NCAA Increased Academic Policies in 2016

[stebo]

NCAA Increased Academic Policies in 2016

...... In a recent move by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, academics are very soon going to be dramatically changed and the landscape of college athletics will forever be different.

Starting with the upcoming high school freshman class, the class of 2016, there will be a major shift into what GPA is required for a high school graduate to be eligible for participation into Division I sports entering college. Instead of the minimum 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0) scale in core classes, the minimum GPA will now be a 2.3 GPA. Please note there will still be a sliding scale on what a student-athlete has to score on one of the two main standardized tests (SAT/ACT.) Also, 10 of the 16 core classes must have been taken before a prospective student-athletes senior year.

According to ESPN, almost 40% of all 2011 entering freshmen football players would have been ineligible to participate this past season. FORTY PERCENT!!! That is a ridiculously high number which shows how academically unprepared most of these football players are coming into college. Why did the NCAA do this? There are quite a few reasons that lead into this decision by the NCAA.......

(full article link): http://dev.chuckoliver.net/2012/05/why-ncaa-increased-academic-policies-in-2016/

[shaft]

It's not that big of a change. The same kids can go to the same schools, they just have to sit for a year.

"While student-athletes who would have qualified under the old eligibility requirements will still be eligible to attend, they must do so with an “academic redshirt.” This will allow student-athletes who are below the new academic standards to still attend school and practice but must do so while passing their freshman year in college and not being allowed to play in games. While this may seem almost pointless, it will encourage high school students to focus just a little bit more on academics than in previous years."

[VideoEagle]

If you are asking why they would do this, remember what the Wonderlic score for the Cowboy's top draft choice was. While some certainly are, I still say most college athletes are NOT dumb. They might now know how to study, but if a linebacker can learn the intricacies of coverages they have the ability to learn. Only a tiny percentage of all college athletes become pro athletes and the schools owe it to the majority to offer them an education in exchange for their football or other services. The academic redshirt year gives them time to adjust life where teachers and principals are not going to change their grades just because they are a starter on the team!