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<blockquote> <p>I think interestedDad means recruiting within certain academic parameters.</p> </blockquote>
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<p>No. I view athletic recruiting, even at very low academic standards as entirely legitimate -- if it is consistent with the overall strategic direction and the size of the college or university. For example, it doesn't really matter if the football players can even read or write at the University of Miami, because they represent such a small percentage of the student body.</p>
<p>I do think that small, academically-elite liberal arts colleges have a very unique problem because low-band recruiting can very quickly have a significant impact on the campus environment. The problem is almost entirely centered around the size of the high-profile "helmet sports" teams in relation to the size of the male student body. The fact that being competitive in Div III football now requires unprecendented recruiting makes the challenge even greater. Of course, the problem became instantly more difficult when all of the New England LACs became coed, with a smaller male population to support the same number of teams.</p>