Most of you have been following the 'revelations" from the Detroit Free Press regarding Michigan football's alleged violation of the NCAA rules. Specifically, 6 players claim that second year head coach Rich Rodriguez grossly over worked his players by exceeding the maximum daily and weekly practice hours. Some claim that they were told to come in and workout on off days, Sundays after game days and for up to 11 hours per day.
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel came to the defense of Rodriguez, stating "we sometimes have to lock our practice facility to keep the guys out...they just want to be good." Indeed, in America, we all admire a strong work ethic and cheer on those who, through hard work, want a better life for themselves.
Why should it matter? Who cares as long as Michigan wins, right? WRONG! As I see this, something has got to give. These are full time college students who are expected to carry 12-15 credit hours each semester just to remain eligible and make progress towards their degrees. Less than 1% of all NCAA Division I athletes move on to a professional sports career. For arguments sake, I'll allow that Michigan has a higher percentage that move onto the NFL than most other programs; they probably average 4-5 per year. That means of 105 athletes on Michigan's roster, 5 will actually see a return on their investment of 30-40 hours a week just on football related activities. I'm worried for the other 100--peer pressure alone says they need to invest this kind of time, too. How will they mange their classes, papers, presentations and research projects?
The issue is not with the 5 who DO move on...its creating a culture that all feel compelled to follow that has diminishing returns for the vast majority of team members. Ignorance of that fact by the coaches is what created this issue--and I'm guessing that's the reason 6 student athletes went to the Detroit Free Press--who else was going to listen?
About Me
- Karen Weaver, EdD
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Ivy League-educated consultant, scholar, speaker, and administrator with experience that includes positions as a Director of Athletics, adjunct professor, and head coach for schools at the NCAA Division I, III, and small college levels. As a former All-American and national championship coach, recognized as an expert in broadcast rights and new media, athletic administration, and college recruitment; Athletics Consultant to Senior Leaders in Higher Education. Dr. Weaver has been quoted, published and interviewed by some of the leading news outlets in the world including: BBC, USA Today, Orlando Sentinel, New York Times, Indianapolis Star, Detroit Free Press, Sports Business Journal, Change Magazine, Minnesota Public Radio, Athletic Management Magazine and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Her Twitter feed is ranked as one of the Top 100 for College Sports Fanatics to follow, and her followers include writers and editors from Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Orlando Sentinel, Sports Business Journal, the American Council on Education, the Knight Commission and Reuters.
