That kind of discipline may explain why some student-athletes like David Castillo, the offensive lineman for the Florida State University football team, are being hailed not just for their abilities on the field, but also for their classroom work.
Still, for all the planning, for all the NCAA controls, many collegiate athletes are just barely managing to maintain their eligibility. In football and men’s basketball, where the pressure to perform is the most extreme, graduation rates lag well behind those of the general student population. In both cases, some students head to the pros early. Others come in unprepared for the rigors of academic life and never really find their footing.
And then there’s the sad case of Maryland’s McCray, who lost his eligibility going into his final semester. Experts say such things are bound to happen when athletes cut it too close when trying to stay eligible.
While McCray’s situation marred an otherwise stellar career and derailed the basketball team’s dreams of a March Madness bid, it did show that the system works. Star athlete or not, when McCray failed to live up to his academic responsibilities, he found himself not on the bench, but off the team. That ought to be a clear enough signal to students, coaches and advisers alike that academic standards are being taken seriously.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
