Barry Alvarez - Big 10 "serious" about adding 12th team

• sleeper

  

  jordo212000 wrote:

  johngrizzly wrote: Maurice Clarett actually was a strong student. Graduated his HS early to enroll at TOSU. His decision-making skills can be questioned, but not his academic skills. Big Kat wasn't no dummy either. No school in America has more people trying to bring them down like TOSU so I'm sure these guys were legit in terms of meeting TOSU standards. If they didn't have high ACT/SAT scores, we would have known. Recruits at TOSU do not get a break. They have to have the same scores as regular incoming, accepted freshman, as do all Big 10 schools. TOSU can't just go out and get Tyrone Thug because of the very high standards.

  "Suspended Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett is flunking two classes, including a physical education course, according to two letters obtained by the Columbus Dispatch Friday."
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1657021
  Yup sounds like Clarett is a strong student.
  
  "SI has obtained copies of two anonymous letters—both signed "Sincerely, OSU Faculty"—that were sent to Ohio State president William Kirwin last summer and that offer new details about Andy's excellent academic adventure. "The special treatment football player Andy Katzenmoyer has received this summer in order to be academically eligible is ridiculous,"
  
  There is more there too...
  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1016173/index.htm
  
  Yup the Big Kat was a good student too haha

  What about the 1000's of players that get good grades and go on to lead successful lives both on and off the football field? Every program has bad apples or kids who don't give a hoot, but the majority of Ohio States athletes are top notch in academics, and you can take that to the bank.
• jordo212000

  

  sleeper wrote:
  What about the 1000's of players that get good grades and go on to lead successful lives both on and off the football field? Every program has bad apples or kids who don't give a hoot, but the majority of Ohio States athletes are top notch in academics, and you can take that to the bank.

  Did I say ALL college football players get bad grades? Nope.
  
  I just pointed out that despite the Big 10's sterling academic reputation, there are still some dunces on the teams, just like any other school. I used Brandon Graham, Clarett, and the Big Kat as examples.
  
  Another poster got on here said that Clarett was a good student (not true) and he also said the Big Kat was "no dummy." But have been proven as false.
• ptangzoot

  Clarrett was suspended, therefore not part of the team at the time of the article or the infractions (November 2003). He was pretty well into his downward spiral at that point so that article proves nothing on what his academics were when he was admitted and while he was a player on the team.
  
  As far as Kat....yeah...he was a bit of a dunce...but he had people that knew how to use the rules to keep him eligible.
  (I do want to thank you for the Kat. link...it had a link to the SI swimsuit photos...nice wake me up!)
  
  At least he wasn't holding people up at the local 7-11 like they do down here in SEC land....
• johngrizzly

  I said their high school grades were good and they had very high ACT scores. I didn't mention their college grades. Not everyone can handle the academic load TOSU offers, even students with 30+ACT scores struggle at TOSU.
  
  Now I know your going to say Big Kat had to take AIDS Awareness and golf, but I would bet they are not easy, just because they are being taught by TOSU employees. They will make you work and learn.
  
  Not everyone can be TOSU grads. They are a select few.
• osu99

  Getting back to debate on who the 12th could be here.......Mandel tweeted the B10 should ask Nebraska to join. I would like that invitation, good athletic teams pretty much across the board.
• sjmvsfscs08

  johngrizzly wrote: Not everyone can be TOSU grads. They are a select few.

  Largest school in the country, no?
  

  sleeper wrote: the majority of Ohio States athletes are top notch in academics

  Yeah....in Communications. Don't kid yourself. On average, most male FBS athletes aren't "top notch in academics." I'm not saying there aren't many smart kids playing, but the majority aren't great students (there is a difference). When you're a player, your team/coach/program/whatever absolutely controls your life. Athletics are first, academics are second. To the student, partying is definitely more important than studying. So it goes athletics, partying, and academics. The minority that are good students are paraded around, you'd hear about them if they weren't in Communications or something similar. Craig Krenzel is a prime example.
  
  I say this as someone whose sister used to write Omar Jacobs' English papers because he was an absolute idiot. Someone who has had two siblings play D-I sports and watched it control their lives. Someone who has three cousins that have played or are currently playing at Ohio State.
  
  Doesn't mean they aren't fine people, that's not what I'm getting at. But you simply don't have time, on average, to be "top notch" in both academics and athletics....and partying. And let's not kid ourselves, we've all seen the football players at parties. Pryor's party habits are practically legend.