Posted on 12/16/2005 10:42:57 PM PST by TCats
Cedric Griffin talks to Austin police amid investigation of Longhorn athletes. AUSTIN, Texas - Texas standout cornerback Cedric Griffin has talked with police, a lawyer advising the player said Friday night, amid reports authorities are investigating an alleged assault and a robbery they believe might have been committed by Longhorns athletes.
Police would not identify the suspects, say how many are being investigated or if they are members of the second-ranked Longhorns football team, which is scheduled to play top-ranked Southern California in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4 for the national title.
The Houston Chronicle and News 8 Austin cited unidentified sources that allege four players — a group that includes Griffin and two other starters — are the target of the probe.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
That could have something to do with many of the problems that are found in Colege Sports today - These players are just so much grist for the mill of big time college sports, period.
I think the number of athletic "scholarships" that a program is allowed should be decreased as the graduation rate decreases.
What every you do, don't fall into the graduation rates trap.
My son just emailed me and said that Texas is losing three players from this team -- they have quit and transferring elsewhere. What's going on in Austin?
Armed robbery? That just doesn't seem likely to me. It doesn't seem the Texas Athletic Department is taking this very seriously and it does not seem as if anyone has been charged. Explain to me how someone who is going to be making some serious NFL money next summer would be stupid enough to risk it by robbing someone? I want more details than what's provided here.
True, not all college players are choir boys but this doesn't ring true from everything I've heard about the kid.
Griffin's not transfering. He's a senior.
Longhorns' Tatum, Houston, Wilkerson to transfer
(from ESPN.com)
AUSTIN -- Three Texas players, freshman running backs Michael Houston and Jerrell Wilkerson and sophomore defensive back Bobby Tatum, have left the team and will transfer, the school announced Friday.
All three were reserve players. Tatum played in eight games and recorded four tackles this season. Houston played in two games, rushing for 27 yards and three carries. Wilkerson redshirted this season.
The announcement did not say where the players would transfer.
Thanks. This actually not uncommon. A player goes to a big name school thinking he's going to be a star only to see others excel more or get homesick for mama or have trouble keeping their grades up. So they transfer.
Take Mr. Houston for example. Probably a fine kid but he's behind two star freshmen tailbacks on the depth chart. His chances of getting a chance to play much are minimal. Better to transfer to TCU or Sam Houston St. or Texas A&M-Kingsville and become a bigger fish on a smaller stage. You can't get many scouts to notice you when you spend the entire game on the bench.
Those rates are similar to non-athletes.
"Do away with the scholarships and go back to real amateuer athletics."
Split the NCAA into two leagues. One for 'amateur athletes' and another for the rest.
Quite frankly, I don't have a problem with establishing football as a 'major'. Or basketball. Or baseball.
I've seen some statistics that indicate college athletes graduate at a higher rate than other students.
Don't expect Mack Brown to suspend these starters before the Rose Bowl. He wants his boys from the 'hood to be on the field. I respect Mike Leach of Texas Tech for suspending two receivers last week for breaking team rules...and that's not even a felony.
The NCAA is taking steps in that direction. One problem is that it may cause coaches to have to game the system and make decisions that are not in anyone's best interest just keep all their scholarships. Examples abound. Under currently proposed rules, programs would be penalized if a player in good standing transfers to another school. Similarly, penalties would be imposed if a player leaves school as an underclassman for the NFL draft, a pretty good career move I think. Drafted players would count against the program even if they returned to complete degrees.
In addition, coaches may be reluctant to dismiss players who are disciplinary problems as they would take not only their scholarship, but scholarships of future players. Finally, there are many borderline student athletes for whom this scholarship is their chance to succeed in life. Some don't make it, but some do and flourish. It would be a shame to deny them that chance, but these rules would cause a coach to do so to protect his program.
The intent of the proposed rule is good, but I believe it (like so many other regulations) would have so many harmful unintended consequences that on balance, it would be a bad idea. Remember, campaign finance reform sounded like a good idea too.
The only real solution is for the college or university to hold the coaches accountable for performance in this area. If a college wants to be known for a 25% graduation rate, let other coaches use that fact against them in recruiting. I think the proposal reflects cowardace on the part of the college presidents, who need to NCAA to manage this for them since they are unwilling to hold coaches accountable themselves.
Just curious... someone mentioned schools like ND and NW as having graduation rates in excess of 90% for their ballplayers. Does anyone know their rate of graduation for the student body at large (within a five year window)? That seems a relevant point of comparison rather than other colleges. I would guess that at most state schools, the graduation rate for student athletes is as high as for most incoming freshmen, but I don't have the data to back that up.
bump
At some schools, students get the worst seats, if they even can get tickets - the good seats are reserved for businesses and donor.
Yeah, that and the literacy rate.
The NCAA already has. It's called Division I-AA. That is where the Ivy League & other schools play.
Fine, let NCAA run division 1-AA. Even strengthen the rules that make it truely an amateur sports league. Let the Universities that want to run semi-pro sports league run that and get the NCAA out of it.
Quite frankly, I think the NCAA is too sanctimonious for it's own good.
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