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The answer to Miami’s
problem: Gordon Gee, President of
Vanderbilt. Before I get to why, I just
have a little bit of stuff to say about that school who refers
themselves as “the
U.”
Donna Shalala I have a
little problem with you. You first said
you watched the Miami-FIU
fight frame by frame, and then later on you said you did not watch the
video of
the fight. So which was it?
But, I really should not be too
surprise. Your fine academic institution
also accepted Willie Williams, America’s
Most Wanted. Dr. Shalala, when it says, “America’s
Most Wanted” on an application I hope you know that is a bad thing, not
a good
thing. It is not like Who’s Who or “America’s
Next Top Model.” You know who I feel bad
for is all those kids who have been rejected from the U.
I know the U has tough admission
standards
(however, this fine writer was accepted and given a huge scholarship
and
respectfully turned it down), but how would you like to tell some poor
honor student
that I am sorry, but your 3.8 GPA is just not good for Miami, but if
you grow 6
inches, gain 40 pounds, decrease your 40 by .3 seconds, feel free to
apply
again.
I really think Miami
is in a state of flux. They are
accepting too many unqualified student athletes and it was obvious with
their
physical actions on and off the field has shown. I
do not hate Miami
football because for their past success, but rather I hate them now. I hate the fact that it seems that winning is
far more important than graduating athletes. I
know many other programs have the same
problem, but Miami
goes the extra mile. This last incident
was proof of it. At best, the Miami
players should have received the same punishment as FIU players. Dr. Shalala, my only recommendation for you
is to call President of Vanderbilt, Gordon Gee, he will give you a
wonderful
lecture on academics and athletics.
I do not want to hear
anything negative about Vanderbilt,
its athletics may not be the best, but Dr. Gee’s decision to implement
the
athletic department into department of student life was genius. Gee’s decision was unpopular, but very little
has change in athletic performance, except better athletes in the
classroom. I admit it, I love sports, and
I can never get
enough of them. But the problem arises
when athletics start to stray from academics. When
athletes are treated superior and given
lesser punishments than normal students that is when I have a problem. I also believe college programs should have to
maintain a high graduation rate to even be eligible for postseason play.
Despite my negativity,
intercollegiate athletics are still a
good thing. College athletics give
students a chance to earn an education, many unable to do so otherwise. College athletics only become a problem when
they
become more toward the athletics and less about the education. Most of the fault falls on the administration
of these universities like Miami which will go in desperate measures
just to win. These universities need to
sway away from
this pursuit of winning at any price, and focus on their true purpose: educating students. I
understand the importance of athletics and money
and know my dream of college football at its purest form will never
happen, but
I can still dream. My dream could start
by Gordon Gee giving his number to Dr. Shalala.
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