Admissions Stuff

[SMUSportsTalkNow101]

This stuff stinks in terms of PR to the football community but lets face it guys....why should these kids have preference or be given lesser academic or character standards than the kids who PAY TO GO TO SCHOOL. Because they can run fast, catch or throw a ball??? No way. I worked hard to get into SMU and just becaue I was not some athlete who garnered collegiate athletics attention I would not feel good about knowing the 'stud' sitting next to me gets paid to go to college (between scholarship, stipend, free meals, travel experiences, etc). It is not fair. There are plenty of kids doing it right and maybe some of the responsibility here lays with the coaching staff knowing what is expected during the admissions cycle and they relay the importance to these kids before offering. It is a gamble. Be ready to lose some and ready to win some. One of mine in college now and I hate knowing how hard she worked to get in and maintain. I love SMU and I love watching them hold their ground and doing it the right way.

[mrydel]

Just curious. How much was the cost of admission to come in and watch you during your time out of the classroom, and how was that money spent? How much time did you spend outside of classes preparing for whatever you did during your non class time? How much did applicaitons to the University go up due to people watching, reading, and hearing about your great exploits at the bars or the intramural fields or laying in the sun?

And finally, how do you sleep at night with that screen name and obviously do not know anything about what sports do for a school, a team and an individual, not to mention the fans and alumni?

If you know anything about marketing, just call the athletes a loss leader and not only that but a loss leader that has proven successful many place over many years.

[ponyscott]

It's not worth even responding to such a weak post...judging by his address he is way out of touch with the real world...

[Texafornian]

I worked hard to get into SMU and all I received were pretty small scholarships (still glad I got something though!) due to my decent GPA and interest in engineering, yet I have no problem with full rides for qualified athletes. Athletics scholarships give less fortunate individuals a chance to get a great education and succeed in life when they would normally may not have had that opportunity. Successful athletes who go to the pro's could possibly donate to SMU in the future and/or work with aspects of the SMU community.

You have to remember that these athletes aren't guaranteed to pass once they're given their full ride, as in the case of Terrance Wilkerson. In my opinion it's even harder for athletes at SMU to stay qualified because of the lack of athletics-friendly majors and classes compared to schools such as TCU, UT, etc.

Would you prefer SMU to drop down to Div III and lose millions of $ in donations?

[SMUSportsTalkNow101]

Guys.....fair enough. All are entitled to their opinion. I am just stating that I do not like snowing admissions for athletes. It is essentially affirmative action....and I do not agree with that, either. Mrydel - I worked almost full time in addition to going to school fulltime so I could occassionally afford a night out or a good tasting meal. I was not born with a silver spoon in hand nor with the gift of speed and strength paying my way. I just think it is good for a school to holds its ground. I also, however, find it annoying it happens this late in the summer to these kids. That is a pity and they deserve better than that. They/SMU should know for sure much earlier or have a clear understanding of the matter so that this is not a "shock" to the athlete.

[Mestengo]

Guys.....fair enough. All are entitled to their opinion. I am just stating that I do not like snowing admissions for athletes. It is essentially affirmative action....and I do not agree with that, either. Mrydel - I worked almost full time in addition to going to school fulltime so I could occassionally afford a night out or a good tasting meal. I was not born with a silver spoon in hand nor with the gift of speed and strength paying my way. I just think it is good for a school to holds its ground. I also, however, find it annoying it happens this late in the summer to these kids. That is a pity and they deserve better than that. They/SMU should know for sure much earlier or have a clear understanding of the matter so that this is not a "shock" to the athlete.

You worked two jobs also. Try getting up for two a days and studying much harder than waiting tables.
And buy some season tickets while your at it..

[mrydel]

Informing them earlier is not the same as admittng them with lesser standards than yourself. They should have been informed earlier.

I repeat, how much did you beneift the University by spending your time out of class working? These kids sacrifice many hours of their day in the weight room, on the field practicing, playing in games and still have to sit next to you in class and provide the same results or they flunk out. They do not receive money in their pocket, rather they are provided with an education which I for one feel is not enough considering the hours they put in versus the money they bring in for the school. I believe the rule may be changed now but when I was in school on scholarship, NCAA rules said I was not allowed to work. So I could not get that extra money for a nice meal or a night out.

I would not equate this with affirnative action. It is not a racial or minority thing. It is not a quota. It is a marketing tool for the University to showcase athletes in exchange for money to the school. Not much different than letting a kid with below average grades in because daddy builds a shiny new building. It happens.

[couch 'em]

This stuff stinks in terms of PR to the football community but lets face it guys....why should these kids have preference or be given lesser academic or character standards than the kids who PAY TO GO TO SCHOOL. Because they can run fast, catch or throw a ball??? No way. I worked hard to get into SMU and just becaue I was not some athlete who garnered collegiate athletics attention I would not feel good about knowing the 'stud' sitting next to me gets paid to go to college (between scholarship, stipend, free meals, travel experiences, etc). It is not fair. There are plenty of kids doing it right and maybe some of the responsibility here lays with the coaching staff knowing what is expected during the admissions cycle and they relay the importance to these kids before offering. It is a gamble. Be ready to lose some and ready to win some. One of mine in college now and I hate knowing how hard she worked to get in and maintain. I love SMU and I love watching them hold their ground and doing it the right way.

are you trolling, or just amazingly ignorant? If you want athletes to meet admission reqs of regular students you need to stop wasting your time with a Div 1 athletics school. All D1 schools have special rules for athletes. Those players you saw in class when you were at SMU? They already had special admission. That [deleted] you knew who paid full tuition? Daddy probably was a donor and got him in. That kid who's mom is a secretary in dedman? Special admission.

Athletes pay for their special admission by providing a service, and their success indirectly makes my degree more valuable. I say get them in and keep them eligable.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

why should these kids have preference or be given lesser academic or character standards than the kids who PAY TO GO TO SCHOOL. Because they can run fast, catch or throw a ball???

Uh yeah, thats how it is done at places like TCU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, USC, and most other successful football programs in America. Are the academic reputations of those schools tarnished because a few players are not the best of students? Is it "fair" that you or others possibly come from a wealthy background which allows for attending prep schools, attend SAT prep classes, and use all the other "advantages" that an inner city kid may not have had? Maybe you didn't but many SMU students come from a life of advantages. Life isn't "fair". Plenty of students get into SMU because of certain advantages and some of the athletes are getting into SMU and other schools because of the "advantages" they possess. Get over it and look in your own mirror!

[Samurai Stang]

It is essentially affirmative action....and I do not agree with that, either.

So, to be clear your problems with SMU are:
1. The football team is the means by which the university is artificially diversified, and you oppose ethnic diversity
2. Your are not athletic and neither is your daughter. As such, you oppose their being any benefits that you do not qualify for, such as Affirmative Action.

If you are this strongly opposed to athletics, and are more concerned with academic pursuits, as you clearly are, then you should stop following sports. Your post should instead call upon SMU to abandon athletics completely. If they meet NCAA requirements, then SMU is not "lowering" its academic standing more than any other school.

You are oblivious to the reality of the situation, and are exactly what is wrong with SMU fans. The Pye years must have been the greatest of your life.

[Mestengo]

ブロークンの指、足、と膝と背中を切り裂か、最後にはるかに長い時間、あなたの学校..の支払いを取り出したローンより単なる思い付きなんだけど。/なんてちょっと考えてみたんだけど。

body damage is never a good deal

[Pony_Fan]

Isn't this the daily campus guy?

[Alaric]

It is essentially affirmative action....and I do not agree with that, either.

You've got it exactly backwards. Affirmative action would be placing additional academic restrictions on an athlete, not judging an athlete by athletic merits.

[SMU2007]

Yea and why should those guys get to go to the NFL and make millions of dollars?? Just because they can run fast, catch or throw a ball? They should really take me and pay me millions. i PAID to go to school at SMU and was just about the same as every other person on campus. People should recognize my contributions to the status quo!

[Pony ^]

This stuff stinks in terms of PR to the football community but lets face it guys....why should these kids have preference or be given lesser academic or character standards than the kids who PAY TO GO TO SCHOOL. Because they can run fast, catch or throw a ball??? No way. I worked hard to get into SMU and just becaue I was not some athlete who garnered collegiate athletics attention I would not feel good about knowing the 'stud' sitting next to me gets paid to go to college (between scholarship, stipend, free meals, travel experiences, etc). It is not fair. There are plenty of kids doing it right and maybe some of the responsibility here lays with the coaching staff knowing what is expected during the admissions cycle and they relay the importance to these kids before offering. It is a gamble. Be ready to lose some and ready to win some. One of mine in college now and I hate knowing how hard she worked to get in and maintain. I love SMU and I love watching them hold their ground and doing it the right way.

It's clear that you are probably liberal