At 05:00 AM 11/26/97 -0500, greenie wrote:
>1. Teachers are often approached and otherwise contacted by coaching staffs
>of colleges regarding their student athletes who happen to be in their
>class. For the most part the purpose of this communication is to "establish
>a relationship" and "let the teacher understand the needs of the
>student-athlete at the univeristy and college level." What this means is
>that the coach, his staff, the team -- nee the entire university -- would
>like special treatment. Thusly teachers (and other faculty) often feel
>undue pressure from the athletic department, their own academic department,
>and the administration as a whole.
Like others here, I must address this.
I taught English at The Ohio State University for 8 years, and I had many
student-athletes in class, even some "big names." I was never "approached"
by anyone to make concessions for my student-athletes. The academic
advisors of SAs send around progress report sheets that are filled out; some
advisors pay attention to them, some do not.
In my classes, anyone with "special needs"--including SAs and
non-traditional students who must work a lot (for money) to get through
school--can ask for all kinds of concessions, and get them. Students of
mine are able to revise papers, reschedule exams, etc.--and these
flexibilities are available to everyone. Does this help SAs?
Unquestionably. Does it help anyone else who needs it? Yes.
But I've never been encouraged to treat an SA as a special entity. Never.
Not even in the hallowed halls where the ghost of Woody Hayes is still
throwing chairs from the sidelines.
In fact, I had the unfortunate occasion to report a failing grade (for the
term) for a well-known basketball player who did absolutely nothing in my
class. He begged for a second chance, until I found out that I *was* his
second chance--he'd failed the class once before. His cries fell on deaf
ears both in the Departments of English and Athletics.
As for Greenie's assertion that most athletes--especially hockey
players--are among the top students, IMHO, that's crap. As was pointed out,
when you have any pool of students, you have poor students, average
students, and above-average students.
When playing really meant something to them, my SAs at least tried hard in
class and did their work. Their grades--those who actually did the
work--range from As to C-s. (Few students who actually do the work earn
below a C-.) In fact, my very best students as a group--without
exception--have not been athletes (and not hockey players, certainly) but
engineering students. Without exception.
Such generalities about higher education, Greenie--and about SAs--are far
from the mark. So are generalities about non-athlete students.
Paula C. Weston
CCHA Correspondent, USCHO
>
>2. Students -- including student athletes -- who are not involved in a
>"major univeristy sport" very often have significantly strong feelings
>about those that are. Among them are basis of admission, priority
>scheduling of courses, re-scheduling of final exams and deadlines, housing
>assignments, and more. Very often students feel that these "student sports
>figures" are in a position of advantage, that they are given a few more
>breaks than Joe Student.
>
>
>Obviously there are cases to be made for each side of the above statements.
>Here on Hockey-L we've had many discussions about the life of the student
>athlete, and I think most of us are in agreement that most SA's --
>especially hockey players -- are at the top of their class, are exceptional
>students with solid work ethics, and do not receive special breaks.
>Likewise, there are few teachers who would openly admit to being
>"influenced" by a coaching staff, just as there are more than a few
>teachers who have never even been approached.
>
>However, the issue here is not what you and I *know* to be true, nor is it
>what the NC$$ or Sports Illustrated has "found" to be true. The issue is
>that of public opinion, and although it may be formed through ignorance of
>a situation it does indeed have a major effect on every aspect of higher
>education. Most students see certain student-athletes having exams
>rescheduled because of a "big game." Yet these same students feel that they
>only get an exam rescheduled if there's a death in the family. Likewise
>teachers *feel* that if they don't give an extension on a paper due date
>that a player may (god forbid) stay up late and be tired at practice or
>during a game.
>
>Plain and simple, many students and teachers alike have strong, often
>ignorant impressions about the "big deal" student-athletes. These opinions
>are for the most part kept in check. Except when these opinions are pushed.
>
>
>To wit, to hear that students at the University of Maine have voiced their
>opinions about Walsh and the adminstration is not surprising at all. Nor is
>it surprising that, like it or not, the situations revolving around Maine's
>athletic department have had a major effect on enrollment. After all, one
>of the best recruiting practices that ANY college or university has in
>place is student opinion. Whether it comes in the form of campus visits,
>siblings, alumni, friends, or word on the street, negative opinions do
>indeed spread.
>
>Two perfect examples of public opinion having a significant effect on
>enrollment Boston University and Boston College. Both have high standards
>for enrollment, and both schools have academic programs and departments at
>undergraduate and postgraduate levels are among the 10 best in the world.
>
>Both schools however, constantly fight to gain more respect for their
>academics. But what's one of the more commonly heard opinion about these
>schools, especially around the New England area?
>
>BU: Oh, Boston University? Yeah, it's a good school I guess, but there are
>just sooo many people and well, there's no campus.
>
>BC: Boston College? Their football team sucks. But they got some hot women!
>
>It doesn't matter to most people that at BU, all but one of the individual
>schools within the system have a lower enrollment than most "small"
>colleges that focus on one area of study (such as lib arts or engineering).
>It doesn't matter that most students at BC could care less about any sport,
>especially football. It doesn't seem to matter that these schools have
>professors like Elie Wiesel and Isaac Asmiov, people who clearly helped
>define the 20th century.
>
>Yet the college guides continue to highlight the fact that one-pass wonder
>Doug Flutie went to BC and Seinfeld's "George" Jason Alexander went to BU
>(for one year). Heck, I remember when I told people I was teaching at BU,
>and the reponse I got was "weren't they like one of the best places to pick
>up women, according to Playboy?"
>
>
>Therefore I'm not at all surprised that Maine students have responded in
>such a manner. Heck, most people that go to the "city" schools of Boston
>think that most Maine (and New Hampshire) students are simply podunks
>learning about chainsaws and cows (no offensse intended). Location alone
>alone can greatly hurt public opinion and enrollment. If Dartmouth didn't
>belong to the Ivy league, would they be as respected today?
>
>And while I agree that the Boston Globe article was poorly substantiated,
>the impetus was there to kick the article into motion in the first place.
>Students are upset. They feel cheated and slighted by the administration,
>and when people are frustrated in such a manner, the press loves to listen.
>
>
>
>Jason Kekoa Greene
>http://www.kekoa.com
>
>now a member of...
>Parsons Brinckerhoff
>4D Imaging multimedia group
>http://www.pb4d.com
>
>HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to
>[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 23:38:47 -0700
>From: Greenie <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: BU - Harvard 11/25
>
>BU 5, Harvard 3
>at Bright Center
>
>
>Didn't get the best listen in the world to this game as I was really
>cranking to make a deadline here at the office. Did scribble down all the
>goals, not sure how accurate my times or spellings were for the Harvard guys.
>
>Good amount of penalties in this game -- am looking forward to seeing the
>official box to review the penalty situations. BU was 3 for 10 on the power
>play and Harvard was 2 for 7. Note that late in the 2nd period Drury's and
>Scorsone's goals were both scored when their teams were on a 5x3 power play
>-- yet both goals were only about 2 minutes apart. Goofy.
>
>BU pretty much dominated play, with some big saves by Prestifilippio (sp?)
>keeping BU from a second strait bombardment of an ECAC squad (BU lit Brown
>up 8-1 over the weekend). A bit of a hand must be given to the Harvard
>defense for only allowing 3 goals on 10 shorthanded situations, especially
>given how electric Drury's line was.
>
>The Sylvia-Drury-Degerman line accounted for 4 of the 5 BU goals. Radio was
>commenting that this is the first time all season that this line truly
>clicked. Sounded like the on-ice communication between these guys was right
>on. Sure would be nice if this line can keep this level all year long.
>
>
>
>Sorry no official box, just what I scribbled while listening at work (must
>apologize to Harvard fans for any incorrect spelling of names!)
>
>1st period:
>HAR Schweffle 2:16
>BU Sylvia 11:30
>
>2nd period:
>BU Drury PPG :33
>BU Kealty 9:01
>BU Drury PPG 15:21
>HAR Scorsone PPG 17:23
>
>3rd period:
>BU Degerman PPG 4:13
>HAR Higdon PPG 19:30
>
>Saves: HAR-Prestifilippio 34, BU-Laroque 17
>
>
>
>
>Jason Kekoa Greene
>http://www.kekoa.com
>
>now a member of...
>Parsons Brinckerhoff
>4D Imaging multimedia group
>http://www.pb4d.com
>
>HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to
>[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 04:06:53 -0500
>From: Marcus <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: HOCKEY-L POLL RESULTS 11/26/97
>
>This is the first week of the 1997-98 Hockey-L Poll. A total of 17
>people responded to this week's poll, with almost an even split between
>East and West. I certainly hope that more people will submit in the
>coming weeks. Thanks to all who contributed this week.
>
>In brief, its almost a tie between MSU & BU, with N. Dakota not that far
>behind. Even amongst the top 3 there is a lot of inconsistency among
>voters. There is no clear winner. What surprise me the most is that with
>almost a third of most teams' seasons being complete, only 2 teams
>appeared on all the ballots...! WOW! Also real quick... I guess 7 goals
>in 8 games can do a lot for you (or Yale, in this case).
>
>East/West appeared to play no major role, and I would thank everyone who
>has contributed so far for being courteous and mature.
>
>
> Place Votes Ballot
> Team Points 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Apprncs Avg. Range
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>1) Mich State 185 8 4 2 2 0 17 2.12 1-6
>2) Boston Univ. 184 6 5 4 1 1 17 2.18 1-5
>3) No. Dakota 154 2 5 2 5 0 16 3.94
>4) Miami-OH 134 1 1 2 5 1 16 5.12
>5) New Hamp. 119 0 0 3 2 3 16 6.00
>6) Wisconsin 108 0 1 1 0 4 16 6.65
>7) Colorado 84 0 0 1 1 6 12 8.06
>8) Boston Col. 81 0 0 0 1 0 15 8.24
>9) Yale 61 0 1 1 0 0 11 9.41
>10) Cornell 54 0 0 1 0 0 14 9.82
>11) Maine 45 0 0 0 0 0 12 10.35
>12) Michigan 31 14 11.18
>13) St Cloud 30 7 11.24
>14) No. Michigan 15 5 12.12
>15) Colgate 13 5 12.24
>
>
>Others receiving votes: Providence 9, Mass-Lowell 6, RPI 6, Merrimack 4,
>Princeton 2, Harvard 1.
>
>
>ABOUT THE NUMBERS: Not very hard. Voters submitted a list of 12 teams in
>order that they felt were the top 12 teams. Each 1st place vote received
>12points, 2nd place received 11 points, etc. "Place Votes" describes how
>many votes each team got in 1st-5th place. "Avg." is found by subtracting
>the quotient of points by votes cast from thirteen (thus allowing no team
>to have an average higher than 1).
>
>
>Any questions or comments about the format are welcomed, including what
>you would like to see added or removed. I'll try to adopt to what people
>want to see, as long as I can work it out...
>
>=)
>Marcus
>
>HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to
>[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 04:53:47 -0500
>From: Marcus <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Governor's Cup 11/29/97
>
>I have seen the events listing fromthe Whittemore Center for the Saturday
>Governor's Cup Game, which lists the Consolation game starting at 3pm, not
>4pm as previously posted. Can anyone clarify????
>
>Marcus
>
>INFO-HOCKEY-L is for information only; send any discussion of this
>article to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Discussion List.
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 04:57:55 -0500
>From: Marcus <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Governor's Cup 11/29/97
>
>Nevermind... It was a typo in the list I saw. The consolation game will
>start at 4pm as previously posted, with doors opening at 3pm.
>
>
>Sorry for the confusion...
>
>Marcus
>
>INFO-HOCKEY-L is for information only; send any discussion of this
>article to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Discussion List.
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of HOCKEY-D Digest - 25 Nov 1997 to 26 Nov 1997
>***************************************************
>
>
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to
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