<p>Oh please give me a break. </p>
<p>I have one question for the critics that have posted on this thread so far bashing the thousands of student-athletes and college administrators for the actions of 12 dumb asses at the U. of Tennessee. A real simple question so don’t dodge it please. </p>
<p>Will you be starting a thread every time a few students from the general population get drunk or go to a bar or start a fight? </p>
<p>I’ll look forward to your replies. </p>
<p>I also have a suggestion. Why not bash the dim-wits involved in this incident and not EVERYONE involved in college athletics? Hello? Hello? Earth to McFly? </p>
<p>I won’t defend the knuckleheads involved in this incident but last I checked there is plenty of stupid behavior going on with college aged kids. </p>
<p>I agree with some ColgateDad’s post. I absolutely love the Patriot League, The Ivy League, The Pioneer League, etc. who clearly focus on academics equally or moreso than athletics and do not do anything to admit idiots if they can’t cut it as real students in college. </p>
<p>I also totally agree that coaches salaries are completely ridiculous as is the entire notion of being an amatuer athlete. So, yes, let’s be honest, some people are admitted to colleges only to win games not because they are acceptable academically. But the student-athletes in question here did meet the NCAA minimum qualifications which have been vastly improved since prop 48 went into affect many, many years ago. Before Prop 48 it truly was the wild west when it came to athlete admissions. </p>
<p>The point is colleges, even ones that play big time D1 sports, actually admit student-athletes that 95% of the time get something done academically (graduating at nearly the same rate as the general student population) and they do that while playing sports which isn’t easy. Some of them actually are able to function in The Real World after their sports playing days are over because most do not make the NBA or NFL. </p>
<p>Most of the football jocks at Tenn are legit students. Believe it or not.</p>