ajcsportstalk

By AUGTUHOUCSULBUSD

October 4, 2006 04:00 PM | Link to this

Anyone with any sense would attend a better school. So, it is discovered that anyone dumb enough to show up for admission is not too bright generally. Big surprise.

By Glenn

October 4, 2006 04:21 PM | Link to this

Let’s see…Ga Tech drops a 4-Star commit due to academics and UGA takes athletes that would be considered non-qualified students. If they do not win at all sports after this comment, Michael Adams, the Athletic Director, and all of the Head Coaches, need to be fired.

By Nikki

October 4, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this

Earth to AJC. This is not news. A lot of schools admit athletes who meet minimum requirements. The athletes still have to maintain the same grades as everyone else once they attend classes at the school. Anything else would be a violation of NCAA policy.

By gdawginkalamazoo

October 4, 2006 04:38 PM | Link to this

Nikki, great post, short, to the point and covered the entire argument regarding non-qualifiers. Other than the classless competition coming on here and trying to blast UGA this should be the last post.

By Glenn

October 4, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this

gdawginkalamazoo, Nikki’s post didn’t answer the question posted (“Is Adams trying to have it both ways?”) so it never addressed the point in any form or fashion. Maybe you need to read the entire blog before you make dumb comments.

Nikki, I would agree that many schools admit normally non-qualifiers. The real questions is, just because others do it, does that mean UGA has to as well?

There are many other schools which choose to have athletic programs that do not take non-qualifiers. And many of these University programs play competitive athletics. Why can’t a major program, like UGA, try to do so as well?

By richard

October 4, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this

Colleges are minor leagues for the pro-football teams. Get a life

By Glenn

October 4, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this

richard, if your statement is true, then, pray tell, what professional football team do YOU play for?

There are many more college players who don’t play pro sports than do, and that is precisely why they are referred to as STUDENT ATHLETES.

Rather than telling you to get a life, I think it is more appropriate to tell you to get an education.

By SicEm76

October 4, 2006 05:07 PM | Link to this

We already have such a bad reputation from the Kemp scandal and Tony Cole that I think we should raise our standards for athletes. I do not want for our Dawgs to be the dumbest teams on the field.

By Jerry

October 4, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this

Allowing non qualifing athletes to enter takes scholarship opportunities away from real student atheletes who have worked on both academics and sports and deserve the opportunity.

By DogDay

October 4, 2006 05:20 PM | Link to this

Its unfair to the academically qualfied students attending UGA to allow students / athletes to attend who do not meet admission requirements. Adams has never taken responsibility for forcing Harrick onto the University nor will he take responsibility for any negatives that arise from the athletic programs. Either UGA wants to be a football school or a bastion of academic achievement. It can’t be both ways until you have strong leaders on and off the field. Who wants to be affiliated with a athletic conference that isn’t tied to academic achievement? Further no student from outside Georgia should fill a spot at UGA as along as there are kids from Georgia who meet the academic requiremnts. Thats a very special problem for many parents and students that are left out but pay the tax dollars that support this State University. UGA needs a President that’s not afraid to standup for what is right both athletically and academically and doesn’t put competing in the SEC before upholding academic standards for all students.

By D'One

October 4, 2006 05:20 PM | Link to this

Question for Nikki. If the UGA athletes maintain the same grades as the other students why don’t they graduate?

By Glenn

October 4, 2006 05:31 PM | Link to this

It is refreshing to see most bloggers agreeing on a topic..I would point out that the issue is not isolated with UGA…This should be addressed at all Universities. My feeling is that if these kids know that won’t have to compete in the classroom, they won’t do it. If they are held to a higher standard, they can live up to it.

By SDW

October 4, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this

The dilemma Adams faces is no different from a host of presidents at some institutions around the nation. The fact of the matter is that UGA is defined by it’s athletic programs and they are proud of that fact. When one thinks UGA, academic prowess is not at the forefront…UGA (the mascot), the hedges, football, etc. immediately come to mind. One can’t deny that athletics (football in particular) isn’t a brand of UGA and honestly, it would take generations to change that image. That is not to say that UGA doesn’t have quality academics but one can’t deny the stronghold that athletics has on the brand name of UGA…to an extent, UGA has to continue feeding into it, which leads to Adams’ statement because he knows what he’s dealing with…but that still doesn’t excuse the low numbers.

D’One…Nikki can’t answer that because they don’t maintain the same grades as the others. With the exception of maybe a select few who understand the importance of an education and that the odds of becoming a working professional (doctor, lawyer, business person, etc.) are much better than becoming a professional athlete, student-athletes are pushed through the system so that they can remain eligible. Sad but true. Now that I really think about it, I don’t think Adams/UGA is straddling the fence. I’d argue that they are intent on having competitive programs at all costs….check out his verbage. Yeah, they may deny an athlete or two every now and then but he puts it plainly, “we still have to compete in the SEC”.

By Glenn

October 4, 2006 05:49 PM | Link to this

SDW, I can assure you that my wife, who earned her Masters at UGA, and father, who earned his Bachelors Degree at UGA, do not define the University by its athletic program, and I would feel comfortable saying that I am sure there are tens of thousands of other Alums who would feel the same as my family.

UGA is, first and foremost, chartered by the State of Georgia as an educational institution, and all of the extracurricular activities, such as athletics, will always take a backseat to its academics.

Perhaps if a majority of those who actually attended the University would speak up, rather than a majority of the fans who have never attended a class at UGA, then there will be changes to the athletic programs.

By phipps

October 4, 2006 05:59 PM | Link to this

Adams IS RESPONSIBLE. He has been there long enough not to say” we are making progress but it takes time”. He has had enough time! It will never get any better as long as he accepts athletes who are not academically qualified for college work. I feel sorry for all those good students of Georgia who are denied a college education because of some unqualified STUDENT-ATHELETE that the coaches have the power to give free grammer school classes to.!!!!

By Doyle Hargraves

October 4, 2006 06:01 PM | Link to this

I work with a bunch of mainstream, non-athlete graduates who have become “professionals”. What a bunch of whiney, bratty, spoiled brats most of them are. The majority think they should start at the top and don’t feel the need to earn anything. Most of them are devoid of any talent or common sense. I suspect most of them cheated their way through college. Bring on the non-qualifiers.

By phipps

October 4, 2006 06:10 PM | Link to this

Glenn. Well spoken! I might add that drug use and entry requirements should be governed by the NCAA for all student atheletes nation wide, no exceptions. FIRST DRUG OFFENCE, one year dismissal from school. SECOND OFFENCE, Walking papers!!! Within 5 years we have a level playing field for all colleges and a true chance for graduation rates to equal the average student!!!

By shivas

October 4, 2006 06:12 PM | Link to this

It doesn’t surprise me since anyone who attends this second rate institution should be considered “special.” Continue with this policy since success in football is all you can hope. The Wreckoning in coming!

By not a dog fan

October 4, 2006 06:19 PM | Link to this

always thought UGA was special…now we know.

By SDW

October 4, 2006 06:49 PM | Link to this

Glenn, I think that UGA is a great institution BUT they are not known for their academics relative to athletics. Their athletic programs do overshadow the coursework and there is no denying it. Granted, they have instituted programs (e.g., Franklin Residential College), which allow some to get a feel for a more close knit and academically focused experience while matriculating at a large public research university and granted, it was not founded to be a jock campus. Yet, the fact remains that athletics tend to overshadow its academics in many respects.

Again, I think UGA is a great institution but regardless of what I think or anyone else does, the numbers speak for themselves. As it stands, UGA (we’ll use UGA because it’s the school in question) is in a position to make a change and be an innovater. It can do any of the following:

(a) continue to accept athletes who don’t make the grade but provide the proper support to ensure their success in the classroom. Whatever million dollar facility (paid by taxpayers) they have as of now is not working. These individuals will hit the real world one day and if not treated as others in college, will be in for a rude awakening and therefore, not know how to adjust afterwards (Maurice Clarett from OSU is the PERFECT example)

(b) raise their admissions standards for athletes. Yes, the athletic programs may suffer a bit but a lot of respect would be garnered if this initiative were taken.

(c) keep their current track so they can be competitive in the SEC

It’s easy to figure that I propose the 2nd. Yeah, there will be an initial uproar from some (who are myopic) but I’m sure that it will die down. Furthermore, the alums would hold their chests out just as proudly of this action just as much if not more than if they were to win a national championship. For the record, I am a “fan” of UGA…but in the educational realm. As a matter of fact, I did apply there for grad school but decided against it because there was a better educational fit for me elsewhere. Even still, I take nothing away from anyone who decided to attend there. In my opinion, UGA is the “flagship institution” of the state and an educational pillar of the Southeastern US. This would be a great time to turn a negative into a positive since the spotlight is on them.

By Glenn

October 4, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this

SDW, I went to GA Tech but recognize, like many highly regarded national publications, UGA has a stellar academic reputation in many areas. Granted no University will excel in every College, including GA Tech, but the goal of every institution should be to strive for high academic standards.

At the end of the day, a scientist will discover the cure for cancer and a football player will score a touchdown. Wouldn’t it be great if that scientist was one in the same as the football player?

By EEJAY

October 4, 2006 07:44 PM | Link to this

I feel all Freshmen should be inelligable for sports. Let them have their scholarship but prove themselves and make the tough transition to college. It should be noted as well that two thirds of Hope scholarship recipients loose the money because they do not qualify after their freshman year. If we are serious about the “student athlete” let’s make changes.

By Borodawg

October 4, 2006 07:45 PM | Link to this

As has already been said, the UNIVERSITY of Georgia is, first, an academic institution. Athletes should not get preferential treatment. On the other hand, as long as UGA or any other school abides by the rules, then so be it. This all goes back to the NCAA and the college presidents. They preach ‘student athlete’ and ‘can’t have Div 1A playoffs’, etc; and then add a twelth game to the schedules. They’ve given in to TV and advertising money. They’re duplicitous and the root cause of schools going overboard to attain athletic superiority at the cost of academics. I believe, for the most part, the coaches we now have at UGA prefer recruits to be academically qualified before they sign them.

By wmmmci

October 4, 2006 08:02 PM | Link to this

wHAT A SURPRISE! i THOUGHHT THEY HAD BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES!

By I hate Tennessee

October 4, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this

Let the dumb asses in! We gotta win some football games!

By drdawg

October 4, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this

If Adams wants to compete in the SEC, he needs to restore the parking situation that existed on campus long before he arrived. And on the glorious day he leaves UGA, we will return to our tailgating tradition.

This jerk thinks football is only in the stadium. He has no concept of football tradition. The boy needs to go to work for a NY corporation and get the hell out of Georgia.

By drdawg

October 4, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this

All this could be fixed tomorrow if the NCAA school presidents would collectively raise the standards. Until they do, we will have a two tiered system of higher education. You have to read and write, or you have to be able to do something great with some kind of BALL.

By Let'em Play

October 4, 2006 09:16 PM | Link to this

Most people go to college to improve their chances of making money. For those that actually go for the experience only, they wouldn’t attend a major university but a small liberal arts school anyway. I say all of this because athletes attend schools that place them in a better position to get paid (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL). Their objective is the same as 90+ percent of all college students, TO GET PAID. Therefore, if an athlete can barely get into the school, whoopie damn do. As long as he maintains his academic standings, so be it. And for those that would argue that a successful football program can be had with extremely high academic standards, look at Duke. At the same time, what sort of local economic impact does Duke’s football team have on its surrounding area - - I would venture to say, “NONE”. As for a UGA, Auburn, UF, Bama, etc… the economic impact on these college towns is extreme.

By Nate

October 4, 2006 09:20 PM | Link to this

To answer the question:

Yes, University of Georgia President Michael Adams is caught in the struggle between generating millions of dollars from athletic programs and maintaining UGA as an academic institution. Unfortunately, it would appear that academics has taken a backseat to UGA’s collasal athletics programs.

It is impossible to satisfy both disciplines completely without one suffering - too bad President Adams has choosen to give athletics more weight than academics.

By Nate

October 4, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this

RE: Let’em Play,

Duke is not a succesfull football program and never will be. In fact, they are 0-4 this year.

The reason Duke’s athletics programs, as a whole (they are excellent in specific sports), are not succesfull, is because Duke University places an emphasis on academics rather than athletics.

You cannot have an excellent academic program and an excellent athletic program because you are dividing valuable resources. The lesson here is UGA needs to allocate more of their resources towards education, and less resources towards athletics, if they ever want to be viewed as a acadmically challenging university - not the other way around.

By ugalaw

October 4, 2006 09:48 PM | Link to this

As a double graduate of UGA, I can honestly say I don’t care about our graduation rates on the football team. I want to win, period.

The graduation rates for the football team don’t affect the value of my degree. No law firms are looking at the football graduation rates and saying, “Hmmm…, I’m not so sure about hiring people from UGA anymore.”

By Let'em Play

October 4, 2006 09:58 PM | Link to this

I like the post ugalaw - - I’m with you all the way.

By Jeff

October 4, 2006 10:07 PM | Link to this

Mike Adams has been and continues to be the root of almost all UGA problems….and this is a shining example. Until we rid ourselves of Mike Adams…..story after sad story will be written about UGA. Thanks Mr. Leebern (“Fists of Fury”)!

By Nate

October 4, 2006 10:11 PM | Link to this

RE: Ugalaw,

I understand your reasoning and somewhat agree with your point. However, your logic is ill-advised.

As I am sure you are aware, athletes are students as well. Therefore, athletes are factored into the overall student body graduation rate. If a substantial number of athletes are not graduating, UGA graduation rates are negatively affected. However, if athletes are graduating, that only helps UGA’s graduation rate.

In conclusion, student/athlete graduation rates (such as football players) do affect the value of your degree, and should be a concern of anyone associated with the University of Georgia.

By ugalaw

October 4, 2006 10:29 PM | Link to this

About 5,000 students enroll at UGA every fall. About 25 of those are football recruits. So they comprise about half a percent of the freshman student body. So if every single one fails to graduate, that still only lowers the overall graduation rate by .5%. I just don’t think that affects me and my degrees.

By Steve

October 4, 2006 11:34 PM | Link to this

Is anyone surprised that the school of Wally Butts continues to put athletics befere academics and ethics? Come on guys!

Adams says “We still have to compete it the SEC”, well, that pretty much sums it up. The mission of the Athens Jr. High School is to compete in the SEC, not to educate.

This pretty much appeals to and matches the outlook of their fans, I sould think. Like the Repulican fiasco, we got a whole lot of screwed of priotities in the good old USA, I would say.

Nuf said!

By trouble.in.athens.again

October 4, 2006 11:39 PM | Link to this

ugalaw:

But the other 39.5% of the athletes are not graduating either. That is straight from Adams statistics on his UGA web page. Plus add that in with the non-athletic students who fail out for not studying and making a decent attempt in class. I have always heard that UGA had a great law program and am assuming you graduated from that very same program. Good for you. The sad part is, UGA is becoming a joke of an institution. I want it to thrive, but every time you read the newspaper, the headlines concerning UGA are about the sports programs (which incidently, are not winning any National Championships in the major sports) or about how UGA is one of the top rated party schools according to Playboy magazine or another deceased student due to drugs/alcohol. When was the last headline written by any state newspaper that boasted about something good from UGA (non sports related)? Tech gets headline press about its new nanotechnology research facility that will be the largest in the country. Univ of South Carolina is boasting about its multi billion dollar medical facility that will train some of the finest doctors in the south. UGA has a headline about how the school is trying to combat underage drinking.

For those other bloggers who keep saying you could care less about the graduation rates, you only want to win, who actually wins in the long run? You should be ashamed of your pathetic post. You want the school to let these guys/girls in so you can boast about how you team barely won on the football/basketball/baseball field so you can chatter among your friends at the water cooler? Wait, most of you would be lucky to have a job that was indoors. 90% of those athletes will not go on to a pro athletic career. You could care less what happens to them after college as long as they busted their butts to get a win. Incidently, they get the win. Not you or the school. They do. Odds are it wasn’t you playing a sport in college because you were too lame as an athlete in high school, if you even played anything. So quit living your life through the school you never attended or either didn’t play sports at and get a life of your own. The rest of us have.

By Mark

October 5, 2006 12:26 AM | Link to this

Wow, the posts in this blog are only marginally better then those specifically involving issues of the football team. Most of those people are barely lucid! Trouble in Athens again should be forced to take the remedial writing course offered in Carter Strickland’s sports blog. You could improve your written communication skills greatly by studying some of the masterpieces produced by those noble contributors, most of which I’m sure don’t have the good fortune, such as yourself, of having an “indoor job”. Your post is a mess - think before you write.

A small handful of weak student athletes admitted each year most certainly does not diminish the degree earned by the vast majority of serious students. The value of my degree seems to have held up well over the years.

By phipps

October 5, 2006 04:54 AM | Link to this

ugalaw. Bet your double degree would feel differently had you been one of the many turned away each year by U. of Ga because classrooms are full. Then your double degree from Ga. Southern might have affected your income. Would that have made you feel any differently? Just ask a few(like me) how they feel….let’emplay, you did not attend college so this situation really does not apply to you……

By phipps

October 5, 2006 05:01 AM | Link to this

The comment by Adams is idiotic. Georgia at the bottom of the SEC and GA. Tech almost there in the ACC. I see why Ga. fans hate Florida. Georgia does not have enough sense to respect them. Even Tennessee for crying out loud. Maybe if Tech had a jock strap degree they could raise their graduation rate. Lets just continue to keep some good students out to make room for student-drug-crime-athletes!!!!!!!

By Elaine

October 5, 2006 05:47 AM | Link to this

Thank you, Phipps.

I kept reading, and reading just waiting for someone to state the obvious—if this is Adams’ strategy for bringing home titles, it’s not working—last I heard, in basketball last season, we were 15-15, only 5-11 in conference…

I say “we” because I am a UGA grad and this to me is shameful. It’s not news to me, but it’s still shameful. Admitting non-qualified students for athletics is little more than modern-day slavery: choosing people according to their physical ability and then using them for financial gain. A policy such as this has little concern for these young men’s (or women’s) education, well-being or long-term success; it only focuses on “what can you do for me, now.”

While, on the surface, the efforts to improve this situation may seem laudable (the new academic center for athletes), the whole concept is a farce. In this day and time, at UGA and elsewhere, the idea of the “Student Athlete” is a myth. These young people are carelessly run through a mill to entertain/anesthetize masses who are quite possibly unaware or unthinking into generating loads of money for what? Watching boys chase their balls? I so agree with so many of the posts above that UGA can/should take the lead and raise our standard. If not for the institution’s sake, for the athletes’ sake—as individuals.

Very few come through the mill of high-stakes Division I college athletics and are better for it…especially these under-qualified athletes. Inflated egos, drug use, crime, elicit sexual scandal, you name it. This is what we’re introducing to these so-called “student athletes”—not Homer or Pythagoras—and when their time is up, we spit them back out into the world to deal with it on their own, without a college degree. Spending millions on a tutoring center is a waste and insulting to the true students at the institution who are figuring it out on their own, paying their own tuition and buying their own computers and all the while buying football tickets, too…and still somehow managing to graduate.

At one time a loyal bulldog fan, this whole situation gave me a bad taste in my mouth several years ago, and I haven’t really followed college athletics since. It’s not entertaining to me anymore…watching abuse. I have to add that I’ve seen/read several interviews with Richt and it seems as though he does have a compassion for his players as humans, as individuals, and wants the best for them now and in their futures, but he’s just a cog in very large wheel. I also have to admit I don’t know much about the new AD. His quotes in this article give the impression that he would very much like to shift this paradigm. I hope that’s true.

By Scott

October 5, 2006 06:08 AM | Link to this

It should be academics and learning above all else. One of the problems is that all this stuff starts at the lower levels (middle and high schools) because so much emphasis is placed on winning and getting scholarships. If a coach has a bad season everyone wants their job. Remember those TV commercials — “NCAA jocks … most of us will be going pro in something other than sports” well not if you don’t get academically you won’t and UGA and all educational institutes are cheating those athletics who don’t get it so they can just play sports. And we wonder why we are last in math and science scores in the world. Wake up folks! College is for learning, not being farms from professional teams.

By Samuel

October 5, 2006 06:28 AM | Link to this

There simply is NO excuse for these graduation rates. The basketball program at UGA is abysmal anyway….so why not recruit some smary guys. Look at the ACC, harder schools and higher rates. Maybe slip in an academic evaluation along with whether any of the receivers have hands on the end of their arms during recruitment. Once again, Adams leadership has led us down the path of embarassment for the University. Time to clean out that DAWG house.

By Mike

October 5, 2006 06:55 AM | Link to this

How does it feel dawg fans to have the most stupid athletes in the SEC? I guess this explains why your offense is so bad. Can they read? Yes, even Tennessee’s players are smarter than your’s.

By MC

October 5, 2006 07:26 AM | Link to this

What happened to the part of going to College to get some learning? This Adams guy at UGA needs to be hung out to dry—and quick. Is football all that important? Not. And if it is then, some heads need to roll at UGA. To me it is a big let down. OK you can run. Hell, Chipmunks can run. I think the UGA big money people better look at this and hard. What is next if they do not get a grip on this situation. If you cannot compete with smart players, then that is the way it should be. This circus sports stuff needs to go away and quick—Or, just wait till Tech beats Richt a couple of years in a row and then the smell will start knocking some of those high rollers down to earth—all the way to the unemployment line. I’m done.

By UGA '89 BS Stats

October 5, 2006 07:35 AM | Link to this

I’m a UGA grad, very proud of my years spent in Athens and extremely proud of my degree in Statistics. That being said, I am not an avid fan of UGA athletics, never have been. The sentiments of Michael Adams here in this article reveal what I nad many others have known all along, there are way too many athletes being admitted to UGA that have no business being in a college classroom. It was very obvious back in the mid-to-late ‘80’s and apparently nothing has changed over the past 20 years.

By jamie

October 5, 2006 07:45 AM | Link to this

I have heard several times around athens that everyone is supposed to wear black to the game on sat against UT. SEE Ya there. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!

By 4AGoodProgram

October 5, 2006 07:47 AM | Link to this

It’s unfortunate that such an institution had difficulty graduating more student athletes during that era. Changes were implemented back in 2004 and now the school’s average GPA is 3.76, with an average SAT score of 1232. Since this article is about UGA, this is an opportunity for people to scrutinize this institution for what occurred ten years ago. Keep in mind that many schools in the ACC, SEC, and other conferences have had issues with student athlete graduation in the past as well as present.

By cw

October 5, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this

This is disgusting. UGA confirms that it is a football school first and an academic institution second. It confirms that it abrogates its responsibilities as a school of higher learning in favor of a football team of higher rankings. Apparently UGA ignores that Boston College, Notre Dame, and other schools can compete without sacrificing their integrity, honor and duty to the scholar athletes they recruit. Notre Dame has 22 ahlethic teams, 17 had graduation rates of 100% and of the other 5 teams, all exceeded 90%. All students, including scholar athletes must take calculus. UGA lacks leadership with courage. It is an institution without integrity and honor — it is an institution of shame.

By jerry

October 5, 2006 08:16 AM | Link to this

If Adams or Evans fires a good football coach because the horse won’t drink when it is led to water and the football program goes to pot, their jobs will then be on the line. And all of you Einsteins’- get off the Dawg’s a*.

By EEJAY

October 5, 2006 08:28 AM | Link to this

Adams cites the 7 MILLION DOLLAR Rankin Smith Academic Achievement Center as dedicated to helping student athletes graduate. Here’s a bigger question: How’s that investment paying off for UGA donors. Tell you what, I’ll only charge you 6 Million dollars and guarantee that I can hold 12 basketball players hands all the way through college and graduation. On second thought I’ll do it for 5.5 million dollars just because I like you.

By AltamahaDawg

October 5, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this

drdawg I agree. Now which of these buildings should we tear down, and which 10,000 seats in the stadium do we remove. I just can’t decide. Oh and firing that damn coach would surely bring back the good ol’ days. This is what you have to Bitc6 about in your life, 450 parking spots that I’m betting you never got to early enough to use anyway and couldnt even name where they were. Adams could leave tommorrow and I bet you the farm, the board of regents arent going to reverse parking regulations, which are still some of the most leniant in the conference.

By ekim

October 5, 2006 08:32 AM | Link to this

This is sad. I agree, if Notre Dame, Boston College and yes…Georgia Tech can do it, then why not the University of Georgia. The flagship university of this state should make everyone proud both on and off the field. Leadership is missing the point.

By slickshea

October 5, 2006 08:33 AM | Link to this

This is news? This happens at every major college in the country - even Notre Dame and Duke (but admittedly to a lesser extent). Do you really think some of Tech’s athletes are “helluva engineer’s” and would have been admitted had their applications been submitted with everyone else’s? Every school does this.

By Andre the Midget

October 5, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this

This story is Exhibit No. 1,578,398,924 of how “major college” athletics remain one of the most hypocritical parts of American society.

To wit: on one hand, people say, “We want our players to graduate, and we want them to stay out of the police report.”

However, if the players graduate, and stay out of the police report, but the football team goes 6-5, the coach gets fired.

I wish Adams, “Saint Mark” Richt, et. al., would have the guts to come clean and admit, “We don’t give a darn about graduation rates, and we don’t give a hoot about recruiting model citizens. Just show us the (bowl) money!”

Obviously, UGA isn’t the only culprit. This attitude reigns supreme throughout much of the country.

But, please, don’t pee on our backs and tell it’s raining.

P.S. It’s a crying shame that most boosters - i.e., the people who could demand changes in the way these schools run their athletic programs - are a bunch of narcissistic adolescents who insist on living vicariously through their gridiron heroes and who base their own personal happiness on the record of the football team. Pathetic!

By cw

October 5, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

Dear slickshea: that everyone does it is an old and empty argument put forward by those unwilling to assume responsibility and lead. Please provide the data to support your assertion. The available data show that UGA is failing to meet its obligations. For the sake of argument, if we accept your false assertion that everyone does it, then explain why the graduation rates of other institutions are higher than UGAs. No matter the rationale, and excuses, there is only one conclusion: UGA fails as an institution of higher learning.

By Carlton Powell

October 5, 2006 08:46 AM | Link to this

We all must not live in a fools paridise. Athletes are recruited to play sports, NOT to be students. The ESPN “Outside the Lines” program on student/athelets had many former athletes from many universities—including everybody’s college poster child,Duke Univ.—say they always felt they we recruited to play their particular sport, and not so much to go to school.

Sadly, college athletes operate outside the mainstream of college life for the most part. That is THEIR loss. The students I see attending UGA presently are, for the most part, very dedicated to their studies. The credentials of the current freshman class demonstrate an excellent trend in capability of students.

College athletes ARE NOT representative of the student body as a whole. Yes, one can “trot out” a few athletes that DO achieve academically, but for the most part athletes are in school to play their sport and little else.

One final point. My son attended, and graduated from The University of Virginia. He told me that several times he had members of the UVA football team is his study tutorial, and that they participated, and had a lot to offer. Academics and athletics CAN co-exist and be mutually beneficial. Such mutual benefit should be the goal of UGA and ALL academic institutions.

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 08:46 AM | Link to this

slickshea, the difference is that the Institutions you referred to, including GA Tech, would never have their Administration say they were willing to settle. While I agree many Universities “stretch” on occasion on athletes, why, out of all of them that supposedly do, does UGA wind up at the bottom? Does UGA stretch more than the others? Does UGA have inferior support for the student athletes? Does UGA just not care?

cw hit the nail on the head…Other Universities are competitive and still graduate their athletes. UGA AND GA Tech need to do a better job. As a taxpayer, whose dollars are used to help fund these Institutions, I expect more.

By secfan_atl

October 5, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

You bunch of whiner-babies. You KNOW that if your graduation rate was anywhere near “acceptable” you would be pointing fingers at lesser performing schools. I can’t believe the Bulldog Nation tolerates such sub-standard academics. ANY fan of UGA should be SCREAMING for improvements instead of making excuses for such a miserable graduation rate. And how you guys put up with this Adams dude is beyond me. What a poser!

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 08:57 AM | Link to this

Carlton Powell;

Everyone seems to be pounding Duke on how poorly their football team is doing. I have a couple of questions to pose:

1) How was Steve Spurrier able to make Duke football competitive?

2) Are basketball players smarter than football players? Duke’s basketball program is almost always in the Top 10, yet their players attend the same University as their football players.

I suggest that Duke’s football program can be competitive on the football field if it hired better coaches (see my comment on Spurrier above) and/or recruited better (see my reference to basketball players above)…

Notre Dame and Boston College were great examples of programs that get it. Now, if we can get the Alums to stand up and stop rewarding the bad behavior we are all talking about, maybe something can change.

By slickshea

October 5, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this

cw:

You and I are arguing 2 different points but I’ll attempt to address your concerns. The responsibility of graduating is on the individual, not the institution. UGA and other institutions provides its student athletes with many tools to be successful in the classroom ie. tutors, study halls - tools that are not available to regular students. Had you or myself dropped out of school whose fault is that? The institution or the individual? Plus graduation rates can be misleading. Look at the article today on the suspended UGA player who has decided to change schools. He will be considered as someone who was admitted but did not graduate. It is quite evident that his situation is not academic at all but more personal.

Back to my original point. Admissions. UGA admits athletes that meet NCAA standards. Recently, UGA has even turned away some athletes who had borderline or suspicious grades. These prospects went on to sign with other SEC schools. I wish I had time to provide you links as proof, but if you feel the urge you can search the AJC archives.

By UGA97

October 5, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this

In order to create the resources necessary for a high-level education…you need money. Money doesn’t come from quiz bowls. It comes from athletics. More specifically, it comes from football. 93,000 people along with a national television audeince creates parking decks, new classrooms, new computers, etc. You can be Duke if you want to be. Or you can be UGA and have the best of both worlds. Educated graduates with a winning football program. And a treasure chest of money to fund whatever educational endeavor you wish.

By Carlton Powell

October 5, 2006 09:18 AM | Link to this

Glenn: Perhaps I did not make myself clear. I DO think athletics and academics can co-exist. That SHOULD be the goal. Look at U. Michigan, Notre Dame, BC. As graduates of UGA we should accept nothing less. UGA has all the resources it needs to be a world class institution. It’s all about getting down to the business of becoming one.

Otherwise, your points are well taken.

By slickshea

October 5, 2006 09:19 AM | Link to this

Glenn:

I never said I agreed with this practice. I specifically do not. I’m just shocked that this story is considered news. We all know (I thought) that this goes on and has been for decades. Why the big salacious news story on it now? Why no mention of other state institutions that also do this - and there are others - Yall do know that don’t you? Don’t you?

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

slickshea and Carlton Powell…My points were like yours…There are programs that successfully balance academics and athletics and I believe our State’s Institutions should strive for that balance as well.

My issue is that when the main Administrator make asinine statements like Mr. Adams has done, he needs to be held to his own standard. It is one thing to bring in suspect student athletes, it is another to fail so miserably on so many of them. If UGA was winning National Championships in all of UGA’s sports teams, and graduated 60% of his athletes across the board, I’d say he was meeting his agenda…

UGA isn’t coming close. And I would agree with many of the other bloggers…the problem is not exclusive to UGA. I attended GA Tech and am embarrassed by its scholastic performance as well. I am a four year Letterman in football and went on to earn my Law Degree. When I attended, I can promise you there was an emphasis on getting an education. In fact, I had many a conversation with Coach Bobby Dodd after he became Athletic Director and I can promise it was a priority to him and any coaches he hired…

By cw

October 5, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this

Dear slickshea, You provide anecdotes and then generalize, that is not data. The data show that UGA fails. Again, if “everyone does it”, why is UGA failing? I agree that each student should be responsible for his/her own academic performance, but it is also well understood that major factors in academic performance include ability (apparently UGA is not so concerned about that), opportunities (which UGA I am sure can provide), and expectations (which apprently are lacking). Istitutional commitment is important and UGA’s seems to be biased in favor of ensuring team performance rather than academic performance.

By slickshea

October 5, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this

Glenn:

From what I’ve read Coach Dodd was a man of high integrity and you were lucky to have him shepherd you into manhood. I hope this is the case with Coach Richt, and I hope the graduation numbers start to reflect this in the years to come. I personally will always regret that Mr. Adams brought in the sleaze ball basketball coach and his son.

By GW

October 5, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this

Who wants to see another Duke football program? Before anybody says it, it only takes 5 in basketball.

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 10:19 AM | Link to this

slickshea;

Bobby Dodd was a true Southern Gentleman, as was Paul “Bear Bryant,” and as is Vince Dooley. These fine men knew that there was more to the college experience than just athletics. Somewhere along the way, sports has taken a more important role, probably as revenues became such a large factor.

The new old Golden Rule is probably being applied…He who has the gold makes the rules. In this case, with football generating so much money these days, some programs have lost sight that these are still people who have their whole life ahead of them and can use more instruction than how to block and tackle.

As we all know, most of student athletes will nave make a living playing professional sports, and that is precisely why the educational component of going to College is so important.

One of the earlier posts was quite important and should be restated. When Universities stretch on good athletes who are poor students, there are qualified players who could have made it scholastically at the University. They would have been on the team for four, or five years, building continuity for the program and earning an education they can use. These athletes appreciate the entire collegiate experience.

The players the major programs pass on will still have an opportunity to play and go to college, however it is typically at a program that has less strenuous academics or will be a Junior College where they can learn academic skills that will help them succeed at the University. My question is why set our young people up to fail by taking them at a program they can never succeed in? Give everyone a chance to make it.

By slickshea

October 5, 2006 10:30 AM | Link to this

cw:

Look, I’m trying hard not to turn this into a UGA v. Tech thing, but I do find it curious that the AJC apparently didn’t seek any comment from Tech’s president. Tech’s graduation rates in the ACC were 11th out of 12 for football and 10th out of 12 for basketball (as reported by the AJC a week or 2 ago). Are they not failing their athletes? Now,as a fan of UGA (alum of Mercer University)I admittedly find the graduation numbers troubling. Furthermore, I find Mr. Adam’s comments regarding the rates alarming. If I have to provide you with statistics to prove to you that this is not an issue endemic to UGA then there is no use in us continuing our discussion as it is obviously a problem at both major institutions in this state (and institutions across the country - oops, sorry, generalizing again).

Now, I’ll restate my opinion once again and hopefully not confuse anybody. It is not everybody does it - so it’s ok. It is everybody does it and has for decades - so why the news story today that seems to single out UGA.

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this

More more thing to add…Many College Presidents/Administrators think the publicity they receive from televised games helps their general recruiting.

My question to the University Administration is that if the cost of getting on TV with a sporting event is articles showing abysmal graduation rates of the athletes, do you not see that the negative press hurts the University as a whole? This is especially true when your statistics are being compared to other Universities, such as Notre Dame…Don’t you get it?

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

slickshea, this whole firestorm has come up because the President of UGA made some stupid statements. GA Tech’s (and other administrators from other institutions) had the sense to keep their mouths shut.

This serious of comments has nothing to do with anyone else because they didn’t make the statements made by UGA’s Administrator.

Don’t blame the AJC for Adams’ comments, blame him.

By legaleagle

October 5, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this

Either we have been lied to all along or the admission standras were not raised due to Jan Kemp. It is not getting them into school it is what is done after they get to school. There is nothing wrong with giving anyone a chance but UGA is admitting that it fails once the student has been given the chance. It is not non qualifiers but rather the school at fault.

By Iceman

October 5, 2006 11:07 AM | Link to this

Would anyone expect less from UGA? Whatever it takes to keep that “so called” football factory running. Florida has an 80% graduation ratio and has been dominating UGA for the past 15 years. Maybe Florida knows how to combine academic disclipine with athletics, or maybe athletes prefer to have a degree from Florida vs. UGA. Go figure.

GT still has 4 titles, and combined with the academic rigor that GT requires, and I suspect those 4 titles are worth much more than the 1 at UGA.

Maybe a little less barking, and allowing your alumni and students more tickets to the football games, vs. a stadium filled with folks who cannot even meet the entrance requirements would improve your image. Whatever, just keep on barking and hope for the best.

“Rocky Top you’ll always be, home sweet home to me.”

By Jose Quervo, IV

October 5, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

Do we want 4.0 Student athletes or the ability to build a winning football dynasty? Will the alumni, boosters, and fans in the stands want a team that is 13-0 or the bragging rights that their Cornerback is a Rhodes Scholar? You could spot Paul Oliver the first 5 letters of his last name (O-L-I-V-E) and it would be 50-50 at best that he’d get the “R”. But I’d want him at CB then a Yale student athlete CB!

Just like the HOPE scholarship (rich people taking advantage of the betting habits of the poor and minorities per Dave Ramsey (Christian Financial counselor), BULLDAWG Nation sweeps another issue under the rug; turns a cheek the other way….Get a grip!

By Guillaime

October 5, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this

“the academic rigor that GT requires” for its real students is truly difficult. However, if you think for a second that the business school started so that atheletes would be able to stay eligible at the joke at coke is not much easier then you are either turning a blind eye or just ignorant. Don’t get me wrong-Harrick, Tubby and Donnan should not be allowed to coach at the DI level but, come down off that high horse and open your eyes to reality.

By toni

October 5, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

If we’re going to continually support the backwards and hypocritical policies of Affirmative action, we might as well get a couple of touchdowns out of it.

By Michael

October 5, 2006 11:44 AM | Link to this

Adams needs to go but he’s right on this one. If we want top recruits then you have to help some of them. For example if we don’t we might loses Caleb King to another SEC school. If goes to ND or USC fine but if he stays in region he needs to come to UGA.

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this

Michael, are you trying to say Caleb King is an athlete UGA is only interested in because he is a football player?

Most other Universities are recruiting him, including GA Tech, because he is a stellar person and is working hard on his academics. His recent change of high schools shows a dedication towards getting an education.

Maybe your post rings truest if you speak for a majority of UGA football fans…Recruit to get a player not a person, and if you can’t have him, don’t play against him. Most institutions look at the process differently and that may be why the graduation rates are better other schools and so poor at UGA.

Maybe more than the University needs to change their perspective on the term “Student Athlete”.

By Brian

October 5, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this

Who cares about graduation rates. Most people don’t contribute money to my school’s athletic program to watch players do quadratic equations. The schools use the kids, BUT the kids use the schools just as much (national exposure, prep for the pros, etc.)Coaches are paid to WIN games not develop young minds. What do you think would happen if Richt won 10 straight national championships, but he graduated 0 players? He would be awarded a lifetime contract. What would happen if he gradutted 100% of his players but won 3 gamer per season.When you tell a coach that you will pay him $1 million plus per year but he must win, what do you expect? It is unfair/illogical to tell a coach under TONS of pressure, you need to be everything to everybody. A coach is hired to win, period. Ask the most influential boosters in each program in American what they want. They want “Ws”. I think we expect too much out of the athletic departments. They are in fact ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS.

These kids have talents that are different than most people. What they may not have in brains, they do have in brawn.

By slydawg

October 5, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this

PEOPLE STOP POSTING THIS IS OLD NEWS!! THE AJC IS JUST HURTING FOR SOMETHING TO REPORT FOR PEOPLE TO READ!! I just really hope someone on the Board of Regents uses there head finally and gets rid of the idiot! I am tired of only sending only 34 cents to the place I was once proud of being an alumus from. BOARD OF REGENTS PLEASE DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE YEARS AGO, GET RID OF THIS BUMBBLING BAFOON!!

By Brian

October 5, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

Glenn,

i wished i lived in the uptopia you live in.

Michael, are you trying to say Caleb King is an athlete UGA is only interested in because he is a football player?

Most other Universities are recruiting him, including GA Tech, because he is a stellar person and is working hard on his academics. His recent change of high schools shows a dedication towards getting an education.

No one cares about his academics. he is the #1 recruit in the nation. his change of high schools shows nothing.

By CJ

October 5, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

Excluding Vanderbilt, UF and UGA, are the best academic institutions (and I admit UF is academically superior to UGA)in the SEC, so they have the greatest disparity between their student body’s GPAs and SATs and their athletes, GPAs and SATs.

Schools like Mississippi State, Auburn and Tennessee have scholastically inferior student bodies compared to UF and UGA. So the disparities between their student bodies and their athletes isn’t is great. This disparity part of UGA’s problem.

If UF #s are legit and the athletes took legitimate majors, they are to be commended.

2)Excluding Duke and Vanderbilt, all of these other schools can see to it that “their athletes graduate”. (See Auburn’s sociology major.) So I’m not sure that these graduation rates carry legitimate meaning anyway.

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this

Brian;

I hope Caleb and his family are reading your comment: “No one cares about his academics. he is the #1 recruit in the nation. his change of high schools shows nothing.”

Frankly, your statement shows your own personal idiocy…obviously I care about his academics as I am sure many others are as well. Its not a Utopia I live in but the real world. More people should be caring about academics because the chances of an athlete making a living as a pro is less than 5%.

I hope all student athletes get an education…they need to learn how to take care of themselves in the real world…become productive citizens rather than a drain on society.

By M.J. Elliott

October 5, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

Here is a concept!?!
Look at the racial makeup of those NOT graduating, and look at those that are the stars of a given team, and finally … stop giving them scholarships and start giving them $$$(Bling, Flow, Spinners, etc.) . Let’s drop the FACADE of the so-called “student athlete” and allow those that qualify academically to obtain academic scholarships.

Where is REAl “affirmative action” when it is needed to integrate a football team in the SEC? We always cry about minority coaching in the SEC, but we never hear of the lop-sided scholarships given to minorities on the football and basketball team because they can run faster, but cannot compete in the classroom - ie graduate. Horses..t!

By Fletch

October 5, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

This is a BLACK / WHITE issue, not a graduation rate issue! the #’s don’t lie!

By Fletch

October 5, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

This is a BLACK / WHITE issue, not a graduation rate issue! the #’s don’t lie!

By cj

October 5, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

where are the other college scores? morehouse, clark-atlanta university, west georgia, etc.

uga and tech are not the only colleges around.

By Fletch

October 5, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this

This is a BLACK / WHITE issue, not a graduation rate issue! the #’s don’t lie!

By Fletch

October 5, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

This is a BLACK / WHITE issue, not a graduation rate issue! the #’s don’t lie!

By M.J. Elliott

October 5, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

Here is a concept!?!
Look at the racial makeup of those NOT graduating, and look at those that are the stars of a given team, and finally … stop giving them scholarships and start giving them $$$(Bling, Flow, Spinners, etc.) . Let’s drop the FACADE of the so-called “student athlete” and allow those that qualify academically to obtain academic scholarships.

Where is REAl “affirmative action” when it is needed to integrate a football team in the SEC? We always cry about minority coaching in the SEC, but we never hear of the lop-sided scholarships given to minorities on the football and basketball team because they can run faster, but cannot compete in the classroom - ie graduate. Horses..t!

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

M.J. Elliott and Fletch, I have been waiting for someone to try to bring out the racial card.

It is NOT a Black White Issue!!!

It is a student athlete issue and a lack of Institutional support to the players the Universities have chosen to bring on campus.

If they offer players whom they know will not be able to compete in the classroom, shame on the University. If they feel the kids can compete, then they need to make sure they do, whether that includes tutoring, monitoring what they are doing (instead of letting them skip classes or go partying at night), etc.

Most of the kids going off to college have never lived away from home and get caught up in some of their new-found freedoms, not just the athletes and not just at UGA.

This whole debate came up when the President of UGA opened his mouth and said something crazy when no other administrators from other Universities would have dared. This issue isn’t exclusive to UGA, but the comments were.

By Bill

October 5, 2006 01:33 PM | Link to this

We Vanderbilt graduates are more proud than ever that we would never lower ourselves to such a level.

And we Nashvillians are proud that when Mike Adams ran for Congress here several years ago that we rejected him.

By Glenn Rules

October 5, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

reprinted from the Anti-Orange page:

Well, well, well, pencil necks. The chickens, it would appear, have come home to roost. The NCAA press release concerning GTU’s conviction for cheating its fool head off is fairly breathtaking reading. For an “Institute” that brays about its committment to academics, its integrity, its overall superior standing to other mere colleges in matters of ethics and honesty, this week certainly has been a revelation.

GTU is looking less like MIT on the Connector, and more like the love child of Jerry Tarkanian’s UNLV and anyplace ever coached by Jackie Sherill.

Let’s look at a couple of the highlights, shall we? I do all the work here, so you, loyal readers, can reap the benefits. The link is below, if you want to savor the flavor of the whole thing yourself. INDIANAPOLIS —- The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions has placed the Georgia Institute of Technology on two years probation and vacated records in several sports after the school improperly certified academically ineligible student-athletes to compete.

Ouch, baby. Very ouch. Widespread use of academically ineligible athletes at GTU. This wouldn’t overlap with their brief moments of pigskin glory in the late 90s, would it?

The violations and penalties involve the sports of football, men’s and women’s track and field and women’s swimming between the 1998-99 and 2004-05 academic years.

Hmmmm. Sure seems to overlap. I see “football” and “betweeen 1998-99” and “2004-05” right there. Quelle horreur, nerds. You’ve sucked since 2001. You can’t even CHEAT consistenly and win. No wonder Braine conceded that GTU isnt a 9 or 10 win a year school. He knew what was coming and just admitted the obvious. If you can’t win when you cheat, how can you win if you dont cheat? Maybe you nerds should have hired Bobby Lowder as a consultant.

The case involves 17 student-athletes over a six-year period being certified as making satisfactory progress toward their degrees, even though they didn’t meet the standards contained in NCAA bylaws.

Wow. 17 athletes. Want to bet they werent all swimmers?

All 17 student-athletes – 11 of whom were on the football team — were certified and received signatures from the four campus officials. However, a large number of non-degree-applicable courses were included.

Hmmm. 11 football players? I did NOT see that one coming at ALL. Surely this was just a little paperwork glitch, right? A, you should excuse the expression, TECHnicality, not anything major? I mean, you allllllllllll tell us constantly how upright you are, right?

In one case, 17 of a student-athlete’s 24 hours did not count toward a degree. Another used 12 non-degree-applicable courses in two consecutive years. There were also several examples of nine or 10 non-degree courses being used in a single year.

In addition, six student-athletes were allowed to count courses for which they received grades of D, even though their majors required a C to count toward graduation.

Wow. Yet, UGA is the home of academic fraud because Jim Harrick, Jr. gave 3 basketball players an A in a PE course on basketball that NONE of them needed to remain eligible (and for which he was fired and UGA drastically penalized itself). Who’s the fraud now, pencil necks? But, surely these GTU athletes weren’t stars or anything….were they?

“Many of these student-athletes were prominent members of the team, including multiple-year starters who had received conference and national recognition for their athletic performances,” Marsh said.

The committee pointed out that allowing these student-athletes to compete without holding them to the same academic standards as their opponents gave Georgia Tech a substantial competitive advantage.

Hmmmm. “A substantial competitive advantage.” For “prominent members of the team.” Because they weren’t being held to “the same academic standards as their opponents.” Why…that sounds suspiciously like cheating to me, doesn’t it? All this time, GTU people have sneered at UGA because of GTU’s higher academic standards…and it was just a big fat lie. For shame, nerds.

But surely, once someone over there realized there was a problem, GTU’s ever-so-ethical adminstration and staff cleaned it up and turned themselves in, right? I mean, if it was just a simple bookkeeping error, that’s what an honest school would do, right? Turn itself in, fix the problem, take responsibility? Ummmmm. Not in this case, it seems.

The report also noted that the institution investigated the matter in 2003, but failed to uncover the full scope of the problem. It was only after an investigation by the NCAA enforcement staff that the full details of the case came to light.

Now, it’s true that GTU offered some self-imposed penalties, about all of which were accepted by the NCAA. But, due to the seriousness and the scope of the lying and cheating, the NCAA added a few more to help serve the cause of justice. Here’s the one that caught my eye…

The institution shall vacate the performance of its football team for all contests in which the 11 ineligible student-athletes competed.

Does that mean what I think it means? Is the 3 game anomalous GTU win streak of 98-00 now a 3 game losing streak within the 7 game losing streak before, and the (so far) 4 game losing streak which followed? Is UGA now going for FIFTEEN IN A ROW, BABY?!?!?!?!?!

This will indicate some justice to me if this means GTU has to cough up the tainted win in 99, at least. I’d like to see the looks on all the smug residents of the Urine Colored Nation as they realize, wow…..there really IS such a thing as “universal justice”…

Chew on that one, nerds. I cant wait for the official word on the football forfeits, but F(ifteen)IAR,B is sounding good to me.

Yours for more ethical academic oversight of renegade sports programs like GTU,

81Dog

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

81Dog, you are an idiot…Check your facts before repeating them. I am sure you will try to come up with some witty repartee, but it still won’t address the blog because you, like most UGA football fans, are more interested in spouting off about things that are not relevant in real life, like educating the student athletes you bring on campus.

As a Techie, I will tell you that I, like most Alumni, have been appalled by some of the things that happened at Tech recently and have pressed for immediate change. UGA, on the other hand, has a long history of academic fraud and problems that have yet to be addressed. And do you want to know who suffered? The kids that weren’t admitted to UGA because someone who could never compete academically did.

If you really want to make a difference, stand up to the administration, like many of us did at GA Tech, and demand better. We admit we had problems and are trying to do something about it. What are you doing about it?

By South Ga

October 5, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this

This si the South where football is king and we really don’t care about the GPA or academics involved in football. We care about seeing our team win, whether it be UGA, AU, Florida, etc. and the quicker you transplants learn that the easier your life will be down here.

By Glenn

October 5, 2006 02:34 PM | Link to this

South Ga, I was born and raised in South Georgia and ended up a 4 year Letterman in football and I can tell you that many of us do care about GPA’s and academics, so please don’t speak for the rest of us.

By getupkid4uga

October 5, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

As a adamant supporter of Georgia sports it seriously pains me to have to constantly defend the academic institution at Georgia. I actually attended Florida State for a specialized program but as an out of state student applying for UGA there is the distinct possibility that I might not have gotten in. It’s former students like myself that are most negatively effected by low graduation rates etc.

I am not against giving the kids a chance wither, however. Some of these guys come from extremely impoverished areas and have pretty much had their priorities askew for most of their young adult life. I don’t think it’s terrible to give these kids a chance, but that is where the coaching staff AND academic staff really need to take some accountability.

We should be recruiting good kids, not thugs, of course. But just because we grab a guy who has a 950 SAT score and a 2.5 doesn’t mean that the University is turning their heads and just haphazardly letting them pass through the arches!

This issue needs to be addressed in more areas than our recruiting. UGA’s classrooms, locker rooms, dorm rooms, etc., should all play a part in how much pride you take in your academic career. I guess that’s just not happening right now, and it’s a problem.

By Dawgman02

October 5, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

Some people are gifted students, some people are gifted athletes, and some are both. I think a chance should be given to any and all of the aforementioned. Most of us, including myself, matriculated from UGA so that we can make more money in life, and athletes should be alloted the same opportunity as long as they mantain the NCAA’s standards for them to stay in college. There is no double standard here in my mind. Some were meant to make their living playing a sport, and some were not, and even if a student athlete does not make it into professional sports at least they were given an opportunity to earn a degree because they have athletic talents.

Go Dawgs!!!

By Slydawg

October 5, 2006 04:48 PM | Link to this

STOP STOP STOP PEOPLE STOP POSTING THIS IS NOT NEWS!! IT IS A SLOW NEWS DAY QUIT GIVING IN AND ARGUING ABOUT WHAT STUPID MICHEAL ADAMS SAID!! IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THEN EVERYONE GET TOGETHER AND LET US FINALLY RID OURSELVES OF THIS IDIOT ADAMS ALL TOGETHER!! Again I state “BOARD OF REGENTS PLEASE DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE YEARS AGO, GET RID OF THIS BUMBBLING BAFOON!!”

By JMH

October 5, 2006 04:56 PM | Link to this

Wow - a ton of posts, so I guess this is a popular topic. I think the biggest issue here is…. MONEY (big surprise, huh?). Adams is waffling here because UGA makes a ton of money through its successful athletics program. The more successful the program is, the more money it makes (i.e. the Sugar Bowl pays out a lot more money than the Peach (Chick-fil-a) bowl). To remain competitive, great programs have to go after great athletes. Should they strive to recruit academic all-americans too? Sure, but that doesn’t pay the bills.

By SDW

October 5, 2006 05:40 PM | Link to this

Here are actual numbers for you. These are the OVERALL (6 yr) graduation rates for:

Public Research Universites http://www.collegeresults.org/search2d.aspx?y=2004&grt=3&grf=1&grf1=0&grf2=0&is=1&is1=99999999999999&is2=0&sat=1&sat1=0&sat2=0&sec=1&car=Research%20Very%20High&pel=1&pel1=0&pel2=0&ur=1&ur1=0&ur2=0&so=ALL&pt=1&pt1=0&pt2=0&bs=2&bs1=2&bs2=0&ws=2&ws1=2&ws2=0&ph=2&ph1=2&ph2=0&na=2&na1=2&na2=0&pa=2&pa1=2&pa2=0&ps=2&ps1=2&ps2=0&ie=2&ie1=2&ie2=0&pu=2&pu1=2&pu2=0&fs=2&fs1=2&fs2=0&ob=2&ob1=2&ob2=0

Private AND Public Research Universities

http://www.collegeresults.org/search2d.aspx?y=2004&grt=3&grf=1&grf1=0&grf2=0&is=1&is1=99999999999999&is2=0&sat=1&sat1=0&sat2=0&car=Research%20Very%20High&pel=1&pel1=0&pel2=0&ur=1&ur1=0&ur2=0&so=ALL&pt=1&pt1=0&pt2=0&bs=2&bs1=2&bs2=0&ws=2&ws1=2&ws2=0&ph=2&ph1=2&ph2=0&na=2&na1=2&na2=0&pa=2&pa1=2&pa2=0&ps=2&ps1=2&ps2=0&ie=2&ie1=2&ie2=0&pu=2&pu1=2&pu2=0&fs=2&fs1=2&fs2=0&ob=2&ob1=2&ob2=0

By adawgfan

October 5, 2006 06:17 PM | Link to this

I may be a little slow but everyone is posting 6yr graduation rates. What happened to 4 yrs.? I guess the graduation rate may be inadvertantly linked to eligibility, once the “athlete” is out of eligibility do they still have access to the tutors and “million dollar” facilities to complete their education? Does their scholorship still apply when they are no longer competing or is it go pro or go home? Are players who do go pro after their Jr. year still counted toward graduation rates? Given the choice I’d take Thomas Davis’ contract in exchange for a diploma from any University, wouldn’t you?

By SDW

October 5, 2006 07:40 PM | Link to this

The 6 year was posted because that is the rate in question regarding student-athletes. Furthermore, when you hear institutions speak of their graduation rate, inclusive of their overall, it is a given they are referring to their 6-year (most wouldn’t dare mention their four year…feel free to go back to the site and enter the search results to generate those). All in all, the 6 year is the basis and also the most widely accepted (by institutions and the government) when speaking of graduation rates.

By SDW

October 5, 2006 08:01 PM | Link to this

Oh, and to answer the rest of your questions…

No, the graduation rate is not linked to eligibility. However, the athletes do still have acces to tutors and whatever facilities their school offers. It is up to the university if the athlete can keep their scholarship after their eligibility is up. The university also reserves the right to take their scholarship at anytime prior to their eligibility terminating as scholarships are a privilege and not a right.

Yes, players who go pro at anytime prior to graduation are factored into an institution’s graduation rate. That is one of the main arguments of institutions who send a high number of atheletes to the pros. They argue that it should not be counted against them if the player goes pro and was in good standing (or if he goes pro at all). I think the AJC article may have touched on that, too. The graduation rate also includes individuals who transfer to other schools. This means that if a student-athlete (or any student for that matter) decides to leave a school for whatever reason, they hurt the graduation rate of the institution that they left…even if they finish in a timely fashion at the other institution. That is an argument of institutions as a whole and not specifically of the athletic departments. The problem with that is that the students who do leave would have to be tracked and as it stands, there is no definitive way to accomplish that. Last but not least, I would take Thomas Davis’ contract in exchange for a diploma from any university…yet, I’d still make it my business to finish the degree as that is what was instilled in me (i don’t know if he did or not but that’s his business).

By catlady

October 9, 2006 08:07 PM | Link to this

There should be no special admits. None. They should be encouraged to go to junior college or straight to the pros. As Dion Sanders was quoted as saying, “I don’t need no algebra to count my money in the bank.” We should play the hand we are dealt, and work like crazy in partnership with high schools to strengthen their programs. But no special deals.

By catlady

October 9, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this

Having been involved in studying student affairs (not the sexual ones, but student support activities) at UGA and FSU, I can tell you any student in their sports program should be able to graduate. They have stellar support programs, and those who flunk out must have the sense God gave a turnip! Or they did not belong there to start with.