2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeYear in Sports: For some athletes, class an afterthought
SU's grad rates lowest in at least 8 years
By Jackie Friedman
Posted: 4/20/08, 10:25 PM EST Section: Sports
On May 11, he'll walk across a stage, shake some hands and leave Central New York, again.
This time, with a degree.
"Of course I wanted to play, but I know that can end at any point in time," Asante said. "If you don't have a degree to fall back on, then what do you do then?"
Too many athletes, he believes, forget to ask themselves that very question.
The 63 percent rate at which athletes graduated from Syracuse is a low in eight years of available archives, though it matches the national average. Meanwhile, 82 percent of the general student population in the same class graduated, giving Syracuse the eighth worst discrepancy in the nation.
Sixty percent of Division I institutions graduate athletes at a higher rate than the general student population. Syracuse athletes graduated at the same or higher rate six out of the last eight years. The study allocates six years for students to complete their degree.
"I think for some kids they're just worried about being eligible (not graduating)," said Ryan Durand, a rising senior on the football team. "They haven't really figured it out yet. They think football is going to be it; football is going to take them to the Promised Land."
The 59 percent rate at which football players graduated was also the lowest in eight years.
"It has to be reminded to them sometimes that there's life after football, and you need to take care of your business in the classroom," said Kevyn Scott, who redshirted his freshman year. "I would get guest speakers, some who graduated and are in the NFL right now. Or, we have plenty of businessmen who played football here. Just get the message across, that's all."
Plenty of individuals are willing to chime in on what Scott called "some scary numbers."
Ferna Phillips, the director of Boston College's Learning Resources for Student-Athletes department, is bluntly honest with starry-eyed athletes.
"Only 1,500 people get to be in the pros, and you may not be one of them," Philips tells athletes. "There are 1.6 million people you're competing against. So let's be realistic."
This time, with a degree.
"Of course I wanted to play, but I know that can end at any point in time," Asante said. "If you don't have a degree to fall back on, then what do you do then?"
Too many athletes, he believes, forget to ask themselves that very question.
The 63 percent rate at which athletes graduated from Syracuse is a low in eight years of available archives, though it matches the national average. Meanwhile, 82 percent of the general student population in the same class graduated, giving Syracuse the eighth worst discrepancy in the nation.
Sixty percent of Division I institutions graduate athletes at a higher rate than the general student population. Syracuse athletes graduated at the same or higher rate six out of the last eight years. The study allocates six years for students to complete their degree.
"I think for some kids they're just worried about being eligible (not graduating)," said Ryan Durand, a rising senior on the football team. "They haven't really figured it out yet. They think football is going to be it; football is going to take them to the Promised Land."
The 59 percent rate at which football players graduated was also the lowest in eight years.
"It has to be reminded to them sometimes that there's life after football, and you need to take care of your business in the classroom," said Kevyn Scott, who redshirted his freshman year. "I would get guest speakers, some who graduated and are in the NFL right now. Or, we have plenty of businessmen who played football here. Just get the message across, that's all."
Plenty of individuals are willing to chime in on what Scott called "some scary numbers."
Ferna Phillips, the director of Boston College's Learning Resources for Student-Athletes department, is bluntly honest with starry-eyed athletes.
"Only 1,500 people get to be in the pros, and you may not be one of them," Philips tells athletes. "There are 1.6 million people you're competing against. So let's be realistic."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
All For Student Athletes
posted 4/22/08 @ 8:09 AM EST
Recently it appears that the athletic department is de-emphasizing academic performance. Since January, there has not been a weekly "Scholar Athlete of the Week" on the athletics page. (Continued…)
reader
posted 4/22/08 @ 11:16 PM EST
http://suathletics.com/News/Lacrosse/mLacrosse/2008/4/21/moulton_scholarathlete.asp?path=mlacrosse
http://suathletics.com/news/softball/2008/4/21/gibbs_scholarathlete. (Continued…)
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