Dear Chris Elsberry...

[Gurleyman]

You are entitled to your opinion and the basic premise of your column. I expect some to take this side of the fence. This is not my beef here - not at all.

You are a writer and a journalist, though. Which means using the proper terminology is a rather important part of your job.

So, surely you must understand that there is a difference between "breaking rules" and "not meeting minimum standards". Falling short of an APR standard is not breaking a rule. Breaking a rule would be playing a player who was academically ineligible (or sending too many text messages, etc.). It is a verb that carries the connotation of action, you knowingly and actively did something which was illegal, immoral, etc.

There was no action here that was against any rules. Some data was compiled, and it fell below a standard which was required for a benefit. That's all. It would be like saying an elementary school who didn't qualify for government funding because their kids had low test scores "broke rules".

You may say it's semantics, but your job is to get semantics right. So you probably aren't in position to tell anyone else how to do their job, if you can't do yours.

Awful.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/uconn/article/Chris-Elsberry-Suck-it-up-UConn-take-your-3481437.php

 

[TopDog18]

I should have known not to open the garbage POS article.

 

[Huskies4ever]

You are entitled to your opinion and the basic premise of your column. I expect some to take this side of the fence. This is not my beef here - not at all.

You are a writer and a journalist, though. Which means using the proper terminology is a rather important part of your job.

So, surely you must understand that there is a difference between "breaking rules" and "not meeting minimum standards". Falling short of an APR standard is not breaking a rule. Breaking a rule would be playing a player who was academically ineligible (or sending too many text messages, etc.). It is a verb that carries the connotation of action, you knowingly and actively did something which was illegal, immoral, etc.

There was no action here that was against any rules. Some data was compiled, and it fell below a standard which was required for a benefit. That's all. It would be like saying an elementary school who didn't qualify for government funding because their kids had low test scores "broke rules".

You may say it's semantics, but your job is to get semantics right. So you probably aren't in position to tell anyone else how to do their job, if you can't do yours.

Awful.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/uconn/article/Chris-Elsberry-Suck-it-up-UConn-take-your-3481437.php

I mentioned the punishment (tourney ban) falls within the punishment for breaking rules in one of the other threads. Obviously, that is confusing to others including the media which makes UConn look bad. I truly believe that the NCAA will end up making changes in the punishment or the calculation of the APR or whatever in future years. Jackasses like Chris Elsberry make it harder for UConn to show that what is happening is not right.

 

[Huskies4ever]

You are entitled to your opinion and the basic premise of your column. I expect some to take this side of the fence. This is not my beef here - not at all.

You are a writer and a journalist, though. Which means using the proper terminology is a rather important part of your job.

So, surely you must understand that there is a difference between "breaking rules" and "not meeting minimum standards". Falling short of an APR standard is not breaking a rule. Breaking a rule would be playing a player who was academically ineligible (or sending too many text messages, etc.). It is a verb that carries the connotation of action, you knowingly and actively did something which was illegal, immoral, etc.

There was no action here that was against any rules. Some data was compiled, and it fell below a standard which was required for a benefit. That's all. It would be like saying an elementary school who didn't qualify for government funding because their kids had low test scores "broke rules".

You may say it's semantics, but your job is to get semantics right. So you probably aren't in position to tell anyone else how to do their job, if you can't do yours.

Awful.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/uconn/article/Chris-Elsberry-Suck-it-up-UConn-take-your-3481437.php

So this idiot goes on to admit that the NCAA is unfair, the punishment is unfair, but UConn needs to stfu and accept it? How about making a stand for what's right? By the way, anyone else notice the comment in the link that states that UConn's academic rep is tarnished by this? Isn't UConn a top twenty public institution? Aren't they making strides as an academic institution?

 

[upstater]

The punishment is as bad as what UNC received for plagiarism and paying players.

 

[dsturdy5]

The sad part about this is that more people will read that garbage article, and others like it, than will take the time to understand what the APR thing really is about. Thus, the university and the program look worse for what has transpired. This same thing happened with the Patriots during the taping incident in 2007. It is still brought up today and I have not seen a national outlet get the facts 100% right.

 

[MattMang23]

I got a chuckle about him mentioning that ULM didn't make any complaints over their punishment. Yeah they just took their punishment and said "please sir may I have another." How noble of them. That waiver they filed? Never happened!

And that's not to mention that even if lowly ULM had complained (and they did, hence they filed a waiver), why would a third rate columnist in Stamford,CT 800 miles away hear their complaints?

When a national power like UConn complains, people listen because we're actually relevant.

 

[Gurleyman]

Plus, you don't know if those schools were still having academic problems with their current roster. They may have systemic issues that still need addressing. In our situation, you do know they've been addressed.

 

[uconnfan68]

The sad part about this is that more people will read that garbage article, and others like it, than will take the time to understand what the APR thing really is about. Thus, the university and the program look worse for what has transpired. This same thing happened with the Patriots during the taping incident in 2007. It is still brought up today and I have not seen a national outlet get the facts 100% right.

And then they have idiots like WFSB editorializing about it... from the side of the NCAA, completely ignoring that the penalties were retroactive.

 

[willie99]

writers have an agenda, honesty and objectivity are just not part of their genetic makeup. That's the only thing I can conclude.

There's a reason they're one of the least respected professions, they earn it every day

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

There's a reason they're one of the least respected professions, they earn it every day

Easy, O'Reilly.

 

[willie99]

Easy, O'Reilly.

it's a fact, and it's a sad truth

 

[epark88]

Is there an actual, functioning UConn PR department in Storrs? Has there ever been one? Who are these people, what are their names - and do they get paid?

These aren't rhetorical questions, either. I honestly would like to know this...

 

[CAHUSKY]

Is there an actual, functioning UConn PR department in Storrs? Has there ever been one? Who are these people, what are their names - and do they get paid?

These aren't rhetorical questions, either. I honestly would like to know this...

http://communications.uconn.edu/people.html

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

it's a fact, and it's a sad truth

Let a little air in the bubble.

 

[UConn Esq]

Well said. Very well said.