ponyscott wrote:From: Michael Sent: ‎1/‎27/‎2014 7:49 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Keith Frazier Brett Shipp's article and interview left out important facts in its attempt to gain readers at the expense of an 18 year old kid and a coach dedicated to getting kids a chance at a first class education.
First, Keith Frazier was not eligible when he received his alleged grade change. He was first required to attend Summer school, which he completed. Next, he was required to retake the SAT in order to obtain a passing score per NCAA rules. Keith passed. The SAT is not administered by DISD.
Second, eligibility for participation in NCAA sports is controlled by the NCAA clearinghouse. SMU does not control that process. Only after the NCAA clears the athlete can he actually receive a scholarship. A "Letter of Intent" is not binding until the athlete is cleared by the NCAA. Keith Frazier was cleared by the NCAA after he completed Summer school and obtained an acceptable SAT score.
Third, for athletes with only marginal grades under NCAA standards, SMU requires them to go through a special faculty and administrative admissions process to ensure the athlete has the ability, with help by tutors and advisors, to ultimately graduate. This process is not controlled by coaches, though they can advocate for a prospective student/athlete. Keith Frazier went through that process.
Fourth, checking on the academic progress of high school recruits is 100% normal and is done at every school. In the case of Keith Frazier, SMU had backup plans involving other outstanding players if Keith proved to be ineligible. SMU kept up with his academic progress because if they ever concluded he was not going to be cleared by the NCAA, they would need to switch to other options before they were gone.
WFAA violated the ideal to to tell the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth. By leaving out key facts, they did an incredible disservice to Keith Frazier. With strong academic support, Keith will have a chance to get his degree and support his son. The reason Keith went to SMU was to be close to his young son as he grew up. Keith is a good kid who has matured a lot and is passing his classes at SMU. Brett Shipp's article portraying him as an ignorant, dishonest jock is insulting, dishonest in its incomplete telling, and in my opinion borderline racist.
Michael W. Shore
Can someone explain the significance of this letter to Hal Jay? I am familiar with Mr. Jay but I am not familiar with Mr. Shore. Thanks.
SMU grad, Dallas attorney and I believe a part of original Circle of Champians. Need Rivals subscription to keep up with Mr. Shore although he does post on this site from time to time.
Yes, and Shitt_ admitted that he didn't have anything on Ulric having anything to do with the grade changing. Hal pointed out to Shitt_ that there was nothing out of the ordinary for a coach to call high schools to check on grades.
So a local media outlet that could literally walk to SMU to ask someone in the SID office or a member of the staff to comment on this decides it is worthy of flying someone down to Houston to carpet bomb a HOF coach after a hard fought road victory? Seriously?!
I really believe there may be some blow back toward Shipp if the characterization of the Hal Jay interview is correct. Larry Brown has a lot of friends
"With a quarter of a tank of gas, we can get everything we need right here in DFW." -SMU Head Coach Chad Morris
When momentum starts rolling downhill in recruiting-WATCH OUT.
ponydawg wrote:Yes, and Shitt_ admitted that he didn't have anything on Ulric having anything to do with the grade changing. Hal pointed out to Shitt_ that there was nothing out of the ordinary for a coach to call high schools to check on grades.
Wow. So I assume Hal interviewed Shipp during the broadcast? And Shipp said he didn't have anything on Ulric regarding the alleged grade-changing? If so, that really raises some serious issues as to the tenor of his questions towards Larry Brown yesterday evening, as well as his published "report" on the subject. Can you confirm that this is what was stated on the radio show?
ponydawg wrote:Yes, and Shitt_ admitted that he didn't have anything on Ulric having anything to do with the grade changing. Hal pointed out to Shitt_ that there was nothing out of the ordinary for a coach to call high schools to check on grades.
Wow. So I assume Hal interviewed Shipp during the broadcast? And Shipp said he didn't have anything on Ulric regarding the alleged grade-changing? If so, that really raises some serious issues as to the tenor of his questions towards Larry Brown yesterday evening, as well as his published "report" on the subject. Can you confirm that this is what was stated on the radio show?
I did not hear it, shorestang posted this on another site
"Brett Shipp was interviewed by Hal Jay on WBAP this morning. I heard it on the way to the airport. He admitted he has no proof that Ulric had anything to do with the grade change or even knew a grade had been changed. He kept saying it looked suspicious that the grade was changed the same day Ulric called to inquire about Keith's grades. Hal Jay made the point that calling to check on a recruit's eligibility was not itself unusual."
ponydawg wrote:Yes, and Shitt_ admitted that he didn't have anything on Ulric having anything to do with the grade changing. Hal pointed out to Shitt_ that there was nothing out of the ordinary for a coach to call high schools to check on grades.
This is the only thing I could find from SMU's side:
When contacted by the SportsDayDFW.com, SMU offered this statement: "We have been made aware of an internal DISD investigation and we have to reserve comment until a copy is released to us."
