Isn't it the players responsibility to attend class and obtain the needed credits to graduate? The only obligation the colleges have is giving them an opportunity to obtain a college education. Plus it's generally paid for.
earussellof AZ4:04AM June 15, 2011
"While college basketball players graduate at a higher rate than nonathletes..." that has to be arguably the biggest load of garbage... i would love to see how this one is calculated. In fact, the graduation rates and team GPA with all the majors listed without any names attached should be public information. i would love to see how much financial aid is given on average for each team this should be compared to the average financial aid given to honor students attending the same college... come on NCAA show us the stats. college is for education and not to provide a minor league for the NBA and NFL. every athlete should maintain a GPA of no less than 2.5 before he/she comes to a practice, tryout, or game. otherwise they shouldn't be allowed to play. furthermore the same scholarship GPA requirements should hold for athletes as they do for honor students receiving financial aid. let's raise the bar just a little.
brutally frankof MD12:08AM April 26, 2011
The pressure should be on the Public School system and how well it prepares students to enter the college culture of academics.
V. Bergerof FL7:48PM March 18, 2011
If a 40% standard is required, schools will tend to stop recruiting black players. Let's drop the hypocrisy and base all admissions on academic potential (not necessarily achievment). The NBA would be free to recruit younger athletes out of high school and college sports could return to the level of competition that marks the service academies or the Ivy League
Leon Ciferniof NJ5:13PM April 06, 2010
Stop providing courses for student atheletes. Students/parents need to understnad that they are there for an education. Sure, qulify for a scolorship but this should be a contract. Break it and you need to pay back the tuition.
D. Neuof NJ2:21PM March 29, 2010
If the NCAA had any backbone, it would ban academically indifferent universities such as Kentucky from postseason play, and America's universities would be forced to cease exploiting athletically gifted young men and women while ignoring their minds. Godspeed for Arne Duncan and his bully pulpit on this issue.
richard phillipsof IL9:01AM March 27, 2010
How about some responsibly from the students and parents ? Before a scholarship is offered the student has to have had a good grade point,and able to handle college work! The NAACP would be all far it if we lower the requirements !!
jerrbarnof LA10:16AM March 26, 2010
The real concern is that in this electronic age, we cannot get data other than from 8-10 years ago. While the graduation rates probably remained unchanged over the time period, it is easy to deflect criticism when the data is almost 10 YEARS old (past administration, we have refocused our efforts, etc).
Let's see how many seniors graduated in their intedned year as well as how many came back and graduated within 2 years, etc.
The only way to encourage African-American basketball players (or any other sport)to get serious about graduating, is to have them pay back any scholarship if they don't keep up their grades and/or prevent the college from participating in any playoffs if the team doesn't maintain a suitable graduation rate.
Colleges have to quit taking advantage of any athlete for the sake of sports income and not demand graduation grades and team graduation rates.
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earussell of AZ 4:04AM June 15, 2011
brutally frank of MD 12:08AM April 26, 2011
V. Berger of FL 7:48PM March 18, 2011
Leon Ciferni of NJ 5:13PM April 06, 2010
D. Neu of NJ 2:21PM March 29, 2010
richard phillips of IL 9:01AM March 27, 2010
jerrbarn of LA 10:16AM March 26, 2010
Brian of NV 6:15PM March 22, 2010
Paul of AK 1:26AM March 22, 2010
David Arkwright of MT 8:40PM March 21, 2010