Nice article defending the graduation rate

[Huskymaniac]

DING DING DING

There are so very many ways that Hathaway failed.

Yep, and I think the previous president wasn't playing ball either. One could definitely argue that UConn shouldn't have sold out and that we should just accept a lower level program with recruits that equally emphasize academics. The program would fall into the lower third to 2/3 of D1 but we will have kids that arean't playing with one eye on the NBA from day 1. That's the reality of modern college basketball and football. You either play the game and sell out on the academic mission to compete or you keep your academic integrity and decide not to be very competitive. If you try to do both, you end up like UConn and you give the haters fuel for their "win at all costs" accusations.

 

[freescooter]

Yep, and I think the previous president wasn't playing ball either. One could definitely argue that UConn shouldn't have sold out and that we should just accept a lower level program with recruits that equally emphasize academics. The program would fall into the lower third to 2/3 of D1 but we will have kids that arean't playing with one eye on the NBA from day 1. That's the reality of modern college basketball and football. You either play the game and sell out on the academic mission to compete or you keep your academic integrity and decide not to be very competitive. If you try to do both, you end up like UConn and you give the haters fuel for their "win at all costs" accusations.

I actually think UConn "sold out" more than most, unfortunately. And it has been over the past 5-6 years. In fact, I would argue that we made no effort to "do both." I've said 100 times, though that a large portion of the blame goes to the NCAA for failing to counter the NBA's 1-year rule. That insured that college basketball would be over run with kids who didn't even have the slightest intention of being students. they were merely looking for a place to work on their game for a year until they become eligible for the NBA draft. We've seen the ultimate conclusion in Kentucky, but it is going to become more widespread as others follow that path.

 

[Huskymaniac]

I actually think UConn "sold out" more than most, unfortunately. And it has been over the past 5-6 years. In fact, I would argue that we made no effort to "do both." I've said 100 times, though that a large portion of the blame goes to the NCAA for failing to counter the NBA's 1-year rule. That insured that college basketball would be over run with kids who didn't even have the slightest intention of being students. they were merely looking for a place to work on their game for a year until they become eligible for the NBA draft. We've seen the ultimate conclusion in Kentucky, but it is going to become more widespread as others follow that path.

I don't know how much more clear I can be but I KNOW FOR A FACT that UConn was trying to do both for many years. My wife was a TA for a fairly difficult core course that many students who major in economics or business have to take. She had basketball players in her class...PERIOD...END OF STORY...ABSOLUTE FACT.

You also don't seem to grasp the reality that schools that sell out can very easily meet the idiotic APR requirement. You have to sell out and be an incompetent moron to not do what it takes to keep kids "on track". I mean, that's the whole reason for selling out in the first place!!!

But you are correct about the 1 year rule. That plus the lowered admissions requirements are what has caused college sports, and basketball in particular, to degrade into a total mockery of what COLLEGE athletics are supposed to be. The NCAA lowered the admission standards supposedly to not be racist but, in reality, it was to improve the marketability of the product and make more money. Neither the NBA or the NCAA give a damn about academics. Kentucky (Calimari) is gaming the system they have created.

 

[Waquoit]

This is where the fans have to decide. Maybe I'm simplifying too much, I'm sure I will get corrected if necessary. The root cause of UConn blowing the APR is that JC recruited a handful of guys that didn't belong here and had to leave. The APR really kills you when guys transfer. But if they didn't transfer, UConn couldn't have rebuilt on the fly and wouldn't have won the NC. So fair trade, this season for that one?

 

[upstater]

This is where the fans have to decide. Maybe I'm simplifying too much, I'm sure I will get corrected if necessary. The root cause of UConn blowing the APR is that JC recruited a handful of guys that didn't belong here and had to leave. The APR really kills you when guys transfer. But if they didn't transfer, UConn couldn't have rebuilt on the fly and wouldn't have won the NC. So fair trade, this season for that one?

Transfers are not part of APR as long as they leave in good standing (i.e. finish spring classes). Same as kids going to the pros.

The root cause is that UConn did not set up enough 1 week intersession and summer courses in August and December so that bball players could maintain eligibility through the spring semester. Now UConn has done that. Correspondingly, the APR scores have skyrocketed, even though in the last 3 years the following kids have left the program without graduating:

1. Jamal Coombs McDaniel
2. Alex Oriakhi
3. Darius Smith
4. Jamal Trice
5. Scottie Haralson
6. Ater Majok
7. Michael Bradley
8. Jeremy Lamb
9. Roscoe Smith


This is since 2009. (Andre Drummond doesn't count because he wasn't on scholarship).

Retentions: Napier, Olander, Kemba (finished 1 year early), Boatright, Deandre Daniels.

5 count as positive retentions for UConn in APR. The majority of the 9 who left are considered exemptions because they left in good standing. In prior years, when they were forced to take a full load of real classes in the spring, the ones who left departed without being in good standing.

And there lies the difference.

It's the same old UConn with 9 players leaving prior to graduation, and 5 staying on. The main difference is in how the administration is playing the APR/GSR game.


So,

 

[freescooter]

Transfers are not part of APR as long as they leave in good standing (i.e. finish spring classes). Same as kids going to the pros.

The root cause is that UConn did not set up enough 1 week intersession and summer courses in August and December so that bball players could maintain eligibility through the spring semester. Now UConn has done that. Correspondingly, the APR scores have skyrocketed, even though in the last 3 years the following kids have left the program without graduating:

1. Jamal Coombs McDaniel
2. Alex Oriakhi
3. Darius Smith
4. Jamal Trice
5. Scottie Haralson
6. Ater Majok
7. Michael Bradley
8. Jeremy Lamb
9. Roscoe Smith


This is since 2009. (Andre Drummond doesn't count because he wasn't on scholarship).

Retentions: Napier, Olander, Kemba (finished 1 year early), Boatright, Deandre Daniels.

5 count as positive retentions for UConn in APR. The majority of the 9 who left are considered exemptions because they left in good standing. In prior years, when they were forced to take a full load of real classes in the spring, the ones who left departed without being in good standing.

And there lies the difference.

It's the same old UConn with 9 players leaving prior to graduation, and 5 staying on. The main difference is in how the administration is playing the APR/GSR game.


So,

Hogwash! They NEVER took a full load of real classes in the spring. Not ever. Basketball players have not taken a full course load in the Spring since I don't know when...they didn't even do it in the mid-80s. they surely don't do it now. If you guys want to argue that some of them take real courses, I'll buy that. But let's not kid ourselves. There aren't many organic chemistry majors playing basketball. Even people who WANT to major in those things are advised agaisnt it. And it doesn't just apply to basketball players for what its worth. Womens track and field athletes take easier courses in season and take summer session courses to minimize the number of full time classes they need to take in season. So do softball players and soccer players and pretty much every athlete and they have been doing it for many years at UConn just like they have at every other major school.

 

[upstater]

Hogwash! They NEVER took a full load of real classes in the spring. Not ever. Basketball players have not taken a full course load in the Spring since I don't know when...they didn't even do it in the mid-80s. they surely don't do it now. If you guys want to argue that some of them take real courses, I'll buy that. But let's not kid ourselves. There aren't many organic chemistry majors playing basketball. Even people who WANT to major in those things are advised agaisnt it. And it doesn't just apply to basketball players for what its worth. Womens track and field athletes take easier courses in season and take summer session courses to minimize the number of full time classes they need to take in season. So do softball players and soccer players and pretty much every athlete and they have been doing it for many years at UConn just like they have at every other major school.

Wait a second. This is bizarre claim. The NCAA mandates that you have to take a full load. They just hit Cal Tech for this very same reason. The only way around that is to take intersession courses. But you still must maintain your full time status to participate.

So, if you believe Susan Herbst who said the players just started taking winter intersession courses 3 or 4 years ago, then how do you account for the players maintaining spring eligibility? Are you arguing that UConn players were not full-time students? They should strip UConn's titles away if that is true. Are you calling Herbst a liar?

 

[StongingtonBob]

I don't get why these dolts continue to hang onto their agendas. I have long thought that BigEaredMcCrackhead was an alias of Clothy. In fact, there is strong evidenceit is.

I KNOW FOR A FACT that UConn players used to take the same core classes as everyone else at UConn. Period...end of story. We also know that Calhoun and Hathaway had some sort of falling out over the past few years at the same time the rules from the NCAA were also changing. Our fundraising efforts and academic oversight efforts also suffered at the same time. This is from a direct conversation I had with the liason to the board of directors. Do people need an actual document to provide proof to what is obvious to anyone who isn't a total moron? To keep our program and players eligible we needed to move from a real student-athlete focused program to an althletics only focused program like UNC. If were doing what UNC has been doing there is NO WAY we would have failed to meet the APR requirements. Hello????????

Big Ern is not an alias of Clothy. In fact you should be able to prove that by asking your mods to compare the IP's we both post from. That's how we know you posted your nonsense under The Truth (how ironic), Sptsadms and Orange Julius Umasshoops.com. Busted!

Seriously, this guy is so delusional he conversations with himself and posed as Umass fans that agreed with this so-called Truth character's garbage. And I highly doubt he knows ANYTHING FOR A FACT. He still believes Uconn was unfairly sanctioned for just a couple extra calls 'til your moderator had to correct him. He believes I am some big time fan of John Calipari just because I'm I Umass fan, which is also incorrect. He also believes that Doug Wiggins B&E's at Amherst had something to do with some sort Umass influence, which is also incorrect.

Very pathetic individual.

 

[RS9999X]

It's the same old UConn with 9 players leaving prior to graduation, and 5 staying on. The main difference is in how the administration is playing the APR/GSR game.


So,

Which is an indictment of the free-wheeling atmosphere the kids took advantage of as kids sometimes do.

 

[upstater]

Which is an indictment of the free-wheeling atmosphere the kids took advantage of as kids sometimes do.

I have no idea what you mean by this.

How are things different?

 

[Huskymaniac]

Sure Clothy...sure. All I hear is blah, blah, blah...get this guy out of my head...blah, blah, blah. You couldn't even rise to the occasion when called upon. Sad indeed. Back into my pocket, little man.

 

[Yonick]

Well, Clothy accuses Huskymaniac of trolling on UMess site with many alaises. I have no idea (or care) if it's true.

What I do know is Clothy has trolled on various UConn sites under various names over the past 10-12 years. It was somewhat pleasant over the past few months without him. We really should ignore him. He just might go away.

 

[StongingtonBob]

Sure Clothy...sure. All I hear is blah, blah, blah...get this guy out of my head...blah, blah, blah. You couldn't even rise to the occasion when called upon. Sad indeed. Back into my pocket, little man.

Blah, blah, blah? You have been beaten, period. You know I'm right. Go back to talking to yourself or helping OJ find the real killer

 

[Huskymaniac]

Blah, blah, blah? You have been beaten, period. You know I'm right. Go back to talking to yourself or helping OJ find the real killer

There is nothing "right" about you. Your birth was "wrong". Wrong is incapable of recognizing wrong. You must be lonely.