Thursday, July 19, 2007

An academically qualified football player?
We couldn't have that at BigU...

Let him go to the Ivy League if he is interested in academics, then maybe he could become a Rhodes Scholar.

From the Star-Tribune:

Letter of the day: For new football culture, look closer to home

Published: July 20, 2007

Tim Brewster, the new coach of the University of Minnesota football team, is right to be trying to create a "culture of integrity" for the Gophers ("Four U football players dismissed from team," July 19).

I know a young man who dreamed of playing for the Gophers. He was captain of his football team, which won the conference title and finished third in the state. He was named to the All-State and Star Tribune All-Metro teams. He also was an academic scholar.

But the coach of the Gophers at that time wanted him to be a "walk on" -- with no scholarship. He had handed out all of the scholarships to players from Ohio.

However, this young man was offered an academic scholarship from an Ivy League school. Ivy League schools do not give scholarships for sports. He is still playing football and very happy to be where he is.

BEVERLY HOIUM, BROOKLYN PARK