th grade. All kidding aside, I know it is harder for some than for others. I also know that SMU provides alot of adademic support to their student athletes.

[Pony_Law]

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

I wasn't trying to say that the program needs to be run like UNC whatsoever. But EVERY SINGLE school that is good has a bit of UNC in them. I can tell you about the strip club the school I was with before took recruits to, that's an NCAA violation. I can also tell you about some of the courses they took. And this was a small school breaking the rules. If people don't like to know the dirty details, then don't get into sports or an athletic department. The athletic department is a business and out to make money, people's jobs are on the line when expectations aren't met just the same with any other job. Coaches and ADs don't keep their jobs because all their "student-athletes" graduated Summa Cum Laude while the team sucked on the court.

Here is the thing, I'm sure SMU does the things they can get away with like everyone else does. We have easy classes for athletes, Markus didn't take them. What we don't have is a stomach for doing the really over the top things like UNC did which I think is understandable. If SMU did what UNC did (which it sure seems some people on this board are advocating) we would have the book thrown at us because we are SMU and not UNC. I'm ready for UNC to get a total slap on the wrist because it is expected. That is the unfair and absurd nature of the NCAA.

[Killen]

YO!

Most of you sound ridiculous. It is not OK to short-change student-athletes in pursuit on athletic success.

Sure, the majority of athletes at SMU would not be admitted based on their academic background, but SMU recognizes their talents can be an overall benefit to the university. In exchange, the school provides educational opportunity, and athletic training/exposure for the handful that are gifted enough to make a living playing sports.

Every scholarship player on the MBB will have the opportunity to make a short living playing basketball (from decent-to-holy [deleted] amounts of money). If they want to make money now, they can withdraw and go abroad. But for as long as they represent SMU or any collegiate team, they need to pass legitimate college courses. For incoming students with an 800 SAT score, that will require a Herculean effort - but it can be, and has been, done before.

Don't short change these kids (grown men). Go to every class, go to office hours, LEC, and beg until you get the grade.

*I very much want to point out that many are suggesting we take mostly under-educated black males and lowering the bar towards an SMU degree so much that you good alums would not seriously consider them for any roles besides manual labor and sales. Whats the benefit of the SMU network when people know you didn't earn your way in?

Killen,
Point Guard Emeritus

[smusportspage]

Thank you Jon!

[Rebel10]

So, it is ok to short change these student athletes as long as the program is winning? I for one don't want to go down that road.It seems to me quite a few of these athletes have been short changed on education for a good portion of ther educational life. If they are in school they can learn. Good grief folks we are not reinventing the wheel on what a college exists for. I don't want that for MK. There are minimum standards...even for a basketball player.

MK might have taken a class in which he was way over his head. If they are in school they can learn but not all at the same pace depending on your educational background. You act like a person that came in 2 years ago with a 7th grade reading level can get to college level reading in just 2 years. You are on the delusional side if you think the is the case.

I don't know, I read pretty good when I was in 7th grade. All kidding aside, I know it is harder for some than for others. I also know that SMU provides alot of adademic support to their student athletes.

Academic support is good at SMU. But no tutor can help you read 40 pages a night if you can only read 20 a night. They also, can't take tests for you. But yes, the support is food but if you are in a class way over your head there is not much that can be done. I do think Markus is a unique case and not representative of the whole and should be looked at accordingly.

[Rebel10]

For incoming students with an 800 SAT score, that will require a Herculean effort - but it can be, and has been, done before.

Suppose it is lower than an 800 on a sliding scale? Suppose the athlete goes to every class, goes to office hours, LEC, and begs and still come up short in an upper level history class that he was way over his head in. If the kid is trying as hard as he can in the situation he is currently in don't you think some grace should be extended?

[EconPony'10]

YO!

Most of you sound ridiculous. It is not OK to short-change student-athletes in pursuit on athletic success.

Sure, the majority of athletes at SMU would not be admitted based on their academic background, but SMU recognizes their talents can be an overall benefit to the university. In exchange, the school provides educational opportunity, and athletic training/exposure for the handful that are gifted enough to make a living playing sports.

Every scholarship player on the MBB will have the opportunity to make a short living playing basketball (from decent-to-holy [deleted] amounts of money). If they want to make money now, they can withdraw and go abroad. But for as long as they represent SMU or any collegiate team, they need to pass legitimate college courses. For incoming students with an 800 SAT score, that will require a Herculean effort - but it can be, and has been, done before.

Don't short change these kids (grown men). Go to every class, go to office hours, LEC, and beg until you get the grade.

*I very much want to point out that many are suggesting we take mostly under-educated black males and lowering the bar towards an SMU degree so much that you good alums would not seriously consider them for any roles besides manual labor and sales. Whats the benefit of the SMU network when people know you didn't earn your way in?

Killen,
Point Guard Emeritus

We would be having the same argument if it was a white hick brain dead football player that was a key player to us having success. If we want to have great football and great basketball teams something has to give. Rules have to bent and corners have to be cut. As unfortunate as it is, that is what college athletics have come to. When Duke athletes get hired, those employers know what they are getting. Same with SMU. If an athlete helps provide great success in athletics for a school you have way more of an advantage than any of the other students coming out with a better GPA than you. My degree as an athlete is the same as any other student at SMU and I can assure you it doesn't have an asterisk attached to it that says "this is an athlete's degree"