Wake up call for student athletes:Post your student's sports story here

Parents Forum
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<p>Second hand story: a friend has a daughter who was outstanding in girl's softball in HS. Her parents don't have a lot of money and she wants to be a teacher, so everyone was interested in her avoiding a lot of debt for college. She actively pursued and was actively recruited for an athletic scholarship at a number of schools. But at one of the powerhouses of softball (I don't follow the sport so I have no idea which one it might have been) they had a conversation with the coach that was sobering. He told them that if she went there she would be his for the next six years. </p>

<p>She now has a full scholarship at a Div. I school that probably won't win a championship, but she will be able to finish in four years, get a good education and a teacher's certificate that will let her get on with the rest of her plans in life. After all, it isn't as though there are lucrative professional opportunities in that sport that she will be missing out on. She still is up at 5:00 every morning for practices and work outs, but her goals are very realistic (in my opinion).</p>

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<p>My D is running D3 cross-country (and is planning to run distance track) so we are paying full-ride. Even though it's "only" D3, she is working really hard. The school has been tapped to win the conference championships for both the men's and women's xc squads. Unlike hs coaches she has had, the college coach and trainers take injuries very seriously. </p>

<p>D is also one of those athletes that gets better grades with less free time i-season than with more downtime between seasons. </p>

<p>She is obviously not planning to make a career out of her sport. For my D, running is an outlet that will serve as a stress-reliever, a head-clearer etc. for the rest of her life.</p>

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<p>Wow, I don't know how I missed this topic originally, so better late than never.</p>

<p>I'm a DI athlete (track and field) and I absolutely love it. Sure, the practices are time consuming and hurt like hell, but the fact that I get to travel all over the country, develop friendships with people I would have never met otherwise, and get connections in the industry (especially considering I'm going into [sports] broadcasting) is something I wouldn't trade for the world. It is simply the best experience I could ever hope for.</p>

<p>UNFORTUNATELY, thanks to Title IX (and I suppose Hurricane Katrina, but that isn't as big a factor as the school is making it out to be; but it is a nice scapegoat) the track team is more than likely cut this year. Though, they said the same thing last year and we still ended up competing, so who knows?
If the team does come back, I'm probably taking a medical redshirt anyhow (staph infection on my leg. . .probably not too beneficial for someone who spends all their time in a long/triple jump pit) but the fact that I was given this opportunity to do something that I love at the highest level in an excellent conference puts me in awe when I really think about it - I am getting paid to do something I love doing.</p>

<p>As far as no time, it's all about how good one is with prioritizing. I personally am taking the minimum amount of classes right now (I came in with a ton of AP credit, though) so I can focus on some of my other tasks - such as being the VP of the Comm. Majors Society (which is just as time consuming as track, blah), actually working (because I'm a poor college student), and trying to bring my GPA up (because, hey, that's important, too). All the while maintaining an active social life (I'm in New Orleans. . .how could I not?).</p>

<p>I guess I can sum it up real quick by restating what patient already said - it's a dream come true.</p>

<p>EDIT: I don't want to start up a DI v. DIII debate, but I honestly don't know why people go to DIII schools. Any DIII athlete could find a DI school of the same caliber if they look hard enough. As a huge fan of the sport itself, I was able to watch just about the fastest time in the country that was run this past year. I got to race Xavier Carter in the 100 at LSU (the second fastest man EVER in the 200m at 19.63), I got to jump against - and now am great friends with - Fabrice LaPierre from Texas A&M (26'7"), I've had an Olympic
gold medalist as my coach, I partied with Churandy Martina at UTEP the night after watching him run the 2nd fastest 100m time EVER under any conditions (9.76; tied the world record, but altitude+wind nullified it as a WR). I'm not saying there's not great athletes at the DIII level, but I've experienced things at the school I'm at that I would never be able to had I gone to a DIII school. Just the networking alone is a reason for a student to choose a DI over a DIII anyday, couple in the friendships you'll make and the camaraderie you have with other athletes and it's (and I'll repeat myself again) the best experience in the world.</p>

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<p>I think the short answer to Eliptica's edit is that there are many different student-athletes in the world! For some of them, my son included, the drive to be the best and compete with the best in a specific athletic endeavour is at least as important as the academics. For others, they like their sport but they don't want it to take over their life. Luckily, as D1 can be so consuming, we have D3.</p>

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<p>This thread reminds me of one of the "hindsight" observations that I have made about life.........Most people materially underestimate the quality and intensity of the competition at the next level, regardless of whether the arena is sports, adademics, career. </p>

<p>I do agree that bright division 1 candidates should look hard at alternatives before they sign. When my roommate was visiting one Big Ten powerhouse team recruiting him, he was asked what he thought he would study, and replied Electrical Engineering. The reaction was unanimous that he "couldn't do that". "You'll have to go to school in the summer." The point is that if you are NMSF-level candlepower, you are an outlier in the D1 programs, and while you may be able to take economics instead of communications or kinesiology, often your coach and teammates will be less than supportive. </p>

<p>As regards tennis.......I think the "money" sports are always going to have an surprisingly high level of competition. If you are dedicated enough, you can earn more than 99.999 % of the people. This is not true of crew, track(in the US), wrestling, volleyball, etc. It has an impact on the game the magnifies the general step-up in competition. Same in basketball, football, baseball.</p>

<p>Of course, there IS a development curve in college. Freshman are not as developed as seniors, and if there is enough inate talent there in combination with enough dirve and enough time to be stolen away from other things, one's future accomplishments can turn out to be much larger than one might guess at the end of a freshman season. I would encourage BHG's son to not underestimate himself. I am personally aware of situations where rising sophomores estimated that they had no chance to defeat "so and so" next year, and when the reality came to pass, they actually were 100% mistaken and had improved enough to dominate the player they feared. You just need someone to believe in you, and also must believe in yourself a bit. (Don't be intimidated by the incoming recruits behind you. You'll be able to run some of them off as they get discouraged, and some of them will run themselves off by partying and missing class. The others will help you raise your game :) )</p>

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<p>There are many anecdotes about recruits at various colleges for various sports being told by the coach that they won't be able to pursue a specific major <em>and</em> play on the team. Some kids drop the sport. Some kids drop the major. Some go to more supportive colleges and pursue both the sport and the major.</p>

<p>One note: The Cornell lacrosse starting goalie, a current senior and team captain for the 2006-7 season, has a 4.0. In physics.</p>

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<p>cnp55:</p>

<p>DD found out what you said to be VERY true about certain majors and D1 athletics. Could not even apply to certain programs and be an athlete, would not be accepted, and the major had to be changed if she was to be admitted as an athlete. It was made very clear before she even applied to certain schools, via the director of the particular academic program/school/college vs. being told by the coach.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

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<p>For all the parents with daughters in sports- thank Title IX. My wife had to run on the boys winter track team in HS (1973) because girls only ran in spring. When she beat most of the boys in the 60 their moms complained. Those complaints and Title IX lead to girls winter track. She ended up scholar athlete at her college.
By the way I wrestled and my brother is a wrestling coach - do not blame title IX for wrestling going away in college. I love the sport but football ended most non revenue mens sports not Title IX. It is great legislation and women have made the most of it.</p>

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<p>At most of the major D-1 schools there is no sports program without football.</p>

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<p>Look at the majors and GPAs of football players at schools like Stanford & Notre Dame. You'll be impressed. Not all Div1 premiere jocks are lunkheads, and not all top sports programs have convinced the university to compromise academic integrity so as to remain competitive.</p>

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<p>


</p>

<p>The only problem I have with Title IX is the fact that it's been taking away some of the best track programs in the country. Southern Methodist University, one of the all-time powerhouses in the sport (I think they were top 10 finishers every year at the NCAA championship for 20-something straight years, including three national titles), lost their program in 2005 (in turn, losing Mickael Hanany to UTEP, who then went on to lead the NCAA in high jump (7'7.25"), triple jump (53'10.5"), and fourth in long jump (25'9.75") in 2006.) Rice was cut this year, after Pablo Solares ran the 2nd fastest 1500m time in the country last year (3:40.4x), Vanderbilt was cut a few years back, Tulane (my school) was cut in 2002 after winning the conference championship and having one of the all-time best javelin throwers in NCAA *HISTORY<a href="Nathan%20Junius,%20240'1%22">/i</a>. It was brought back in 2004, then cut again for 2007. Utah, Marshall, and UVA (indoor track) are other successful programs that have become casualties in recent years.
I cannot argue with anyone that Title IX is a good thing.</p>

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<p>Barrons-I do not have the info. readily available but I remember reading that while football generates hugh revenue it generates even larger costs. Most schools operate at a loss. I will grant there are exceptions ND, Penn State etc. I also believe that when a large revenue sport generates excess revenue to costs that sport- football/bball gets most of that back in additional perks. I am not anti revenue sports, in fact I would exempt football from Title IX but I do not buy the anti Title IX sentiment. Women have utilized the opportunities presented by Title IX exceptionally well, making it in my opinion one of the best pieces of fed. leg. ever.</p>

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<p>Title IX requires colleges to make choices- they pick football. Like I said exempt football- especially for schools that prove football generates profits to pay for other sports opportunities.</p>

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<p>S is a wrestler at a D-III service academy. Wrestling was a tremendous outlet. Plebe year is a bear, but as an athlete he was able to get off campus more than his classmates who weren't athletes and could address his team mates by their first names during practice and on road trips.</p>

<p>Also, he could take a nap in the wrestling room or wrestling locker room between periods which was great because Plebes were not allowed to lay on their beds until after 2200 every day.</p>

<p>His grades remained very high during wrestling season. The discipline of sports helps keep him focused.</p>

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<p>My D is a D3 tennis player at a small LAC and it has been a great experience for her. First, re what Ecliptica said-- in her case, she was interested in leveraging her tennis ability to improve chances of admission to a very good school. For her the level of intensity of the sport was less important than the total school experience.</p>

<p>She has really bonded with her teammates, and, as she's far from home, the 'instant social life' aspect was very beneficial (never homesick at all). Athletes at her school in general stick together; most of her freshman friends were athletes (all sports). This is fine-- except she is also very artistic and musical, and I believe having more friends from those artsier groups would make a more balanced social life for her. It seems to be improving as she ventures out in new areas more this year. </p>

<p>Academically it was hard during the season time wise & travel wise, though the discipline and routine of a busy schedule are definitely very focusing. Tennis is a high-stat sport, too, so the fact that her teammates were high achievers also kept her on track. </p>

<p>She had an academic bobble first semester, but I think that would have happened whether or not she was on a team. It had more to do with the overall adjustment to college. By 2nd semester she was flying.</p>

<p>One important note. There was a bumper recruiting crop last spring who are now freshmen, so she is playing less than last year. This has been a bit disappointing for her. However, since the fit at the school is excellent, I think she'll survive. If it really bothers her, she is always free to step up her efforts and bump up a few places on the team. </p>

<p>I mention this because if any of your kids get recruited by a team that is in a "building" phase, they should expect that it will keep right on building-- and that the arrival of more and better players may impact their status on the team a year or two later.</p>

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<p>I have a daughter who goes to a D-III school and plays soccer. She is a sophomore and, like SBMom's daughter, started at the beginning of a building program for the sport. She played more last year as a freshmen, but does realize the new recruits this year are much better players and have earned their spot. At first she was a little upset, but she has adjusted and likes being on a winning team. </p>

<p>She immediately bonded with her team last year and stayed in touch with several of them over the summer. </p>

<p>She was an all-star in high school but never figured she was good enough to play at the college level. When we went to an open house at the school she ended up attending, I encouraged her to put her name on the list for the soccer team. She didn't want to but then told me to go ahead and put her name down. The coach called her, met with her and they hit it off very well. She worked her butt off the summer before her freshman year and went into preseason in good shape. </p>

<p>This year she didn't work out much over the summer (though I kept telling her she needed to). I think she assumed that since she started every game last year that she would be a shoe-in this year. She has found out the hard way that it doesn't work that way!</p>

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<p>Football profits don't exclusively benefit other sports. While Notre Dame is uniqe in their profitability, it should be noted that they pump practically all their football profits (after paying Charlie Weis) back into the academic side. Ambitious multi-million $$ science bildings and the like. All while recruiting Academic All Americans & maintaining high graduation rates for both minority & non-minority athletes. Their womens programs are outstanding, too. I wish other programs would emulate them. After all, ND started out as a log cabin in the woods & it was football that fueled their growth. Athletes do not have seperate dorms, and this is another way to integrate athletics & academics on a college campus.</p>

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<p>My D is a DIII athlete and loving it. DIII proved to be the perfect situation for her b/c the type of schools she was interested in are D3. I have been surprised at how much time/work is involved. She plays a winter sport but already they are doing weights/agility/track/games (only one day a week off) and officially begin in a month. The freshman have study hall a few times a week and also participate in community service projects. The girls have been just amazing and although D can hardly walk some days, she is loving it. Time will tell when the season is in full swing b/c they have to travel a fair amount and am not sure how that will work with academics but the team has a high GPA and so my guess is, like many long time athletes, these kids learn early to balance social/athletic and academic. I give all collegiate athletes a lot of credit for all they take on.</p>

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<p>Ecliptica,</p>

<p>It seems like your argument against Title IX is simply because you prefer that men's sports be funded in preference to women's. Where is the logic or equity in that? Yes, it is unfortunate when men's sports have to be cut. But it is equally unfortunate were women's sports to be cut -- and even worse when the latter were hardly available at all at some schools prior to passage of the law.</p>

<p>With any set pool of money, choices have to be made. I don't see why the federal government, funded by taxes paid by both men and women, is wrong to predicate its aid to colleges upon the latter's evenhanded treatment of the sexes.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Look at the majors and GPAs of football players at schools like Stanford & Notre Dame. You'll be impressed. Not all Div1 premiere jocks are lunkheads, and not all top sports programs have convinced the university to compromise academic integrity so as to remain competitive.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>As an illustration, this is a nice little story: <a href="http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2006/sepoct/farm/news/motorcycle.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2006/sepoct/farm/news/motorcycle.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>