Let's stop overlooking academics (team GPA is supposedly very high)
Part of the whole "Michigan thang" is that we are one of very few top college teams from a top college. Sure Ohio State has a great veterinary program, but let's face it, you cant name a top politician/business person/ creative artist that came out of Columbus except for Bud Weiser.
Rich Rod has been slammed for lots of undeserved stuff (well, 3-9 produces a lot of deserved static) and in the back of many people's minds is the idea that the southern speed he is bringing in may not be serious students. Hell, if they are working so hard, it must be coming out of their classes, right?
Wrong. I have caught drifts of a story we need to promote in support of our coach, and I have made a few brief posts to ask for more info.
I have heard that this spring, the football team's GPA was higher than it has been in many years. How many years, and how high is it? What was the range under Lloyd Carr, or even Moeller?
If Rich Rod's renovation of the Michigan football team has been accomplished while RAISING the GPA of the team, isnt that exactly what MICHIGAN wants? If the story had come out that the Rich Rod football team had a lower GPA than past teams, wouldnt that have been great fuel for the witch hunt? Do you think there is a snowball's chance in hell we can get the "good grades" story placed in the Free Press?
Anyone who saw the way Michigan played last week knows that Rich Rod is obviously a fine teacher of the game. (and how about the NFL-based teaching credentials of the new Professor of Defense? )
We need to get the academic story out. We can help scrape the crap off our program.
Rich Rod has been slammed for lots of undeserved stuff (well, 3-9 produces a lot of deserved static) and in the back of many people's minds is the idea that the southern speed he is bringing in may not be serious students. Hell, if they are working so hard, it must be coming out of their classes, right?
Wrong. I have caught drifts of a story we need to promote in support of our coach, and I have made a few brief posts to ask for more info.
I have heard that this spring, the football team's GPA was higher than it has been in many years. How many years, and how high is it? What was the range under Lloyd Carr, or even Moeller?
If Rich Rod's renovation of the Michigan football team has been accomplished while RAISING the GPA of the team, isnt that exactly what MICHIGAN wants? If the story had come out that the Rich Rod football team had a lower GPA than past teams, wouldnt that have been great fuel for the witch hunt? Do you think there is a snowball's chance in hell we can get the "good grades" story placed in the Free Press?
Anyone who saw the way Michigan played last week knows that Rich Rod is obviously a fine teacher of the game. (and how about the NFL-based teaching credentials of the new Professor of Defense? )
We need to get the academic story out. We can help scrape the crap off our program.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:30 AM ^
The effort of this TEAM in the classroom, on the practice fields and in the weight room has been commendable.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:33 AM ^
a top politician/business person/ creative artist that came out of Columbus except Roy Lichtenstein.
"Ohio State currently has over 425,000 living alumni located around the world. Ohio State alumni include Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and Medal of Honor recipients, ambassadors, as well as Fortune 500 CEOs and members of the Forbes 400 list of the world's wealthiest individuals. Numerous graduates have gone on to become Governors, Senators and members of Congress. Ohio State alumni have appeared on the cover of TIME twelve times, with the artwork of alumnus Roy Lichtenstein featured on an additional two TIME covers."
September 10th, 2009 at 10:35 AM ^
Sounds like a nice story.
If we're being honest, though, one season could easily be a statistical outlier.
Still, you've gotta imagine it has been pretty high, otherwise we'd have already seen:
Academics Suffering Under Rodriguez
by Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press From Bo to Moeller to Carr, the University of Michigan's football program put the lie to anyone who said success on the field has to come at the expense of the classroom. That's a lesson that apparently new head coach Rich Rodriguez and his win-at-all-costs mentality has yet to grasp... (cont. on Page 2 ... skip to next Wednesday's paper for a shred of proof)September 10th, 2009 at 10:39 AM ^
Cunning linguists...I mean everyone does it, kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me, whatever
September 10th, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
Is that supposed to be a cunnilingus pun?
September 10th, 2009 at 10:44 AM ^
The number of hours studying are voluntary right?
But in all seriousness, this is a tremendous accomplishment by the team. A lot of credit needs to go to the players for their hard work both on and off the field. I'm sure the coaching staff helped by instilling a strong work ethic in the players, but the players made this happen.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:51 AM ^
I refuse to believe there's anythings known as a "Michigan thang."
September 10th, 2009 at 10:56 AM ^
The Big Boy theme song in the commercials say they are a Michigan thang.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:01 AM ^
I guess the winningest college football program ever is on par with Big Boy then.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:49 AM ^
Almost.
September 10th, 2009 at 1:23 PM ^
I mean have you had a Big Boy with a side of onion rings? Delicious!
September 10th, 2009 at 11:39 AM ^
Bill Martin said the team GPA was its highest in the past 20 years, which would cover the entire Carr and Moeller eras.
September 10th, 2009 at 12:01 PM ^
Stick with me for a minute.....my niece is a senior in high school and has very good grades and high test scores. In a recent conversation my sister (her mom) tells me that she studies more than we did in college (we are both Michigan grads). She frequently stays up past midnight and has pulled all nighters since her sophmore year. My sister said many of the parents complain to the principal/teachers that the work load is too demanding/time consuming. Sound firmilar? My niece tells me she wishes she had more time to study because it is so competitive to get into the best schools....good kid, I hope she gets into Michigan. I'm sure her drive and discipline will pay off in all of her life's endeavors. She knows as well as the Michigan football players that in order to compete and be your best you have to work hard. As such, I'm not suprised that the football team's GPA is heading in the right direction.