Why parents send their kids to football factories

[Handsome Jack 0]

A couple of posters on another site were talking about this. Why would parents send their kids to a football factory rather than to a place to get a great overall education?

They used the example of a world class piano player. Would you send him or her to a great academic institution or to Juliard? Juliard of course. These families see their sons as having the gift of being a world class athlete. And they want that to be nurtured, not put on the back burner. They see this as their craft in life. And if they can't make it at the next level then they would at least like to coach it, be a scout, agent, sports marketing, etc.

 

Just some points that I thought were interesting.

[LasVegasIrish 0]

A couple of posters on another site were talking about this. Why would parents send their kids to a football factory rather than to a place to get a great overall education?

They used the example of a world class piano player. Would you send him or her to a great academic institution or to Juliard? Juliard of course. These families see their sons as having the gift of being a world class athlete. And they want that to be nurtured, not put on the back burner. They see this as their craft in life. And if they can't make it at the next level then they would at least like to coach it, be a scout, agent, sports marketing, etc.

 

Just some points that I thought were interesting.

 

Yep, some parents and athletes definitely have this mindset...

 

And ultimately it is their decision and it doesn't bother me.

 

You can also get a good education at plenty of schools. Only difference is, you can slack off to a certain extent if you want to and admission requirements are more lenient.

Edited July 28, 2017 by LasVegasIrish

[ELDER06 248]

Yep, some parents and athletes definitely have this mindset...

 

And ultimately it is their decision and it doesn't bother me.

 

You can also get a good education at plenty of schools. Only difference is, you can't slack off to a certain extent if you want to and admission requirements are more lenient.

 

It's idiotic to think the majority of the washouts at SEC schools could do any of those things. You actually have to go to class and be moderately intelligent to work in any of those professions. People are either delusional or ignorant of how bad the education is for a lot of these kids. Anyone see "Last Chance U", those kids are the rule, not the exception.

[davislove 0]

. Anyone see "Last Chance U", those kids are the rule, not the exception.

 

That should be required viewing for everyone.

 

If you have netflix and haven't watched it. Slap yourself.

[Handsome Jack 0]

It's idiotic to think the majority of the washouts at SEC schools could do any of those things. You actually have to go to class and be moderately intelligent to work in any of those professions. People are either delusional or ignorant of how bad the education is for a lot of these kids. Anyone see "Last Chance U", those kids are the rule, not the exception.

 

That's just one conference. And what happens to music and arts washouts?

[PJacksonsDred15 121]

Its just about playing the odds, and focusing on your real talents.

 

Lets face it, most of the kids good enough to play major college football are playing football for a reason. Its because athletics is their best attribute, not academics. Why not just focus on perfecting what they are already good at?

 

For kids that are good both academically and with football, hedging your bet and attending a prestigious academic school with good football makes sense.

[ELDER06 248]

Its just about playing the odds, and focusing on your real talents.

 

Lets face it, most of the kids good enough to play major college football are playing football for a reason. Its because athletics is their best attribute, not academics. Why not just focus on perfecting what they are already good at?

 

For kids that are good both academically and with football, hedging your bet and attending a prestigious academic school with good football makes sense.

 

Again, nobody's implying football isn't the priority. However, you've got to have a backup plan.

[Pregame 291]

Its just about playing the odds, and focusing on your real talents.

 

Lets face it, most of the kids good enough to play major college football are playing football for a reason. Its because athletics is their best attribute, not academics. Why not just focus on perfecting what they are already good at?

 

For kids that are good both academically and with football, hedging your bet and attending a prestigious academic school with good football makes sense.

Agree with focusing on your best attribute. Two things that kill me are the fans who will wax poetic about all these kids getting a great degree and making a 40 year decision: 1) will immediately call the kid a wash out loser who will accomplish nothing in their life (if this is the case, what makes you think they would ever be a good fit at ND anyways?) 2) These people didn't even go to ND themselves yet they will still overhype the academic benefits when the only reason they care about ND in the first damn place is because of the football team.

 

Long winded way of saying kids will pick schools for a bunch of different reasons so don't get mad at them AND let's all drop the facade of caring about these kids beyond the football field. We don't, it's ok and it's all part of the curious arrangement of "amateur" sports.

[LasVegasIrish 0]

Again, nobody's implying football isn't the priority. However, you've got to have a backup plan.

 

You are preaching to the choir when it comes to that. No one is disagreeing with you. All of these kids should have one.

 

But other factors are in play. You can go to Bama, OSU etc. and get a good education (if you want to) and also play for national championships on a yearly basis. That's where ND is behind right now. Some of these higher academic kids are receiving that message from these programs and agreeing with it.

 

And then the kids that don't have the grades or desire to attend a university like ND for its academics obviously won't come regardless and they slack off at other schools that won't require them to maintain certain academic standards, coupled with the small campus, religious atmosphere.

[NDCrusader 0]

Don't forget where many of these kids are coming from. A degree from WVU, Cincinnati, Miss St or... insert perceived crappy school here ______, in social work or physical education is LIGHT YEARS ahead of where they or any member of their family came from. So what they end up with a Gov't job or a PE/H&S teacher/coach? The world needs them too.

 

And don't think it's just the "dumb" kids that skip the USN&WR elites. I passed up most of the Ivy League, Rice, Vandy and Northwestern to chase my NBA dream. I've done ok in spite of that decision but a Princeton or Harvard Rolodex would have opened up some interesting doors that I never got to knock on.

[davislove 0]

Again, nobody's implying football isn't the priority. However, you've got to have a backup plan.

 

Spoken like an adult. Young kids however all think they are going pro and be set for life. Even pow ranked kids feel they slipped through the cracks.

 

Having said that can you commit to football as well as be a well rounded student? Do you go all in on one aspect or half a$$ both?

[ELDER06 248]

Spoken like an adult. Young kids however all think they are going pro and be set for life. Even pow ranked kids feel they slipped through the cracks.

 

Having said that can you commit to football as well as be a well rounded student? Do you go all in on one aspect or half a$$ both?

 

Well rounded? No. All you're going to do is football activities and study. I would add, athletes have resources traditional students do not. I assume most create the easiest possible schedule during the season bc they get priority registration.

[ELDER06 248]

You are preaching to the choir when it comes to that. No one is disagreeing with you. All of these kids should have one.

 

But other factors are in play. You can go to Bama, OSU etc. and get a good education (if you want to) and also play for national championships on a yearly basis. That's where ND is behind right now. Some of these higher academic kids are receiving that message from these programs and agreeing with it.

 

And then the kids that don't have the grades or desire to attend a university like ND for its academics obviously won't come regardless and they slack off at other schools that won't require them to maintain certain academic standards, coupled with the small campus, religious atmosphere.

 

It wouldn't shock me if they were discouraged from pushing themselves academically bc it detracts from football.

[davislove 0]

It wouldn't shock me if they were discouraged from pushing themselves academically bc it detracts from football.

 

Andrew hendrix made that claim and justin brent graduated in 3 years but stayed in the dog house. Coincidence?

[ELDER06 248]

Andrew hendrix made that claim and justin brent graduated in 3 years but stayed in the dog house. Coincidence?

 

Hendrix sucked balls, probably just butthurt over being a total bust. Remember when he came in during the 2013 USC game? You couldn't even tell if he was throwing with his dominant hand.

[davislove 0]

Well rounded? No. All you're going to do is football activities and study. I would add, athletes have resources traditional students do not. I assume most create the easiest possible schedule during the season bc they get priority registration.

 

Also with summer school they don't need to carry a heavy courseload.

 

I hear people say all the time that other schools have special classes and degrees for athletes. Are we sure ND doesn't do that? Despite the 40 year decision rhetoric, doing a little where are they now of former players not in the league and it's not really that impressive. Many of them have opened a gym and are personal trainers and others are doing jobs I'd be ticked if i paid 85k for.

[davislove 0]

Hendrix sucked balls, probably just butthurt over being a total bust. Remember when he came in during the 2013 USC game? You couldn't even tell if he was throwing with his dominant hand.

 

That's true his statement could still have merit. Being a good student has benefitted him.

 

And he went to a great high school. The best in the city:whistle: