With all the UNC football scandal, I've been reminded of one thing: I don't totally "get" football.
I think if I were in charge of a school that had a football program, the school would either a) have to cancel the sport or b) pay a lot of fines because I don't think any sport should have so many rules about off-the-court stuff that it would take at least a 3" binder to fill them. Really people?
Granted, I think all these extra-specialized, non-job enhancing departments (one or two classes is okay, but a WHOLE department?) on things such as women's studies, gay studies, African-American studies, angry white male studies (okay, I just made that last one up), are ridiculous and a waste of tax-payers money. They're not helping our economy nor the sense of unity in our country and therefore don't do a whole lot towards the betterment of individuals or our nation's job force. BUT, having said that, since such departments do exist, I do think the department heads should be able to hire the people WHO ARE QUALIFIED to teach the classes, regardless of any football rules.
Mr. Nyang'oro at UNC's hiring of a summer teacher who was more than qualified for the position has now cost him his position of department head (which was making an obscene salary of $159,000....REALLY?) because....get this...the man he hired had a part-time job as a sports agent.
In my non-athletic mind, that's comparable to saying someone can't teach a class on religion because he's an attorney for the state. There may be some valid concerns about a sports agent attempting to recruit or manipulate athletes, but the same could be said for any professor attempting to recruit or direct a student to their way of thinking or lifestyle or job field. We don't penalize them.
I don't think we should do away with sports or football, but they should have absolutely no role or bearing in the classroom. I think UNC and the NCAA have all shown to the world just how out of touch they are with reality. This whole fiasco goes to show how warped and misguided America's priorities truly are. Pigskin and pads are fun to watch, but that's it...it's just fun. Let's put it where it belongs and quit making it oh so much more.
I think if I were in charge of a school that had a football program, the school would either a) have to cancel the sport or b) pay a lot of fines because I don't think any sport should have so many rules about off-the-court stuff that it would take at least a 3" binder to fill them. Really people?
Granted, I think all these extra-specialized, non-job enhancing departments (one or two classes is okay, but a WHOLE department?) on things such as women's studies, gay studies, African-American studies, angry white male studies (okay, I just made that last one up), are ridiculous and a waste of tax-payers money. They're not helping our economy nor the sense of unity in our country and therefore don't do a whole lot towards the betterment of individuals or our nation's job force. BUT, having said that, since such departments do exist, I do think the department heads should be able to hire the people WHO ARE QUALIFIED to teach the classes, regardless of any football rules.
Mr. Nyang'oro at UNC's hiring of a summer teacher who was more than qualified for the position has now cost him his position of department head (which was making an obscene salary of $159,000....REALLY?) because....get this...the man he hired had a part-time job as a sports agent.
In my non-athletic mind, that's comparable to saying someone can't teach a class on religion because he's an attorney for the state. There may be some valid concerns about a sports agent attempting to recruit or manipulate athletes, but the same could be said for any professor attempting to recruit or direct a student to their way of thinking or lifestyle or job field. We don't penalize them.
I don't think we should do away with sports or football, but they should have absolutely no role or bearing in the classroom. I think UNC and the NCAA have all shown to the world just how out of touch they are with reality. This whole fiasco goes to show how warped and misguided America's priorities truly are. Pigskin and pads are fun to watch, but that's it...it's just fun. Let's put it where it belongs and quit making it oh so much more.
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