As has been mooted in previous posts, the—already small—pool of talent that is good enough to compete for B1G championships and will also qualify for NU’s academic and character requirements is shrinking. The decline in academic competencies in the US educational system is well documented.
I think that is overstated greatly.
If you go to a social event where 40 and 50 something adults are gathering two things will be talked about non stop.
* "Oh my gawd have you heard what they are doing in the schools now? The schools stink nowadays."
Also on the conversation menu will be the exact opposite complaint;
* "Oh my gawd my sister's kid has a 4.0 and she got rejected at all her favorite schools, schools are just becoming impossible to get into these days, there is soooo much competition"
Both of these simply can't be true.
So I don't think the problem is all that great.
Plus we can now get around the grades issue. Since athletes often get breaks in grading, just don't ask for SAT or ACT scores for athletes. Say that "For athletes, their sport is their SAT/ACT score" and we will be able to get anyone in. Then you need good tutors while they are here. Anyone who fails out can be said to have "applied for the transfer portal" and it won't hit our grade rates either if I understand the new rules correctly. And of course they can be replaced too so that we don't lose a roster spot. A lot of grad rates for a lot of schools will be going up with this "trick" so it will be tougher for us to sell our 95 percent graduation rate when half the schools will have a 95 percent graduation rate. With kids now getting "paid" a lot of kids will be told to move on surreptitiously. Mr Texas Longhorn booster isn't going to pay big bucks for a red shirt junior who is fourth string and only sees the field on punt returns or something like that.
If anyone thinks I am being cynical, I say I think the coaches have thought of all of these things months ago (both here and at all other schools) and are going to use these methods. I'm just bringing this to the boards attention and putting it all up for discussion. This is a time of great change and we can't stick our heads in the sand.
GO CATS!