Can you imagine how much bigtexx and Jorge would have made out of this if a Texas player had done the same thing?
I don't think anyone's being self-righteous about this. All we're talking about is NOT STARTING. He's going to get over 30 carries during the game. Not playing in the opening drive is a justifiable punishment. Heck - if OU's crosses the 50, I wouldn't be surprised to see Peterson subbing in. I agree that a suspension would be going overboard.
Here is a question for all of you saying it's no big deal and students skip classes all the time: How many classes should a scholarship athlete at OU under Bob Stoops be allowed to skip before this particular sort of punishment (not starting) is enacted?
i skip class couple times a week. i dont see a problem with it at all... as long as you get your work done. but i dont get punished for it... anyways... i like peterson but hate OU. im sure stoops understands that they must have peterson to even think about winning the game. so he will come in by the time the first quater is even over
Personally, I don't think that he needs to miss any game time, but it is good to send a message to your players. The reason is not because they need get a degree from a coaches standpoint, but to stay academically eligible. I wish that Coach Barnes had a similar policy and maybe we wouldn't have lost PJ Tucker last year. I know that UT football has had some academic losses in the past couple of years as well. The worst part about all of this, like someone mentioned earlier, is all of the publicity that this is getting. It's not such a big deal that AP or Stoops should be getting negative press. I think that with the exception of this 'article' the press has been mostly positive for Oklahoma's new strict policy. Where it is most interesting is that if he skips one more class this semester, he has a mandatory game suspension. I'm assuming that he has one class where his professor doesn't give a damn about football and will not give him a free pass. In my college experience, some classes were very hard for me to make every time, especially the 8:00 am classes, despite my good intentions. I couldn't imagine if I had an 8:00 class that I absolutely couldn't miss or else I would have all of the national media announce to the world that I missed that class and that I would be suspended from the Texas-OU Shootout!
As many as he wants. In reality, the NCAA can't pay athletes so they give them scholarships for a "free" education (even though they work the hell out of them). More than not, the kids never graduate (at least star players, like AP). Unless a school has a specific policy in place related to missed classes (like Baylor) then it doesn't matter how many classes a kid misses as long as he gets his work done and shows up on test day. Does it really matter if you attend the class as long as you get your work done? The only person that loses out if the individual missing class. The fees for the room and the teachers salary is paid regardless.
Is the policy for all students (not just athletes), and exactly what is it (assuming it is for all students)? From my understanding, per the athletic policy he has to miss a game if he skips again. The article states that he already missed his two practices. Where does the policy say anything about not starting? Either way, I think the policy is dumb. If you choose not to go to class and you still get your work done I really don't care. You could easily sit in every class and not pay attention. Does it really make that much of a difference that your body is occupying the space in the chair? That's what seperates high school from college.
You know how everyone uses the irrelevant argument when an athlete does something and gets away with it, "if I did that on my job, blah blah blah". This is the opposite. Kids skip classes all the time but because this guy is an athlete its a big deal. Which Texas Tech running back got in trouble for skipping an entire semester?
A STUDENT athlete should be going to classes... if you are going to be representing a university on TV every week.. actually participating in academics at the university should be required..if someone is getting a full paid ride at a university.. they should at least go to class... or give the money to someone who will actually get an education.. now I'll give the argument that I've been told of why not going to class hurts more than just the individual... The argument that I've had professors etc mention is that if takes away from the classroom experience when people skip.. which is true in smaller classes where discussion is big.. if no one shows up to "discuss and participate" then seminars etc aren't quite as effective.. so you could argue that it hurts more than just the one student.. of course that depends on if you are at a school with pretty small class sizes...
The only thing a student, athlete or not, should be required to do is make an honest attempt to pass, and learn something. Skipping every now and then doesn't prevent that. Now excessive skipping is a problem.
having extra requirements to be part of extracurriculars isn't something new... Some sororites frats etc make you have a certain GPA to join... but I wouldn't expect to hear any outrage about why the frat members have to have better grades than the "average student".... it's not unfair at all.. if the average student wants to play fb he'll have to meet the attendance requirements.. and if the average football player just wants to be a regular student maybe he won't have to meet the football requirements...
pg.. do you have a problem with requiring people on full paid academic rides to have a minimum GPA? if im giving somonea full paid ride i expect a little more out of them than just attempting to pass.. considering the AVERAGE athlete isn't smart enough to get into the school they play at.. they could use a litttle more time in class...
This early in the semester though.. 3 classes is quite a bit to miss.. at least a weeks worth.. maybe more if its a two day a week class...not to mention he'll probably be missing additional days due to football etc..
I think they should be required to pass nothing more. Do you know how much time a football player is required to give to the team. To require anything more is unfair, as a regular student may have nothing to do but go to class. While a regular student MAY have a job, an athlete has practices, meetings, and other commitments with the team.
Well I'll never agree with you on this so I guess no point in arguing about it. I'm big on academic integrity in college sports. If anything I think they should skip a practice to make time for academics before skipping a class to make time for athletics. I'm glad that my university agree with me on this subject... Players should be trying to graduate.. at many universities "just passing" won't let you graduate.. with a 1.0 or whatever just passing all classes will get you.. its amazing how many SEC athletes go to school 5 yrs . but yet still don't graduate
This particular student is on an athletic scholarship and is expected to follow the rules set forth by the football coach regardless of how arcane they may seem. If he doesn't like the policies set forth by the school/coach then he can always go attend another school and gie up his scholarship. By accepting his scholarship he has implicitly agreed to follow the guidelines set forth by the coach. According to the article and the punishment he has already undergone, he has skipped at least 4 classes. Whether or not you think the policy is dump is irrevelant. He had the opportunity to NOT accept his scholarship and to NOT have to follow the pre-established rules.
