More evidence that the COLLEGE part of college athletics is a farce

[BlueDevilRef]

I'm not at all upset. I do find it funny that since I'm not a college ref, I've chosen not to go that route in softball and basketball I've gotten into this too late to get there imo, lots of folks who do college ball are dismissive. Just bc I don't ref college ball doesn't mean I'm not able to understand discussion on this topic

If Adams interp of BNR is correct, then that is my point as well. To a point in the article in the OP, and Rut said it as well, Simmons shouldn't be playing now. Maybe the answer should be some kind of grade review before season or before conf play etc? By that time they have been in class long enough to establish a gpa

[VaTerp]

Condemning all of college athletics because of one individual situation or even the collective one and dones that represent a fraction of a percentage of student athletes is completely misguided IMO.

If there is any farce here its that people want to hold onto some romanticized notion of amateurism when billions of dollars are being made off of power 5 conference football and high major/NCAA tournament basketball.

Ben Simmons is a college freshman who knows he has a 7 figure job offer coming in a few months. After meeting eligibility requirements for the first semester he's likely blowing off class- like many other non athlete college freshman btw- and not too interested in the student part of being a student-athlete at this point in time. Who is being harmed here? What is the "problem" we are trying to solve? What difference does it make to any of us if Ben Simmons has a 1.8 or a 2.0 GPA?

The APR is the NCAA's current rule to incentivize member institutions to ensure its student-athletes are indeed working toward completing their degrees. Like most things with the NCAA there is tremendous room for improvement but there are measures in place to address the supposed problem here.

As someone who worked briefly in the athletic department of a D1 school-and has several close friends who still work at various levels of athletic administration- I feel very strongly about many of the problems associated with college athletics. Worrying about a future millionaire's second semester/freshman year GPA is not one of them.

[BlueDevilRef]

I guess I don't know what the APR is, sorry. I know the game is worth billions as well. But to me, just being there a year shouldn't be an excuse as to why they can't maintain a good gpa. Eligibility shouldn't be established after the basketball season is over. I'm not condemning the whole lot of NCAA athletes. I'm saying that with everything that is "policed", this should be higher on the list.

[scrounge]

I simply can't get all that worked up about this when the entire sport at that level is filled with hypocrisy and hands out, grabbing billions of dollars, while an infinitesimal percentage gets to those creating the value. No, I don't advocate paying players, but I don't care if they sign a piece of paper or a photo or a jersey or grabs some other crumb while everyone else is gorging on cake.

Ben Simmons is ready for his career, did what he was supposed to do according to the rules right now, and is likely only in college in the first place because of the 1 yr eligibility rule preventing him from going and making a living out of the gate in the first place. He doesn't need to be a college student for his career. And even if he wanted to be, the time demands of a Power 5 basketball or football player are extreme. They get 'encouraged' out of taking tough classes, shepherded away from real majors way too often, or in the case of UNC, corralled into outright fake classes. Ben didn't make this system a sham, it was like that a long time before he got there.

In the top 10 list of things wrong with college athletics, this is about 17th in my opinion.

[BlueDevilRef]

I know it's not his issue to care about, he is doing what is required to get to the NBA. It's just a sad reality that nobody cares. I would rather guys who want to go pro be allowed to do so but if you go to college, you have to stay 3 years. I believe mlb has that type of system. Maybe that would serve both aspects

[bisonlj]

He had another option. It's caked the D league. But he choose this option because it have him a better opportunity. Sounds like some value there.

[Mr.C]

It's my home university's first high profile "one and done". Hope it's the last one.

[paulsonj72]

Originally Posted by BlueDevilRef

I know it's not his issue to care about, he is doing what is required to get to the NBA. It's just a sad reality that nobody cares. I would rather guys who want to go pro be allowed to do so but if you go to college, you have to stay 3 years. I believe mlb has that type of system. Maybe that would serve both aspects

But remember in baseball you can be drafted and signed right out of high school. And unlike most other sports once drafted baseball there is still quite a process to go through to make the top of the ladder(MLB). So there is the big difference which the NBA once had but removed in a CBA. So for this to happen it would have to be bargained with the NBA players association. The NCAA has no say in the matter. Obviously they would like to keep players longer but if the NBA changes the rules on player eligibility the NCAA had no say over that.

[BlueDevilRef]

Yep. But all these things are in my little perfect world. I miss the days when you could love a player for your team for four years. And the same goes for hating a guy. I've not hated a tarheel since hansborough. Guys just don't stick around if they can get drafted. I don't blame them at all. I just selfishly want them to stay around