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Tonight the film Walking on Dead Fish opens in New Orleans. It details the story of how Hurricane Katrina changed so many lives and scholarship dreams. At NCSA we strive to help athletes like those from East St. John High.
I wrote a few weeks ago about the importance of athletes engaging in responsible behavior in this new era of Internet hyper connectivity. Sports Illustrated’s Selena Roberts wrote a fantastic article for the Point After column detailing the new reality of athlete supervision. The entire article is a must read.
Some coaches require athletes to list them-yes, The Coach-as a friend on their Facebook pages, which is a lot like putting BEWARE OF DOG on their dorm door. With a click, The Coach has an all-access pass to a player’s social world. “Athletes are upset by it,” says Zeynep Tufekci, a sociology and anthropology professor at Maryland Baltimore County, who has surveyed more than a thousand college students, including athletes, in her research on the impact of technology. “I ask them, ‘Are you a star player?’ And they laugh because they’re not…. I’ve had athletes say they’ve been told, ‘Do not have a Facebook page,’ but given how they communicate, that’s not an option. It’s like being told. ‘Don’t have a phone if you don’t want to be wiretapped.’”
The Coach sees all, knows all As Tufekci explains, athletes fear being photographed with a red plastic cup in their hand at a bash because coaches view it as a symbol of alcohol consumption, even if they’re only drinking Yoo-hoo. “It’s guilt by association,” she says. The constant surveillance is creepy yet reluctantly accepted by athletes who realize they are acquisitions, stocks to be followed on a crawl. “Some things I personally don’t agree with,” says Oklahoma’s Nic Harris, one of the nation’s top defensive backs. “You take some of the individualism away from people. At the end of the day we’re seen as an investment. And the university wants to protect its investment. They have to protect what’s going on in your life for their best interest.”
The NCAA’s academic reform three years ago-demanding that programs meet graduation standards or risk losing scholarships even as institutions lower admission levels-is the latest reason for hypervigilance over athletes’ activity. It’s also allowed coaches on the BCS scale to monetize their players’ grades. Most say they are educators first, yet, oddly enough, their base pay doesn’t cover teaching. Take Nebraska’s football coach, Bo Pelini. He will pocket an extra $125,000 if the Cornhuskers’ graduation rate equals that of the overall student population’s.
If you are a college athlete or a recruit, whether you personally agree with the levels to which coaches are going to monitor you is not the point. This level of hand holding is the new reality and there won’t be a second chance if you screw up. So with that said, this shouldn’t be a distraction for most athletes and it actually could serve as a way for recruits to separate themselves from the pack. Recruits who don’t make wrong decisions will increasingly stand out from those that do. As the article points out coaches have a financial interest in recruiting athletes that engage in proper behavior, so if you are serious about being recruited I encourage making sure your personal choices never hurt your scholarship potential.
If you weren’t watching the thriller Monday night between the Cowboys and the Eagles you missed a heck of a game. But, you also missed one of the all-time boneheaded plays I have ever seen.
The even more amazing part is DeSean had already made virtually the same mistake in high school!
When I talk to recruits I remind that coaches are watching them on every single play to make sure they play hard and go the whistle. Playing with intensity on every play is a sure sign of mental tenacity and a willingness to compete. I’ve heard of coaches deciding not to offer a scholarship because they weren’t sure a recruit was a real competitor. Don’t put yourself in a position where you could be judged not worthy of a scholarship by showboating.
NCSA student-athlete and future Northwestern Wildcat Patrick Ward has been regarded as one of the top lineman in the Chicago land area and arguably the best to come out of Providence Catholic High School. You can’t ignore Patrick’s size at 6′7″ tall and weighing in at 295 pounds. After evaluating Patrick’s film, he is a mauler on the field and it will be tough for defensive ends to get around him at the next level. His massive build and long arms had recruiting coordinators across the country drooling.
NCSA recently caught up with the Providence Catholic tackle and here’s what he had to say:
NCSA: What influenced you to choose NU?
PW: Northwestern felt like the best fit. I felt at home there and the guys that are coming in have the same goals as I do. You’re a student first and athlete second.
NCSA: What advice can you give other athletes going through the recruiting process?
PW: First and foremost, keep your grades in order because education always comes first. Be open to all possibilities and don’t rule out a school unless you’re absolutely sure. Also, make sure coaches know you exist and do your best to get your name out there.
NCSA: What are your thoughts on the Big Ten and where the conference is going?
PW: The conference is down right now, but there are quality teams and I want to help Northwestern get better.
NCSA: How much assistance did NCSA give you in the recruiting process?
PW: NCSA helped me get my name out there and get scouts interested to watch my film and watch me in person. NCSA also gave me tons of information about the recruiting process.
NCSA recruiting analyst Tom Lemming was quoted in the Chicago Sun Times, saying Ward was “One of the fastest rising prospects in the state and in the nation. He has redefined himself this year. He has gotten bigger and stronger and has improved his quickness. Lemming also described this commitment as another big catch for Northwestern and head football coach Pat Fitzgerald. Many are considering this the best recruiting class in the university’s history with QB Evan Watkins of Glenbard North, Mike Trumpy of Wheaton North, and defensive end, Anthony Battle of Mount Carmel.
Athletic scholarships are dispersed by coaches using a variety of evaluating factors. Grades and talent are usually the first two factors that come to mind, but don’t overlook another equally important trait: attitude. Fox Sports took a look at John Wall one of the nations top point guard prospect and how he is near implosion and rebound were both triggered by key changes in his attitude.
Early in Wall’s high school career he was best known for his blow-ups, not his blow-bys. However, a few coaches stepped into his life and through some strong words and counseling, helped transform him into the player he is now for Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C.
“I think it happened because I got in the right situation,” Wall says of the coaches who became a triumvirate of mentors. “I was with Brian Clifton and Tony Edwards at first and then there was hard work and dedication. What really helped me was when I got cut from Broughton and transferred over here.
“Then coach (Levi) Beckwith helped me out a lot. Attitude-wise, I had a bad one when I got (to Word of God). He changed all that around and didn’t let me play with that. (They) set me down and made me realize I had to trust my players and have a better attitude.”
These days, Wall’s attitude is in check. He’s grown up, learned some tough lessons and continues to check himself. “I got frustrated last year when I made passes and they were dropped,” he explains. “Now, I just pat (those guys) on the back and tell them to get it next time, so “I was sitting home going to the website and looking at other people just wishing I had a chance,”
Wall reflects on where he used to be. “(Last) summer, that’s when everything changed for me.” it doesn’t stop me from playing.”
Keeping a positive winning attitude throughout your high school career is a key to making sure you have the character that college coaches demand in their scholarship athletes.
Freshman recruits aren’t supposed to see the field. They will spend their first two years firmly planted on the bench and possibly red-shirted. That old way of thinking is vanishing from the college football landscape.
Today’s Wall Street Journal profiles a few high profile recruits that are expected to make immediate if not major contributions this season.
But, this trend isn’t unique to only college football or even Division I. Coaches in all sports across every level are ever more willing to play the best players available no matter their age. This means that recruits looking for a chance to play early have more options. If playing early and not riding the pine for a few years is important to you, I suggest getting started with recruiting as early as possible.
Bigger, Better, Biggest. That short phrase can usually sum up most athletic departments and their budgets across the nation. While most schools strive to insulate their athletes with as many athletic department only perks as possible one school in the SEC has chosen to go in the opposite direction to great success.
Five years ago this week Vanderbilt president Gordon Gee decided to eliminate the schools athletic department and fold athletics into the division of student life. At the time many alumni were furious with the decision. But as they say in sports; winning cures all 
problems. Both basketball teams made the NCAA tournament, the baseball team is considered a powerhouse and the football team just upset South Carolina to remain undefeated. But, beyond just an improved record on the field the move has benefited the student athletes in countless ways. The average GPA has risen to 3.1 and it graduation rate stands atop the conference at 94%. Still, as the AP reports numbers still don’t tell the whole story.
But Vanderbilt says the real success is an athletics program that is no longer viewed as an appendage, a side business for entertaining students and donors. And Gee’s vision - that if the whole university is responsible for the athletic program, everyone invests more to make sure it succeeds - shows signs of taking hold.
David Williams, the law professor and vice chancellor of university affairs whose job now includes oversight of the athletic program, brags about the music school dean who teamed up with the baseball staff to recruit an outfielder who plays the tuba.
Administrators worked with the honor council to adjust time requirements so athletes could serve on the body - something that hadn’t happened for years. Athletes are picking an expanding range of majors, and are encouraged to study abroad.
“I can’t imagine too many places supporting their athletes to go do something that isn’t athletically related,” said Nick Cromydas, a senior tennis standout from Glenview, Ill., who got financial support to study in Barcelona. “I didn’t bring a tennis racket. I didn’t bring a pair of tennis shoes.”
Now the university is working on a program to send whole teams on foreign trips with athletic and academic components.
“When you look at some schools, and I kind of have, the kids are segregated, they have athletes-only dorms, they eat in the same spot,” said Jensen Lewis, a 2006 Vanderbilt grad now pitching in the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen. “We really developed some great relationships with some - I hate to use the word regular students - but people who weren’t involved in athletics.”
Lewis said his team quickly saw the upside of the changes. Players recognized they’d be better off with support from the full university and not just the athletic department.
“You feel as much a part of someone winning a concerto competition as they feel part of you winning a baseball game,” he said. Ultimately, that experience was something to sell to recruits and helped build the program. He remembers telling them: “You’re coming here to one of the toughest academic universities in the nation, and you’re also coming to one of the most elite programs in college baseball. This isn’t an opportunity that presents itself just anywhere.”
The Vanderbilt story shows recruits exactly why just looking at a handful of schools is simply not enough. If you really want to find the right school, getting out of your comfort zone and thinking outside the box is an absolute must. Changes like this are slowly happening across the nation. If you want to be a part of the change I suggest you start proactively getting your name out now.
Will I hurt my chances of receiving a scholarship by playing 2 (or more) sports? It is a question that many recruits wrestle with as they try to maximize scholarship dollars. Today ESPN chronicled the bizarre recruitment of Flenard Whitfield. His story gives some great insight as to what basketball coaches look for in athletes.
Whitfield is headed to Western Michigan to play basketball for Coach Steve Hawkins despite a late recruiting push from Michigan to play football.
A few years ago, Hawkins attended a Tom Izzo clinic and remembered the Michigan 
State coach explaining how virtually every member of his national championship team also had been offered a football scholarship.
The notion stuck with Hawkins, who now classifies his favorite type of basketball player as a football player in high-tops.
“It’s the toughness, the tough-mindedness that it takes to play through pain,” Hawkins said. “You see it all the time. In a basketball game, a guy gets tired, he looks at the bench and tells the coach he wants out. It’s accepted. You don’t see that in football. These guys play with broken bones, torn ligaments. It goes with the mentality.”
When Hawkins first spied Whitfield in summer AAU ball playing for The Family, he was actually recruiting other players. But every time he looked up, Whitfield was outmuscling someone else for a rebound.
For a coach who puts a premium on defense and the boards — last season the Broncos ranked 37th nationally in field-goal percent defense and 34th in rebounding margin — Whitfield was a dream.
And when he heard Whitfield also was being courted for football, Hawkins liked him even more.
Why did he choose to play basketball at Western over the more prestigious Michigan football offer? It turns out his heart was in basketball.
“To me, I wasn’t good at football; I was athletic and my height gave me an advantage,” Whitfield said. “I considered myself a basketball player. My heart was always in basketball.”
I encourage more recruits to follow their hearts and play the sports that excite them. Hopefully, your love will lead you to finding the right fit at the nest level.
It’s common knowledge that athletics can be the key to a free education. But what athletes often overlook is the fact that athletics can be the key to admission. Former IU coach Gerry DiNardo sat down with the Indy Star to discuss just how far he was sometimes able to bend admissions standards for athletes.
Coach DiNardo’s first recruiting class at IU had a 42% “special admission” rate and he even recalled getting a freshman into Vanderbilt with an SAT score of 710.
“We know they’re not qualified academically,” said DiNardo, now a commentator for the Big Ten Network, “so our obligation extends past what it is for a non-student-athlete.”
It can be a heavy obligation. Many of the nation’s largest universities rely on special admits — students admitted under exceptions to normal admission standards for reasons including “special talent” — to stock their football teams, an Indianapolis Star study of 55 universities found. At these schools, the percentage of special admits among students overall is extremely small.
The disparity can be stark: The University of California in 2004 reported that 95 percent of its freshman football players on scholarship were special admits, compared with 2 percent of the student body. Others: Texas A&M in 2004, 94 percent to 8 percent; and Oklahoma in 2002, 81 percent to 2 percent.
While many in academia decry this practice, it is important for athletes to realize that these types of admission policies are in place. Recruits shouldn’t cross any potential school off their list because they don’t think that they have the grades to get admitted. This isn’t to say athletes should slack off in the classroom and assume their grades will get them into school. Grades still play a major factor in recruiting and are often used to break a tie between two players, but this type of admissions benefit is just one more reason why playing sports can be such a positive experience.
5 Star, 4 Star, No Star, What does it all mean? It can mean a lot in the recruiting world or it can mean nothing at all. Highly ranked players often end up with many scholarship offers early in the process, but under the radar recruits still have their place with major college programs. Penn State opened their football season with an impressive victory on Saturday. The media likes to focus on team captain Derrick Williams the former #1 recruit in America, but his counterparts Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood also contributed heavily in the Penn State victory. The Morning Call.com examined the performance of their wide receivers and their vastly different recruiting stories.
This is not to suggest that Penn State shouldn’t chase everybody’s All-Americans, or that smart recruiting is conducted only on the fringes. Over the summer, quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno took a glancing blow at the recruiting services, saying, ”There are a lot of great football players that Rivals and Scout don’t know about.” True, but there are even more whom they do know about — and who don’t end up at Penn State.
So, what does this have to do with recruiting? Remember, both were overlooked in high school. Butler was a preferred walk-on, and Norwood might have been known better as a basketball player at State College High. In fact, that’s why Paterno offered him a scholarship in the first place.”I’ll take credit for Jordan Norwood,” the head coach said Saturday. ”I’m serious about that.”
”Recruits complain all the time about where they’re rated on these Web sites,” Jay Paterno said this past summer. ”It’s like, Why do you care? Get to your schools, prove everybody wrong.”’
Many times the only thing separating a recruit with a 5 star rating from a no star rating is a little exposure. I suggest recruits work to get their name out early and often so they don’t end up as walk-ons a.k.a long shots.