By Bob Chmiel
The academic portion of my talk usually begins with “if I have two players of fairly equal ability, I separate them and choose my recruit by comparing their transcripts.” This usually gets the attention of the student-athletes as well as their parents. This is not an embellished statement, it is a reality. Reviewing transcripts is one component of creating an overall evaluation, an overall profile, and yes a resume of the ability of the young man to succeed on campus, as well as in the football program.
If I could receive a totally honest response from every recruit, and make the evaluation process more definitive, the question I would ask is, “Are you reliable?”
Sure, the word reliable is a simple word. However, it speaks volumes as to the characteristics of the individual. It correlates to always being on time, taking care of academic responsibilities, having a great work ethic, honesty, adhering to the rules of the institution, as well as those of society, and representing the football program and institution in a manner that is a source of pride to the institutional community.
From a coach’s standpoint, reliability means that I can trust you to do all things on a daily basis in a positive manner. And that when you report to the football portion of your day we can concentrate on the football related tasks at hand.
As coaches, we do not want to deal with selfish distractions that take away from preparing the individual, as well as the team. With the inception of the 20-hour rule, time has become more valuable than ever. What coaches do with that time becomes more critical.
A fine transcript is evidence of an individual who has made positive use of his time. He is not running the streets, but is instead taking care of academic business. This displays a pattern of behavior indicating he will be a good citizen after reporting to campus.
Always remember, it is never too late to become a good student. Here is a simple analogy for the young men in the audience. As I evaluate you, I do not want to know your 40-time when you were a freshman. I want to know your current 40-time. Sounds obvious? That is the 40-time that is most recent and probably the time you will run on your first day in the program. It is an indicator of your current abilities. It is what you will bring with you – one of your current physical trends.
To those in academia or admissions, your recent grades are most critically important. They are an indicator of your current academic trend or mindset. If you were a straight-A student as a freshman and are currently sporting C’s and D’s, those A's as a freshman hold little value. They indicate a downward spiral that the university does not want to inherit in the near future. A below average or average grade trend in younger years can be overcome by showing evidence of a seriousness in academics at the present time.
As educators, we all must remember this thought, “every flower does not blossom on the first day of spring.”
Once again, the transcript is yet another part of the overall profile, the resume if you will, that indicates the ability to succeed in the classroom and on the football field. Yes, the football field.
Look no further than the complexities of a current football playbook. We want people who can digest those complexities in an efficient manner.
source: www.blueandgold.com
