Thanks, NCAA
For a look at just how much the NCAA cares about its student-athletes (not to mentions fans in non-revenue sports), consider last night's (actually, this morning's) conclusion to the UCLA-Cal State Fullerton regional baseball game.
The game ended after midnight, with Cal State Fullerton forcing a deciding game tonight (8p.m.) with an 11-8 win. Yes, a midnight finish, with UCLA still in session.
13 Comments
Leave a comment
About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
How is this any different than an away game during the week when school is in session?
Away games during the week usually start in the late afternoon.
It's not like UCLA set the game time. What do you propose? Skip the NCAA tournament?
Yeah Brian, I think you are making an issue out of nothing. Stop crying.
Who ever heard of college students staying up past 12am?!
THis is an outrage.
Looks like it might be time for another vacation Brian. You are making something out of nothing.
I see the point. NCAA is not consistent in its consideration and limitations of student-athletes' time.
Work on reading comprehension uclafan. Dohan puts no blame on UCLA whatsoever, but he makes a good point about the NCAA's inconsistency on prioritizing the student athlete.
Dohn does have a point here. The team is already missing class today, after missing class last Thursday and Friday, and probably won't be getting home until 1 or 2 am. There is no reason this game couldn't start a little earlier.
Definitely a valid point. This never happens with basketball and football. They are students first right? Student-athletes, not athlete-students.
I don't get your point. Its a tourney. It was televised which is why the late start. They only missed class on friday and monday. Lastly, most schools on the semester system are done. What's your beef?
Spare me the hypocrisy.
Students on athletic scholarships give up a lot of their freedom in exchange for the "free" ride. Part of that freedom is the ability to attend all scheduled classes.
Besides, most of these athletes believe in their heart of hearts that they don't need "no education or mind control," because they will be making millions hitting a ball, shooting a basket, or scoring a touchdown.
For the denser folks, listen up:
One of the many excuses put out by NCAA folks for why they should NOT have a football playoff: too many games would distract the "student-athlete" from his true "purpose" (nevermind that such a playoff & related practices would mostly take place over the winter break for most schools).
Given the emphasis on "student-athlete", I believe Dohn is pointing out the hypocrisy here.
The NCAA is ridiculous, time and time again, and are extreme hypocrites....they do want the "student-athlete" first but don't really do much about it in times like this.
However, in all honestly, none of these guys are going to class anyway during the playoffs. All you hear about is football and basketball, but tennis, for example, for the team championships and then individuals, one of my friends missed school for a full 2 and half weeks of school being at the site (Tulsa). It's just how it is and yes, while the game should be sooner, class just isn't a priority at this time.
This is college and not high school and it's "ok" to miss a class and plently of time to catch up once the season is over.
And anothe thing, while so many athlets are of course here just to play their sport and not care about school, there are just as many athletes who take full advantage of the UCLA education and care greatly about it. Another one of my friends on the tennis team, he was ranked high enough to recieve (top 30 in the country) a spot in the individual tournament of the NCAA singles championships, decided to skip it because he wanted to focus on the rest of school. He fulfilled his team section and the individual's wasn't as important. Kudos to him....