OT: Urschel article in print Sports Illustrated

[LionJim]

We've read it all already, other than that the Ravens sort of expected him to go on the practice squad but he outworked everyone and ended up starting 5 (?) games.

One other thing I read that I didn't appreciate: When he first got on campus as a student and he sat down with the Athletic Department academic advisors, they tried to talk him out of majoring in math, "Too hard." The mentality at every big time football school seems to be "choose a major where you won't have trouble staying eligible." Urschel really must have hit the mid 700s on the math portion of his SATs, didn't they have those results in front of them? It bothers me because only one out of a hundred new freshmen would have Urschel's self-awareness and confidence in his career plans. I guess that tells us a little more about Urschel, this little story.

EDIT: Let's be clear on one thing: a lot of kids show up in college with plans on majoring in mathematics or engineering and then switch. Nobody switches their major TO mathematics or engineering, you try it and either stick with it or change your major. It's plausible that Urschel was such an outlier that the academic advisors were taken aback and overreacted. Just because it happened to Urschel doesn't mean it's SOP at Penn State.

 

[fairgambit]

We've read it all already, other than that the Ravens sort of expected him to go on the practice squad but he outworked everyone and ended up starting 5 (?) games.

One other thing I read that I didn't appreciate: When he first got on campus as a student and he sat down with the Athletic Department academic advisors, they tried to talk him out of majoring in math, "Too hard." The mentality at every big time football school seems to be "choose a major where you won't have trouble staying eligible." Urschel really must have hit the mid 700s on the math portion of his SATs, didn't they have those results in front of them? It bothers me because only one out of a hundred new freshmen would have Urschel's self-awareness and confidence in his career plans. I guess that tells us a little more about Urschel, this little story.

That is very disappointing and stands as a reminder that, while we're better than most in keeping alive the true "student/athlete" ideal, we're far from perfect.

 

[LionJim]

That is very disappointing and stands as a reminder that, while we're better than most in keeping alive the true "student/athlete" ideal, we're far from perfect.

Yes, but check my edit. Maybe I'm reading it with blue-and-white glasses, but this is the first example I've read of this and it's Urschel. "Yeah, I'm gonna major in mathematics and graduate in three years with a 4.0 and then I'm gonna get two Masters degrees in two years, both with 4.0s. Just sign right here, sir." How would YOU react?

Regardless, Franklin needs to make sure this is addressed. I have every expectation that he will.

 

[fairgambit]

Yes, but check my edit. Maybe I'm reading it with blue-and-white glasses, but this is the first example I've read of this and it's Urschel. "Yeah, I'm gonna major in mathematics and graduate in three years with a 4.0 and then I'm gonna get two Masters degrees in two years, both with 4.0s. Just sign right here, sir." How would YOU react?
Regardless, Franklin needs to make sure this is addressed. I have every expectation that he will.

I read your edit and I suspect you are being too kind. I am not suggesting that Penn State pushes most athletes into candy ass classes to keep them eligible, but if it happened with a guy like Urschel on a difficult major, I'd bet it's happened more than we would like to believe. It would take a real strong kid, coming in as a freshman, to stand up to even a modest push away from a tough major.

 

[LionJim]

I read your edit and I suspect you are being too kind. I am not suggesting that Penn State pushes most athletes into candy ass classes to keep them eligible, but if it happened with a guy like Urschel on a difficult major, I'd bet it's happened more than we would like to believe. It would take a real strong kid, coming in as a freshman, to stand up to even a modest push away from a tough major.

Yeah, I've definitely become an old softie. It's naive to think it's a rare occurrence, but it should be. Academic Support needs to see that they don't go overboard on this. But the pressure to stay eligible is enormous. We can talk all we want about student-athletes but sports and universities will always be an awkward mix.

 

[fairgambit]

Yeah, I've definitely become an old softie. It's naive to think it's a rare occurrence, but it should be. Academic Support needs to see that they don't go overboard on this. But the pressure to stay eligible is enormous. We can talk all we want about student-athletes but sports and universities will always be an awkward mix.

Well, I'm confident we're still elite when it comes to athletes being students and the Urschel story has helped us refocus on what's really important. He serves as an inspiration to others, both at Penn State and elsewhere, to show that you can have the best of both worlds.

 

[LionJim]

Well, I'm confident we're still elite when it comes to athletes being students and the Urschel story has helped us refocus on what's really important. He serves as an inspiration to others, both at Penn State and elsewhere, to show that you can have the best of both worlds.

Yes, yes. that he is a model also for those not in the PSU sphere is evident from his being awarded the Campbell and Sullivan Trophies.

 

[JoeBatters1]

That's a shame because you know the SI people loved that tidbit by Urschel as they will see it as one more piece of evidence that Paterno was a fraud. I guarantee the media doesn't care what Urschel has accomplished they will see it as an accomplishment despite what the Paterno led football program wanted him to do. Geez, everything since Novembet 2011 has left me so jaded any more.