First, I am a totally out-of-shape 46-year-old 250-pound 5'4" white male. But if I had to run 2 miles in 16 minutes in order to save the price of a college education, I am absolutely certain I could do it in 3 months. Maybe I'll take this on as a challenge, I need to get back in shape.
Second, I don't want the money back either. I acknowledge we don't have all the information, but most football players get a scholarship to play football, and he did it.
I blame the school, and the rediculous push for success in sports. I don't think anybody should be allowed to skip the physicals simply because they play football. If they only allowed players who could meet the physical each year, we wouldn't have this problem. So maybe they wouldn't win as many games, they would be doing the right thing.
He can't go into the military. There is a reason you have to be able to run 8-minute miles -- you have to be able to keep up with your platoon. He was a lineman, and apparently has no ability to run at that speed, or at least no desire to get himself into the shape he needs to be to run at that speed.
And he probably shouldn't get a diploma, IF the diploma requirements include running that speed. You have to do what your diploma requires. Any other student who couldn't run that fast would have been out their freshman year, so I don't think he was harmed -- he got an excellent education for 4 years simply because he was a big fat guy who could block.
That's where we agree. For the money, I could drop my weight enough to make time; and given the career chose 'making time' is a yearly requirement. This is, as we agreed, for the safety of the Squad he is assigned to work with.
Second, I don't want the money back either. I acknowledge we don't have all the information, but most football players get a scholarship to play football, and he did it.
The Scholarship is CONDITIONAL, these terms are spelled out loud and clear; they are conveyed in no uncertain terms. If we make exceptions for this person and eat the education; how many other's will similarily take the education then refuse to 'make time' so they too can get a free education?
Football is a game, I wish colleges would simply declare it a commercial venture and divorce it from the academic field. Would you make this same plead for lenience for the Chess Club? How about the Volleyball team? Bowling?