Chuck Long earns his keep. . . sort of.

[AztecWilliam]

You may have read about Chuck Long's recommendations for improving Aztec athletics. Basically, he is saying that Aztec athletes should, at least in some cases, be held to lower standards for admission to the school. Also, that athletes should be housed together in one facility.

Both of these suggestions have problems. First, lowering the standards goes in a direction opposite to that of the general increase in the academic standards of the school.

Second, am I not correct that it was decided some time ago that having separate quarters for the athletes tends to make them feel entitled and out of touch with the average S.D.S.U. student?

This reminds me of the elimination of preferential enrollment of football players in 1971 that lead in part to Coryell's decision to jump to the pros. The enrollment situation was changed back to the earlier practice the next year. Basically this is part of the constant tension between the academic side of the university and the intercollegiate sports side (the latter of which might be thought of as "public relations.")

I understand Long's concept of modifying certain policies to put us on a more or less equal footing with other schools with respect to recruiting. I'm just saying that there are forces that may decide such moves devalue the educational purpose of the university.

www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/30/1s30long215739-long-suggests-athlete-friendly-idea/?sports/aztecs

AzWm

[Bob Forsythe]

What bothers me is that JC recruits have to have taken a class in public speaking. Do all the jocks have to take a class in that or is it just an assumption that every kid who goes the JC route is incapable of expressing himself?

Seems to me that the purpose comes from a need to deal with the press, but I'm not sure why someone should be required to take a class on public speaking unless it's required of every jock.

=Bob

[AztecWilliam]

Jul 30, 2009 18:53:22 GMT -8 Bob Forsythe said:

What bothers me is that JC recruits have to have taken a class in public speaking. Do all the jocks have to take a class in that or is it just an assumption that every kid who goes the JC route is incapable of expressing himself?

Seems to me that the purpose comes from a need to deal with the press, but I'm not sure why someone should be required to take a class on public speaking unless it's required of every jock.

=Bob

I, too, wondered about the public speaking requirement. But isn't that a requirement for all transfer students?

AzWm

[Bob Forsythe]

Jul 30, 2009 20:58:43 GMT -8 AztecWilliam said:

Jul 30, 2009 18:53:22 GMT -8 Bob Forsythe said:

What bothers me is that JC recruits have to have taken a class in public speaking. Do all the jocks have to take a class in that or is it just an assumption that every kid who goes the JC route is incapable of expressing himself?

Seems to me that the purpose comes from a need to deal with the press, but I'm not sure why someone should be required to take a class on public speaking unless it's required of every jock.

=Bob

I, too, wondered about the public speaking requirement. But isn't that a requirement for all transfer students?

AzWm

Can't say. When I was a City it was an elective that could be used as a GE class but it wasn't required.

=Bob

[steveaztec]

Pay the guy off.