This post is different from any of the other posts on this blog, primarily because it does not address a specific policy or law. Rather, this post concerns a statement/essay made in January 2010 by Arne Duncan concerning college football and basketball programs.
In this statement Duncan calls for a reformation of the way college sports programs are run and the graduation rates of the student athletes. Duncan proposes that new regulations be implemented when deciding when a student can go pro, and the eligibility of teams to play in play-off games with regard to graduation rates.
Duncan offers data that about ¼ of NCAA men’s basketball teams graduate LESS THAN 40% of their players. Some schools graduate zero players, while other schools graduate 100% of their players. Duncan addresses the need to fix the unevenness. He proposes that teams with less than a 40% graduation rate should be banned from post-season competition.
The infamous “one-and-done” rule will be also overhauled. This rule requires potential professional basketball players to “attend” college for a year or requires them to be 19 to be drafted. Duncan thinks this is ridiculous because if a student is not given the chance at 18, they basically are wasting their time at a university for a semester until they turn 19. Duncan supports the right for students to try out for the pros upon graduation of highschool, and BEFORE entering college. If the student does not get accepted, he has the opportunity to get an education under his belt before trying out again.
There have been extremely mixed responses to this addendum. George Vecsey, writing for the New York Times, agrees whole-heartedly with this decision. He supports these new ideas and agrees with Duncan on the absurdity of collegiate eligibility laws. Vecsey goes on to say that Duncan’s points were terrific and attests to his credibility, saying he has the right to call these issues to attention and talk trash about coaches because Duncan himself played both college and professional basketball and was a coach before becoming Secretary of Education.
Quite contrary to this opinion is Bill Sweetland, who writes for Ragan Communications, and whose negative toned article was republished by the Huffington Post. Sweetland harshly criticizes Duncan, calling him delusional and unfit for the job of Secretary, and says that Americans should expect more from his position. Not only does he drag Duncan through the mud, he also claims that college sports are a mockery, and that student-athletes are a joke.
This is important because depending on what source a person chooses to read, their opinions can be strongly affected either for the good or bad
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