If there’s somebody who tosses out dumb stuff about college football more consistently than Matt Hayes… well, I probably need to know who it is, so I can have a new source to mock.
Hayes riffs off the notion that schools are considering reinstating freshman ineligibility, which he notes isn’t happening, to make the point that what schools are going to do is hold student-athletes accountable in ways going forward that they never have before. Because, you know, gettin’ paid and all.
… Think about that: universities were upset because they were “paying” scholarship money, yet players weren’t playing in their freshmen seasons — so universities weren’t seeing a return on their investment.
But freshman ineligibility isn’t the point. The obvious question is, what’s next?
Where do universities set the bar, and how far do the tentacles reach? In other words, what exactly are the “multiple ideas” and how do they connect with the stated “education first” mantra?
It most certainly is education first if universities decide student athletes must maintain a 2.5 grade point average to be athletically eligible.
It most certainly is education first if universities decide student athletes must take 12 credit hours a semester (roughly four classes) — and (key point) must pass all 12 hours to be eligible the following semester (hello, One and Done).
It most certainly is education first if universities decide student athletes are immediately suspended from all team activities — including games, offseason workouts, access to weight room and training tables, etc. — for one full semester if these academic requirements are not met.
It most certainly is education first if universities decide once players are kicked off a team for behavior issues, they can’t play at another university for one full year — so they can adjust to academic life at their new institution.
BWAHAHAHA!!! Stop it, you’re killin’ me.
You see, schools didn’t actually care about academics when the players, er, student-athletes, were mere amateurs. But now that there’s real money involved, they’re gonna get all serious about it. Because that will help them better realize a “return on their investment”. Uh hunh. I can’t wait to hear Mark Emmert sell that one in court. Or to Nick Saban.
