Coach -- I really enjoy your viewpoints on a lot of issues, but you're way off on your thoughts about the academic requirements for football players (and other athletes for that matter).
1. Reason for having guys start in 15 hours each semester is that it gives them the ability to drop a class if they are struggling. Ncaa minimum is 12 hours. ND classes are typically 3 hours. If they start in 12 hours and get behind in a class, then they are under major stress because they can't drop. So pick your poison but I would think that the way ND does actually provides more leeway than the alternative.
2. No one is making these guys graduate in 3 or 3.5 years. It's their choice. Sheldon Day did it in order to get a masters degree. Others do it so that they don't have to come back the 2nd semester of their senior year and can train for the draft. I'm sure Bryan Kelly did not want Sheldon Day to take 18 hours in season in order to get a masters degree. That's on Sheldon 100% and was a selfish move imo if it did take away from the team.
3. Given the 2 facts above, the only alternative is to do exactly what you advocated against and that's create easier majors where guys can do what they do in points 1and 2, but it doesn't create a ton of stress and they can focus on football more.
It's impossible to see where ND requires more from its athletes than any other school (given NCAA eligibility requirements) beyond the fact that the classes are legitimate and the work load is heavy. The only way to lighten it up is to decrease what's required in the classes or have classes where guys are guaranteed passing (and therefore could take 12 hours per semester).
1. Reason for having guys start in 15 hours each semester is that it gives them the ability to drop a class if they are struggling. Ncaa minimum is 12 hours. ND classes are typically 3 hours. If they start in 12 hours and get behind in a class, then they are under major stress because they can't drop. So pick your poison but I would think that the way ND does actually provides more leeway than the alternative.
2. No one is making these guys graduate in 3 or 3.5 years. It's their choice. Sheldon Day did it in order to get a masters degree. Others do it so that they don't have to come back the 2nd semester of their senior year and can train for the draft. I'm sure Bryan Kelly did not want Sheldon Day to take 18 hours in season in order to get a masters degree. That's on Sheldon 100% and was a selfish move imo if it did take away from the team.
3. Given the 2 facts above, the only alternative is to do exactly what you advocated against and that's create easier majors where guys can do what they do in points 1and 2, but it doesn't create a ton of stress and they can focus on football more.
It's impossible to see where ND requires more from its athletes than any other school (given NCAA eligibility requirements) beyond the fact that the classes are legitimate and the work load is heavy. The only way to lighten it up is to decrease what's required in the classes or have classes where guys are guaranteed passing (and therefore could take 12 hours per semester).
