The CheckerBoard

Under Kiffin, according to the article, Fulmer's guys had perhaps the greatest increase in team GPA. Kiffin has to be given credit for that achievement on its face. I would agree with you and the other posters if the increase had not been so great in comparison to other years, as stated by article.

I really did like the way that Kiffin would show up at class to check on his players. Possibly, Dooley and his staff do the very same thing. I also thought it ironic that the statement on "having no player arrested" was published just weeks before the infamous Pilot gas station holdup, resulting in the arrest of three players, the near immediate dismissal of two of those players, and the eventual dismissal of the remaining one.
I still believe Kiffin's character evaluation process was not as merticulous as Dooley's. I would like to know if the players that are under academic probation are mostly Dooley's guys or that of other administrations. I would be surprised if Dooley's signees made up the vast majority of them.
Dooley actively signed only about 10 kids or so his first year. It was three weeks before signing day when he was hired. Last year was his only complete class.

So . . . er . . . what DO the big Vols in the trenches do, then, before laying a Johnny Majors-esque slobberknocker on someone? "Get down in your three point stance!" just don't sound too catchy, ya know.

Idears, anyone?

true

Not to make excuses but these guy's spend about 80 hours a week liveing and breathing nothing but football.

There is some truth in what you say, but not all of it is correct. Please forgive me for stepping up on a soap box...I teach in a school that can be best described as low income/low performing, with over 85% on free and reduced lunches. We have some athletes that are good students - who CHOOSE TO BE...and some who make other choices...it comes down to character, which I've preached about before.

We can't have it both ways...say that character doesn't matter but complain about grades and gpa. Student-athletes are in college, not to become professional athletes, but to become professional in their lives.

In sports, we are excited about recruits that can perform certain skills, but we hardly ever look at their character...and that is where they will truly succeed in school and on the field. I'm not saying be an ivy league school that attracts egg headed non athletic types, but let's look at the whole person...something Kiffin didn't do and still doesn't. Enough said about that.

In many ways we are our own worst enemy. We want statistics...we want athletes, but we are sending the message to high school kids that that's all that's important. I fight it everyday...those who believe that they will go to college because of their talent, even though they can't easily write a paragraph or do basic work because they don't care to try.

If these guys are challenged to meet certain standards before coming to a university, they either will or won't...but that means we should choose those who will work hard and show character to represent our school. I'd like to see that message filter down to our high schools...

Grades are an indication of hard work and dedication. I am saddened and grow weary of former pro athletes who can't manage their lives, or college football grads who have to take minimum wage jobs after college because they have no life skills.

Sorry about the soap box, but this is near and dear to me. I coach and I teach.