what's your take on Kelly's "at risk" commentary

by Jay , San Diego, Friday, June 12, 2015, 09:56 (3609 days ago)

This was previously linked by Jim but has been getting some national attention/furor over the last couple of days.

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http://www.ndinsider.com/football/notebook-kelly-considered-bringing-in-grad-transfer-q...

Academic probe aftermath: Pete Thamel’s recent Sports Illustrated piece on reinstated cornerback KeiVarae Russell mentioned Kelly, ND president Rev. John I. Jenkins, and athletic director Jack Swarbrick had “transformative conversations” this offseason centering on at-risk student-athletes.

Swarbrick even co-chaired a task force that took a look at that issue in-depth.
As the academic dishonesty probe, that started last July, approaches final resolution for the last two of the five players involved, here are Kelly’s thoughts on Notre Dame’s effort to move forward with lessons learned along the way:

“I think we recognized that all of my football players are at-risk — all of them — really. Honestly, I don’t know that any of our players would get into the school by themselves right now with the academic standards the way they are. Maybe one or two of our players that are on scholarship.

“So making sure that with the rigors that we put them in — playing on the road, playing night games, getting home at 4 o’clock in the morning, all of the demands that we place on them relative to the academics and going into an incredibly competitive academic classroom every day — we recognize this is a different group.

“And we have to provide all the resources necessary for them to succeed and don’t force them into finding shortcuts.

“I think we’ve clearly identified that we need to do better, and we’re not afraid to look at any shortcomings that we do have and fix them, and provide the resources necessary for our guys. Our university has looked at that, and we’re prepared to make sure that happens for our guys.”

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academics