Wednesday, May 26, 2004
bling bling
Boston Globe columnist Mark Blaudschun talks academics with Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt:According to Hewitt, if the NCAA were truly serious about its academic commitment, there would be changes in scheduling. For instance, it could curtail basketball games in the first semester - have none during the week - and extend the season well into the second semester in April, when television has cash cows such as the Masters and major league baseball.
"It would be the right thing to do for kids," said Hewitt, knowing full well that the loss of television revenue for the NCAA would prohibit such a dramatic change.
Hewitt's right, of course. Limiting games to weekends would enable "student-athletes" to focus a little more on being students. But Blaudschun's correct as well. Hewitt's suggestion will never fly. Better to consider other means of enhancing academic standards at the collegiate level.
