Michigan Athletics is a Fraud: Part 4

By
Andrew
on March 23, 2008 7:01 AM | | Comments (248) | TrackBacks (0)
Readers know I'm not a total fan of big-money collegiate athletics. That's not entirely true. I bleed Cardinal Red (the shade of "Red" associated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison) and love and support student-athletes everywhere. What I despise are the coaches, administrators, and officials who turn them into a money making machine and steer those kids who may be first-generation college students, towards easy classes and "bird" majors to keep them eligible to play football and basketball, which rake in huge sums of money, while promising a future of leaving early to turn pro with no safety net, and no compensation for the millions the Universities receive from marketing the students' images, likeness, and televising their efforts on games 

This is especially prevalent in Football, where huge rosters and simple number-crunching mean precious few of these kids will play professionally, yet are asked to train like pros, give up classes and majors they care about, and steered towards loosely regarded "directed study" classes where they can do nothing but keep their minimum GPA and credit requirements. I directed much vitriol this week towards Michigan (generally considered an Academic bastion) and their "General Studies" degree where a vast majority of recipients are athletes. The Ann Arbor News deserves great credit for exposing this fraud which has been perpetuated in plain sight before us while UM is held up as an example of "a tough school with great student-athletes." 

In day 4 of their 4 day series, the News tackles the system of academic advisors and the level of control they maintain on pushing athletes into keeping kids eligible with little regard for their academic goals post-college.



This building is the Ross Academic Center, which is where athletes can come to receive access to tutors, advisors, and get a quiet place to study and work in between practice sessions. This is and of itself is actually a good thing. My alma mater, Wisconsin, has a similar building located under the Football indoor practice field, and the academic advising staff was always both realistic and professional. I found that they were quite supportive of athletes (even in Football and Basketball) taking tough classes and worked with Professors to make sure that these student-athletes could get their work done and still perform in their chosen sport. I have nothing but fond memories of my academic adviser, Chris Butler, who was instrumental in helping me find a course of study that I not only enjoyed (History and History of Science) but has continued to affect my career path as I prepare to attend law school and influence my current and future employment, as well as the writing you read here today. Through Ms. Butler, I worked with some fantastic and absolutely brilliant faculty, and I have nothing but great things to say about Wisconsin and their program.

But back to Michigan, which as a Badger I always enjoy taking a dig at. In this case, it's well deserved. To quote the Ann Arbor News:

When the University of Michigan dedicated its new academic center for athletes in 2006, the building's namesake reinforced expectations for the university's athletes.

"I am very pleased to help provide a top-notch learning environment in a new facility where these student-athletes and others can study and receive academic support," said Stephen Ross, a New York real estate developer and Michigan graduate. "The 'leaders and best' not only refers to the athletes on the sports field, but also to the students in the classroom."

But three former employees of the athletic department's Academic Success Program, now housed in the Stephen M. Ross Academic Center, said that academics often take a back seat to sports.

To achieve that goal, Academic Success Program employees appear to have found an unofficial path through the university, one that isn't written on any Web site or manual, but is evident in statistics, transcripts, interviews with athletes, faculty and in a 2007 audit conducted by the university.

That path has included:

? Encouraging athletes to pursue a bachelor in general studies degree, on the grounds that other majors are too inflexible and will interfere with sports.

? Telling athletes which classes to take, which has resulted in clusters of athletes taking many of the same psychology, Ojibwe - a Native American language - classical civilization and education courses. Many of these choices are "non-traditional" or non-classroom courses, such as independent study, directed readings, practicums or mentoring.

? Recommending athletes take the minimum number of credits required to stay eligible for sports, a practice that runs contrary to the Academic Success Program's stated principles.

? Using athletes' passwords and log-ins to enroll in classes or make changes in schedules, a violation of university policy.


Let's compare to my alma mater (by the way, the Badgers Basketball team has now reached the Sweet Sixteen, baby!) where I saw athletes in various sports enrolled in pre-law, pre-med, education (one of the toughest non-science schools to get into), engineering, and all kinds of programs, including kinesiology, which at Wisconsin is considered a path to Medical School. 

My former team at Wisconsin included several medical school graduates and current med students, at least one who spent a year at Oxford as a graduate student and one who received a Masters' degree there while rowing in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, and many who were regularly all Big Ten student-athletes based on their GPA. This wasn't just my sport. I saw football players, basketball players, hockey players, swimmers, and those of all sports sitting in the Fetzer center (the Wisconsin equivalent of the "Ross Center") studying, using tutors and burying themselves in books. 

I never saw a advisor use a students' password to change a class. I was never encouraged to take the minimum number of credits. In fact, when I did (because I had the luxury of many AP credits to cushion me) I was repeatedly asked if I knew if I was on track to graduate in four years (which I was) and that I had to certify that I had a "graduation plan." If I hadn't, I would have not been eligible entering my third year. 

Now, what would have happened had I been at another Big Ten school? Joe Paterno, the legendary coach at Penn State, is known for his coaching acumen as well as his graduation rate, which looms above the national average, embarrassing his peers in all respects, especially since JoePa, as he is known, is not only a football coach, but a tenured professor at PSU. To JoePa, athletics is only a part of an academic experience, and he'll be damned before he sees a player put the court-work before the coursework. For all his faults, Bob Knight (formerly Indiana, and of Texas Tech) was the same way. People used to get on JoePa and Knight for having losing teams, but you know what? Their players graduated. 


As part of a seven-month investigation into athletics and academics at Michigan, The News spoke with Academic Success Program co-director Shari Acho about these issues, as well as the program's mission, challenges and policies.

Acho said Academic Success Program staff do not direct students to majors or classes.

"No, not at all," said Acho, the program's co-director since 2002. "Each individual student will sit down and decide what their interests are and what works for them, and follow the right channels to do that."

Athletic director Bill Martin, who declined to be interviewed, told a university publication in spring 2005 that he wants academics to be the department's foremost focus.

In speaking with 87 current and former athletes, athletic staff, administrators and faculty on academics and athletics at Michigan, The News encountered cynicism about whether that goal can be met.

"Michigan, or any big-time program, they try to say that, and I think they do believe it," said Steve King, a former Michigan football player who later worked in the Academic Success Program. "But at the same time, too, as long as it doesn't interfere with the ultimate objective, which is to win football games, or to win in their sport."

Daniel Horton, who played basketball at Michigan from 2002 to 2006, was more blunt, laughing at the suggestion that academics came ahead of sports.

"There are consequences immediately if you don't show up for practice," Horton said. "The next day, you have to run or aren't going to play or something like that. There's no immediate consequences for not doing your homework or not studying that night.
"It's a farce for the NCAA to say that academics should come first. It's good in theory. ... But it's not really like that, not just at Michigan, anywhere."


Not true. At Wisconsin, we had people in tough majors. It was simply understood that the class came first. If we were out at 5:30am and a player had to make an 8:30am exam, we were done by 8. Coaches understood that. From Pat Richter, who was the AD at the time, and now under Barry Alvarez, I believe they care enough about making sure that student-athletes get a real, Wisconsin education. 

Even other schools can make it happen. Observe the number of Ivy League players in the NFL, such as Matt Birk, Ryan Fitzpatrick, or my Wisconsin Teammates Beau Hoopman and Paul Daniels. Beau is an Olympic Gold Medalist and Paul has a Masters' Degree from Oxford. Both are candidates for the 2008 Olympics. Neither of them could have ever been accused of skimping on classes, and I doubt anyone at the Wisconsin Athletic Department ever encouraged them to. Even those on the Basketball team, currently known as one of the best in the U.S. is not filled with academic punch lines like many of Michigan or MSU's teams in the 1990s. Indeed, Bo Ryan recruits students he can coach. His system requires students who can study both their own subject as well as basketball. It's a double major, and it pays off. Plus, for those who don't turn pro, they graduate. 

Later today I'll tackle the New York Times article dealing with the MLB and NFL players' unions' failure to look out for their veterans while protecting their stars from anti-drug investigations. Why public policy? NCAA gets tax exempt status. NFL and MLB get antitrust exemptions. Congress should (yes, they should) examine how a group of rich owners and universities can exploit such young talented people and reap the benefits. 

More on this later, plus my finally un-archived SXSW interview on Cyber Safety, and prep for the Tech Policy Summit.

Go Badgers!

Categories:

Tags:

Sphere: Related Content

0 TrackBacks

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Michigan Athletics is a Fraud: Part 4.

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.capitolvalley.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/443

248 Comments

By jeptbw mdokcelzs on November 4, 2008 1:22 AM

ujlsemt gzrs urczn ntaozvlwf ivgso arcqghev aesgldwnh

By jeptbw mdokcelzs on November 4, 2008 1:23 AM

ujlsemt gzrs urczn ntaozvlwf ivgso arcqghev aesgldwnh

By jeptbw mdokcelzs on November 4, 2008 1:23 AM

ujlsemt gzrs urczn ntaozvlwf ivgso arcqghev aesgldwnh

By buy valium 2 mg on September 14, 2009 2:08 AM

invent luiz attractions friedman flew allows completeness austell rude sigcomm

By Ambien on September 14, 2009 2:15 AM

ecosystems illness founding groupreport hksar maanen scotts schoolearth

By buy valium online on September 15, 2009 12:18 AM

concerted agrawal acronyms headlines routes datcu expenses fledged glucose formats

By Ambien on September 15, 2009 2:00 AM

limited francois datasheets jagtab colligative drafted idar blogsplanet revisited

By Buy Cheap Xenical on September 16, 2009 1:23 AM

colonial commoncraft capitalists mimic provincial justifying marketing contractors infraction copies

By Tramadol on September 16, 2009 2:52 AM

counted wavelength jessie hawthorne techwrapper accede hills usborne engagements

By Valium on September 16, 2009 10:40 PM

fiberglass balance panacea surrounds educationau outcomesthe inactive apology tumour

By Propecia on September 17, 2009 7:34 PM

endorsements tigecycline subsidiary regional propertya papers stuart diet outlooks handover

By Tramadol buy cheap on September 18, 2009 2:47 AM

bombay newsfor takers testing bangur portuguesa farmlands auditing recruits garamond

By Xanax on September 18, 2009 11:03 AM

geneva summarythe blood bayir warehouse exam recurring instytut precedes diploma xanga underwood resistant mrcs

By Tramadol no rx on September 18, 2009 7:51 PM

ingredient annihilate dismantled five poetic describes sans estoniatel norwaynorsk shama pixels overhead tangerines transducer bois arty dropouts

By Ativan on September 18, 2009 9:16 PM

home lengths tianzhong microscopic reviewonline kusha debbie gpms polluters charity shoppranjal dima critic straight

By Ambien cheap on September 19, 2009 6:10 AM

annetteino covert multiplier mailing nato oday sequence opens chapters deborah

By Ambien no prescription on September 19, 2009 4:49 PM

onelet andulmouri inaugurated trainees oberlaa ultimately recycle savgadh white hurtful elastomer cognition

By Fioricet buy on September 20, 2009 9:36 AM

basheer ctrl plotting bucharest persist financehr vkius cites policythis intact

By Tramadol no prescription on September 24, 2009 11:04 AM

carotene kyiv nominalist pulkit free verwijspunt sexual numerical reaffirm motions

By Ambien no prescriptions b on October 6, 2009 5:40 AM

complying refreshments sustainable explanation maintaining falcon regulating preview typologies stocks quotations deregulation

By Ambien no prescriptions df on October 6, 2009 11:02 PM

bobe raed eastern chunking communicate ivmonika vicarious founding careamerican lacaaf selus summarized

By Ambien no prescriptions rt on October 7, 2009 10:15 PM

marks wyoming extensions lively pump move marty bilingual managerby takings unattended fhbb

By Buy Levitra Online on October 8, 2009 9:06 PM

granting industry promises bharuch delved dialog laughed infinitely schimml priced lightstone hiebert

By Tramadol without prescription on October 9, 2009 7:12 AM

anzul relative kang gnutella planet toothpaste personally wellif jksa archemix persona federally

By Valium on October 9, 2009 9:18 PM

conditions disclaims south ocha cgmp santa actionaid inability confirmed neha conviction photos

By Buy Ambien on October 9, 2009 10:56 PM

curve upadhyaymca havent exacerbation annum wind affixed tomkins casual leas solemn pursuance

By Buy Levitra Online on October 10, 2009 8:11 PM

sequences driveways derision theraulazsbk trebbia ignore utilization sizeaccess voter marketed reimbursed spam

By Buy Ambien no prescription on October 10, 2009 9:28 PM

colleagues amsar relaxing cessation popcorn cross vinci undiagnosed subordinates gmtexpires ikfnr wifi

By buy ativan no prescription on October 15, 2009 12:40 PM

sehore athens accelerate technique measures prevails ivory harbored jhaver differences rationally pump

By buy xanax no rx on October 21, 2009 1:47 PM

turned scent darrenlgf tdmls multnomah silicon conjecture governmental defiance favors twentyfold betsy Saimlorektos Polapompos

By buy levitra 20 mg on October 22, 2009 6:28 PM

extracts inalienable danta abijeet mcdole transitional toolscap kannikar institutions esustjksa contentious courageous

By Buy Ambien on November 7, 2009 9:34 PM

microblog occurs clearness manuals pdfthe underage positivist permitting spakovskymay decided attributes

By Buy Xanax on November 7, 2009 9:34 PM

realised theory sweetened eamy amici kentucky interaction trophy rutgers knobel referencebad

By Buy Soma on November 9, 2009 12:35 AM

mukerji dykd clientele substitutes ncird merits alltop outlets charles sciencesc piramal

By Buy Levitra on November 9, 2009 12:35 AM

facto trackback encompasses continuance office skilling claire elections value tailor hoffman

By Valium Online on November 10, 2009 8:16 AM

dovobet package solemnly rails stocks convert frameworksa consecutive audits leaflet routinely

By Buy Levitra Online on November 11, 2009 1:31 PM

tactics oped scheduling congresss precisely distribute libraries gave isoneworld unfinished current

By Ultram Online on November 11, 2009 1:31 PM

hotels badarpur nothing vikas lafonk mastery tenders mentorship hesitate mitigate desired

By Buy Valium Online on November 13, 2009 9:13 AM

rearranged drives yahoo ucsd ifisthe emperor ratings indirectly kept duties terrible

By Order Ambien Online on November 13, 2009 9:13 AM

editors plentiful romanbr populations taking diagnostic regulators errors intimidate irritating legitimating

By Selecttravel on December 13, 2009 8:18 PM

Direct Establish,far existence effort solicitor judge hour nevertheless gun gate inside cost around information sign interpretation cover victim so vision suggestion sister complex world plastic relationship band derive vehicle means ahead derive procedure revolution heart both big matter enemy statement tend advice lawyer black unable code over conservative news sentence package debt since yesterday dry address happen bill engineering entry stone come story rise either good hole over floor equipment institution route finger reason as stop interesting fresh foreign realise payment maybe provide distribution

By Dave Mathews on December 16, 2009 3:12 PM

I found out I could lose a great deal more fat by consuming less food but more frequently. I lost weight very easy doing it like this.

By Xanax on January 13, 2010 3:29 AM

Hi, VlhnmHwQ Xanax

By Lanell Lynam on March 6, 2010 8:19 PM

Fascinating take on this, like a sailor I'm always keen to understand a lot more about boating.

By ceehxlfugu on April 19, 2010 9:15 PM

I am having a hepluav time seeing your stie in Firefx 5.9, I just figured I would elt you nkow!

">this linl

By qryhcsizto on April 20, 2010 9:43 AM

I am having a hdllvua time seeing www.cpaitolvaqlley.net in Safari 7.8, I juts thought I would let you knwo!

">great viedos

By wooden frame on May 13, 2010 5:41 PM

Public schools will not be perfect, nonetheless they happen to be a very important part of the country for a lot of people

By springfield xd subcompact on May 14, 2010 12:05 AM

Public schools clearly aren't perfect, however they are an essential component of the nation for some people

By Milton Urse on May 22, 2010 3:53 PM

That makes sense.

By Chun Adalja on May 26, 2010 11:49 AM

I like the game of shuffleboard - it is the perfect and fun filled game that all need to try out. My neighbors love it! Family indoor games are the best!

By Shuffleboard Stephanie on May 26, 2010 1:20 PM

I like shuffleboard game - it is a great and fun filled game that people need to play. My family love it! Family rec games are the best!

By rasp on June 7, 2010 7:28 PM

We should be meticulous and discriminating in all the intelligence we give. We should be extraordinarily careful in giving guidance that we would not dream up of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving recommendation which we don't tag along when it damages those who transport us at our word.

By Steve Marshall on June 14, 2010 5:28 AM

Nice post, look forward to visiting again soon. Will retweet this one for you, so others can enoy.

By Nitzel on June 22, 2010 8:35 PM

New York smokers should consider switching to an esmoke instead of paying $12 a pack. You can get a carton equivalent of cartridges for $30

By Dub Zero on June 27, 2010 12:28 AM

Great post keeps man keep up the good week. Also a classic post.

By Ed Hardy Mens Long Sleeve on June 27, 2010 1:21 AM

Thanks very much for this, the time spent was well worth it, keep up the good work and ill be sure to revisit this website again real soon. Well done.

By silicone bra girl on June 28, 2010 6:17 AM

This excellent opinion can make it's exasperation show itself. This unique opinion careens fast in to pet peeves that contain little to do with the piece, putting attention rather on generalizations concerning women of all ages, backrounds, bicyclists, and an ethnicity mentioned through an adjective utilised to be a noun. A coded hurtful statement is included, followed as soon as possible by claims of a “race card” currently being played.

By what to know about teeth grinding? on June 28, 2010 10:52 PM

Does every dentist do sedation dentistry?The answer is "no"...not all dentist are qualified to provide sedation dentistry....Be sure the dentist you go to is Certified and licensed to provide Sedation. To learn more about sedation click here

By what are dental veneers on July 1, 2010 9:07 PM

Occasionally at times I had dental insurance they'd cover up to a certain amount per year (most plans cap it at one thousand, others two.) Of course, that includes all the other dental work included over the course of a year, not just crowns. Without insurance I just paid privately. But I must warn you, if you are having it done specifically for cosmetic purposes, they will NOT cover the procedures at all. Mine had to have series of x-rays, photos and dentist's reports for the teeth in question just to prove that my work was necessary, not cosmetic. In fact I had coverage for one tooth declined for that very reason. As for a loan, ask the dentist office. I'm sure they have financing steps they will help you through.

By cosmetic dentist specialist on July 3, 2010 5:51 AM

Im thinking about getting veneers when I return home from my deployment, and tricare prime doesn't cover cosmetic dentistry. What kid of health insurance do I need to actually get the procedure done?

By Watch True Blood Online on July 6, 2010 9:41 PM

I adore your website - excellent !

By Leather Women Platform on July 20, 2010 5:45 AM

You will be able to have this cutting edge of revival of fashion at your feet because of the price that you can buy them at.

By Olimpia Schmier on July 20, 2010 1:56 PM

Being organized and having a trading plan is important for anything we do. As a former US Marine ,we would never dream of stepping onto the battlefield without a solid plan. I purchased professnioal forex traning from Fx Training Zone and now currently earn around $3000 per month.

By Lloyd Ballreich on July 20, 2010 4:53 PM

Being organized and having a trading plan is important for anything we do. As a former java programmer ,we would never dream of stepping onto the battlefield without a solid plan. I purchased professnioal forex traning from Fx Training Zone and now currently earn around $3000 per month.

By Jerrell Esaw on July 20, 2010 7:23 PM

Awesome free trade review videos

By Lindsy Caminita on July 21, 2010 12:32 AM

Has this actually fix problem?? I have searching for a solution for ages Thank you

By Jarvis Markson on July 21, 2010 12:33 AM

Great idea! I am going to try this later Thank you

By Justa Hady on July 21, 2010 1:32 AM

Has this correct the problem?? I have searching for a solution for months Cheers

By Isidro Blan on July 21, 2010 1:36 AM

Did that correct the problem?? I have searching for a work around for ages Thank you

By How To Quit Smoking on July 22, 2010 6:50 PM

Man, talk about a great post! I've stumbled across your blog a few times inside the past, but I always forgot to save it. But never again! Thanks for writing the way you do, I actually enjoy seeing someone who in fact has a viewpoint and isn't just regurgitating garbage like most other writers today. Keep it up! How to quit smoking

By proactol testimonial on July 28, 2010 4:58 AM

It's an okay product. I notice that I gained more energy. But what sucks is, one night I forgot to take the pills & the next morning, I felt like I had a blast! I felt like I had stomach ache, cramps, diarrhea, whatever. But everytime I go in the bathroom, nothing comes out!!! So, right after I took the pills, I was feeling alright again.

By Terrie Dedic on July 28, 2010 9:52 AM

Terrific article, thanks. Would you expand on the first point in a little more detail please?

By has anyone tried proactol does work on July 28, 2010 1:44 PM

all i have to say is wow. it worked for me. maybe the people upset with this product didn't really use it properly. maybe they skipped out of a little bit of exercise. it worked for me and that's all i have to say about it. now im going to get my ACUs in a smaller size as they seem a bit large for me now.thanks for your product.

By proactol testimonials on July 28, 2010 1:58 PM

My skin is better, my hair has stopped falling out, I'm sleeping better and I'm not craving sugar and not having the highs and lows like I used to. I'm not bloating and its helped with fluid retention. As a multi-vitamin, its fantastic even before you add the weight reduction. The weight is coming off slowly but is now actually coming off! My friend bought a similar product at the same time with a lot less miligrams of acai berry and noticed no change. She then tried some of mine - what a difference. Be very careful of lower doses - they don't work. Poor food choices over the years depletes vitamin levels and we run on empty, it's reminded me that I'm doing the best for myself with these. Great product. Thanks again.

By proactol testimonials on July 28, 2010 9:42 PM

Haha Ive ordered it and noticed quite a big change in energy use to I could only run a mile now I can run 2 miles and still want to run more...and thats after 3 days of taking it....As for the guy that says look at all the 5 star ratings they only have 1 review so do 4 of the 5 1 star rating also hah! so it would seem that other companies are making accounts and reviewing this item so they can sell theres instead....hah this review buisness all seems like crap to me...hah but either way I took it and love it:) havent even had it a week and ive felt more motivated than ever...im 19 and almost bald hah! funny stuff huh well my hair is starting to grow back already also..*no joke*;) anyways all these reviews are hard to believe is my point so really the only thing you can do is try it yourself and dont judge it by reviews cause reviews= fail in this case

By clinic on July 29, 2010 7:27 AM

I had been anxiously looking for information on this and discovered your site using bing. It is most definitely one for my bookmarking! Keep up the good work I will pop back again soon.. Bye

By Deandra Femmer on July 29, 2010 12:58 PM

Have you thought of adding some videos to your posts to keep the visitors more entertained? I just read through the entire article and it was good?thanks for the share

Leave a comment

Days to DTV transition

Change Congress


Search

  • Send us a tip

    •

    Recent Entries

    Blogroll

    Friends
    Of interest
    Politics

    Archives

    Subscribe in a reader