Academic woes hit NT football

[MeanGreen61]

Daily's article on the academic losses.

Academic woes hit NT football

Rian Johnson

Staff Writer

July 21, 2005

For the second consecutive year, the NT offense is plagued by academic ineligibility. Last week, the NT athletic department announced that four football players were academically ineligible for the 2005 season.

"It's frustrating from my perspective as [athletics director] because we are trying to get those kids on track to graduate," said NT athletics director Rick Villarreal. "Our goal for bringing young people here is to see them graduate."

The most notable name on that list was Joey Byerly, the only quarterback on the Mean Green roster who saw live action last year.

Byerly entered last spring as a leading candidate, alongside redshirt freshman Daniel Meager, to replace four-year starting quarterback Scott Hall. Byerly's performance in the spring game (nine of 24 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown and 63 rushing yards), coupled with a shoulder injury that sidelined Meager for most of spring practice, had all but assured him the starting spot.

Excluding Byerly, the Mean Green has five quarterback candidates to replace Hall. The frontrunners are most likely Jonathan Ieans and Meager. The Mean Green expects Meager to fully recover from his shoulder injury by the time two-a-day practices start next month. As a junior in high school, Meager was thought to be one of the top five quarterbacks in the state before injuring his leg prior to his senior season.

Entering the 2005 season, Ieans was expected to be a reserve at wideout, but the sophomore might challenge Meager for the job. Ieans earned all-district honors as a quarterback at Houston Madison High School.

Another major casualty to academic eligibility is junior fullback Chris Nevins, who had seen playing time in all 12 games last season and was expected to carry a larger load at the fullback position this year.

Eligibility burdens the quarterback position, but the wide receiver and defensive back positions will benefit from the reinstatement of senior Ja'Mel Branch and junior Joel Nwigwe. The two wideouts were ineligible last year.

"It's good to see those kids back," Villarreal said. "They had to take care of some things on their own, and to their credit they did."

In 2003, Branch was second on the team in receptions and all-purpose yards, while Nwigwe led the team in yards per reception. Nwigwe is expected to return to the receiving corps. However, Branch will compete for a starting spot at defensive back.

Senior linebacker Montrell Parks, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Micah West and junior track and field athlete Lee Porter were also declared ineligible.

Briefly: NT edged Middle Tennessee in ESPN's 2005 pre-season Sun Belt Conference rankings. Although the Mean Green and the Blue Raiders each had seven players named to the preseason All-Sun Belt team, ESPN has NT winning its fifth consecutive Sun Belt title.

Offensively, lineman Dylan Lineberry and running backs Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas were named to the All-Sun Belt team. Junior wideout Johnny Quinn was awarded dual spots as a wide receiver and specialist for his punt returning duties. Senior place kicker Nick Bazaldua also earned a spot on the special teams.

Defensively, NT was not represented, but junior defensive lineman Willie Ransom, a Kansas Community College transfer, was projected as the conference Newcomer of the Year.

[meangreendork]

I know that football has to occupy a lot of time for these guys, but they still have to get the work done. It's that simple.

[BIG DAWG]

Ieans?

[DeepGreen]

>>>Excluding Byerly, the Mean Green has five quarterback candidates to replace Hall. The frontrunners are most likely Jonathan Ieans and Meager.<<<

Ieans? Mmmmm, any comments from the Green gallary?

[GrayEagle]

He's tall.

[Got5onIt]

Why is everyone so down on Ieans? I've never seen the guy play, is he that bad??? All district at QB in high school should mean something??

[GrayEagle]

Naw, here's the deal. They will almost never list anyone that has not taken a snap in practice. Meager and Ieans have; the other three haven't. If, two weeks into fall practice, Ieans is still listed as a possible starter then we're in trouble (or he has made the greatest turnaround in history).

[PlummMeanGreen]

He's tall.

He can leap tall buildings on a single bounce.

Seriously.....

NT QB's for 2005:

(1) Daniel Meager (Watch out SBC if this guy stays injury-free).

(2) Special "K" aka Korey Washington (I like your nickname for him, Harry).

(3) ?????

[H-towngreen]

Ieans was all district qb in a tough district actually the same school Vinvce Young went to. Any resemblences between the two? Not so much

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

"It's frustrating from my perspective as [athletics director] because we are trying to get those kids on track to graduate," said NT athletics director Rick Villarreal. "Our goal for bringing young people here is to see them graduate."

So, do your job as athletic director and hire someone specifically to keep track of the players' classwork:

Updated: Sep. 29, 2004

Support staff sets players up for success

By Pat Forde

ESPN.com

Archive

NORMAN, Okla. -- D.J. Wolfe is sitting at a computer in the Prentice Gautt Academic Center, fiddling. The Oklahoma freshman running back clicks the mouse a couple times and visits SoonerSports.com, the school's athletic web site, and reads the recap of OU's 31-7 whipping of Oregon the previous day.

On a ghostly quiet Sunday night on campus, the sprawling Gautt Center -- named for the school's first African-American scholarship athlete -- is alive and teeming with many of Oklahoma's 450 varsity athletes. Some are working on their own, others are being helped by a battalion of tutors and counselors.

All around Wolfe, his fellow freshman football players are doing hard time. They're toiling away under their 10-hour-per-week minimum study hall requirement, the Sooners' built-in firewall against early academic struggles.

In walks Adrian Peterson -- the toast of Norman after his brilliant 183-yard performance against the Ducks, but just another entry-level college student on this night. He looks much more like a teenager with books under his arm instead of a football.

Wolfe has only a fraction of Peterson's stature and stats -- 17 carries for 65 yards through three games -- but he's ahead of him on the academic depth chart. Wolfe graduated a semester early from Eisenhower High School in Lawton and enrolled at OU last January. His 3.0 grade-point average last spring emancipated him from mandatory freshman study hall -- which is why there is no monitor cracking down on him for reading SoonerSports.com instead of his English comp textbook.

"I think everyone comes into study hall thinking 'I don't want to, I don't want to,'" Wolfe says. "But it's better for you. It makes you buckle down and do it."

The muscle behind Oklahoma's buckle-down academic support system is Randy Garibay, the department's assistant director for academic affairs and coordinator of academic services. His people check every athlete in every sport into a database when they arrive for study hall, noting the time. The OU academic support staff knows more about who's been naughty or nice than Santa Claus.

If you're more than five minutes late, "the system is energized," Garibay says. Phone calls are made to locate the laggardly. If you arrive without books, expect a grilling. And if you don't show up at all?

"Coach Bob (Stoops) will know by 9 tomorrow morning," says Garibay, who also drops by practice regularly to give Stoops academic updates in person -- or to provide a little face-to-face encouragement to a player.

The retired army colonel looks like the last man in Norman you'd want to cross: shaved head, Fu Manchu mustache, burly chest, intense eyes. But get him talking about his job and the intimidating mien melts.

"I'm not looking for a career," he says. "I already had one. My job now is to get these young people ready for the real world. I've got 450 sons and daughters."

Wolfe is a favorite son of the academic folks. Bright, diligent, mature and in possession of a luminous smile, he's never had worse than a B average in school. The son of a military man and a hospital receptionist is disciplined enough to live by himself off-campus (after an agreement with a roommate from home fell through) and he loves to cook. He's an aspiring business major whose parents drilled the value of education into his head at an early age.

But like virtually every other scholarship football player at Oklahoma, his dominant daydreams revolve around a future in the National Football League.

"Every day," Wolfe says with a laugh. "I think that's the goal. Don't get me wrong, it's fun to be here, but I don't think we'd be playing unless it was to go to the next step. ... Maybe one day my number will get called."

The numbers are against Wolfe having his number called. Even at Oklahoma, arguably the preeminent college football program of the 21st century, there have been just 13 Sooners drafted in the past five years -- four in the first round.

The list of can't-miss collegians who missed at the NFL level is bigger than Tony Mandarich. But it's hard to make young stars believe that they might not be one of the chosen few.

"I think everyone comes in thinking, 'I have a shot,'" Wolfe says. "What some players fail to realize, this is only a start. You have to soak up as much as you can, listen as much as you can and learn."

Yet even with his dreams centered on football, Wolfe is certain that he spends far more time on academics. He's carrying 12 credit hours this semester: English Comp, Principles of Communications, Library/Information Science and, he says with a sheepish smile, Experiencing Music for Non-Majors. So far, English Comp is the toughie.

"I'm not into writing or typing," Wolfe says. "I'd rather talk about it."

He's in class from 8:30 a.m. until 11:20 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Then he usually drives his 1995 Explorer -- "20-inch spinners, couple TV screens in there," he says proudly -- home to his apartment for a quick nap. After that it's back to his second home, the Barry Switzer Center on the south end of Memorial Stadium.

Around 1:15 p.m., Wolfe hits the weight room, trying to add bulk to his 5-foot-11, 192-pound frame. At 2 o'clock, it's time for special-teams meetings and practice. (Wolfe is on the first-team punt return and second-team kickoff and punt coverage units.) Then comes position meetings and, finally, practice.

After that, it's time to eat dinner and study. There's not a whole lot of built-in slack time.

"That's my life, I guess," he says with a shrug and another bright smile. "Can't complain about it. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world right now. I'm doing something I love to do."

Pat Forde is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.

Edited July 21, 2005 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[NT80]

Why is everyone so down on Ieans?  I've never seen the guy play, is he that bad??? All district at QB in high school should mean something??

spring was ugly for him

[greenjoe]

Any late word on Cullen Mills ?

Join the Mean Green Club

Buy season tickets

GO MEAN GREEN

[untbowler]

So, do your job as athletic director and hire someone specifically to keep track of the players' classwork:

They do have academic advisors who do track the athletes but having a 50 :1 or so ratio is not very good.

How about you cut him some slack and jump on these players to take personal responsibility, or has the gov't taken that over also now days.

[posiesnivy]

I've recently worked with one of the employees of the OU athletic/academic department and I know for a fact that they do stay on top of the grades and attendance of each athlete. His job was to follow the students and even some times sit in the classroom to make sure they remained there. I thought that was comical but apparantely there was one athlete who I will not mention his name, (transferred back to a Louisania school) who would show up for class then get up and leave.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

I've recently worked with one of the employees of the OU athletic/academic department and I know for a fact that they do stay on top of the grades and attendance of each athlete.  His job was to follow the students and even some times sit in the classroom to make sure they remained there.  I thought that was comical but apparantely there was one athlete who I will not mention his name, (transferred back to a Louisania school) who would show up for class then get up and leave.

That player was Brent Rawls, who was then asked to leave the La. Tech program before last season even started. He now sits on the bench of an arena league 2 team. Smart kid.

OU wasn't doing great academically until John Blake, then Bob Stoops, got there. During the Blake on-the-field fiasco, they were building the Prentice Gautt Center off the field. Former Heisman winner Steve Owens was the AD back then and really made a commitment to getting athletes to graduate. It looks like Stoops has taken it a step further.

Sorry if I sounded hard on RV. Maybe RV just hasn't hired the right folks yet. Or, maybe he was publicly trying to light a fire under the butts of those he has hired.

[meangreeneugene]

There is no reason that your top qb who you know has hurdles does not get it done. If the proper system is in place this wouldn't happen.

[medpilot21]

Ieans is a nice guy, but let's be honest. He throws a nice duck. We watched him in the spring workouts and in team drills. I wasnt sure which was worse..his delivery under pressure (the coaches seemed to agree with that), or his passes to ineligible receivers? He thew a nice deep ball to the right sideline. I asked who that one was meant for?, and one of the parents said "looks like Nick Bazaldua?" At times he would have a man open, and just couldnt get the ball there? In spring practices, there was one play where Devin Cox was on Brandon Jackson. Jackson ran a 15 and out, but Cox left the him and went 20 and out. When the ball went over Jackson's head, Cox had the only real play on it. We were joking on the sideline that Cox knew the ball wouldnt be where Jackson was. At 6-5, Ieans should stay as a possession WR. He is a good athlete with decent hands. If we really need him to play QB this year, we have some problems.

I trust in DD, and believe he will have Meager ready to take the reigns. Ieans is a really good guy, and a good player...just not at QB, please?

GMG!!!

[untgirl04]

I think you can only blame the system so much. I mean, these football players are adults who are responsible for their own actions. They shouldn't need a babysitter walking around, making sure they study when they need to. If these students are serious about college and about football, then they'll do what needs to be done. They've got every resource the university can give them, at their disposal.

You can lead a horse to water...

[taynt7]

In my opinion, if I knew I was going to be the starting QB for a Div 1 school, that would motivate me enough to keep my grades up to par. And, as far as I'm concerned, if he doesn't have the ambition, drive, or brains to do so, then we definitely don't want him taking snaps for us in the fall. I think we will be better off without him, and we can rely on Coach Dickey and the rest of the staff to make wise decisions and put the best man for the job in there.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

I think you can only blame the system so much. I mean, these football players are adults who are responsible for their own actions. They shouldn't need a babysitter walking around, making sure they study when they need to. If these students are serious about college and about football, then they'll do what needs to be done. They've got every resource the university can give them, at their disposal.

You can lead a horse to water...

Amen....

---We who were not athletes knew we had to take responsiblity for ourselves. They need too as well. They have advantages that the regular students don't have and they still mess up... They need to take things more seriously or else they don't belong in college. Some people just don't belong there and just can't succeed..

Edited July 21, 2005 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[twodogs]

Amen....

---We who were not athletes knew we had to take responsiblity for ourselves. They need too as well. They have advantages that the regular students don't have and they still mess up... They need to take things more seriously or else they don't belong in college. Some people just don't belong there and just can't succeed..

While I agree with your sentiments I would like to point out that out of 80 plus scholorship players only 4 failed to make the grade. That is a very good success rate, approximately 95%.

I'm sure it is higher than the general student population.

[good_ken]

While I agree with your sentiments I would like to point out that out of 80 plus scholorship players only 4 failed to make the grade. That is a very good success rate, approximately 95%.

I'm sure it is higher than the general student population.

Twodogs - while I agree with the sentiment of your point, it is 4 players who couldn't maintain a GPA of 1.9 (or 1.8?). That means that those 4 players couldn't maintain a "C" average.

For the most part, its not real hard to make a "C" in a college course. Especially since some of these guys are underclassmen; and should be taking general courses (history, english, lit, etc)

Now, if those 4 are physics majors, and couldn't make thier grades in General Relativity or Quantuum Physics... then I am greatly mistaken.

[untgirl04]

While I agree with your sentiments I would like to point out that out of 80 plus scholorship players only 4 failed to make the grade.  That is a very good success rate, approximately 95%. 

I'm sure it is higher than the general student population.

You're absolutely right. Which tells me that if 76+ athletes are able to take care of business, there's no reason why those four can't. If they're truly having trouble in school, then they should either consider switching majors or learn what their priorities are. I think that althetics around the country babies their athletes in general.

I realize that the athletes have grueling workouts and oftentimes miss class for games or tournaments, and I can and do appreciate the hard work that they put in. However, too many people forget that these kids are here for an education, and that is paramount to winning a conference or playing in a bowl game. I think RV does as good a job as he can with the students, and I truly believe that he has the best interests of the players at heart - regardless of whether that's what's best for athletics.

This is what puts him in a bind, and I don't envy him the job he must do. Not only does RV have to watch out for the well-being of our athletics and maintain the reputation of NT, he genuinely cares about the students, and wants to do what's best for them. I think if anyone should be blamed besides the student, then you can place it on DD. He's at the bottom level with those kids, and a good coach knows what his players are up to and makes sure they take care of business. I'm not blaming DD because I don't think it's his fault, but I think that we can attribute the failure of those athletes to themselves.

And to "The Fake Lonnie Lynch" I'd like to point out that NT continually excells in athlete academics. While some universities' athletes major in Communications (not dogging the Comm majors out there who legitimately earned their degrees), our athletes major in Engineering and Biology.

[untgirl04]

I believe that the university requires that students maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in order to graduate. If those students can't maintain a GPA high enough to graduate, they need to re-evaluate their academic goals.

[THOR]

There is no reason that your top qb who you know has hurdles does not get it done. If the proper system is in place this wouldn't happen.

If the student had the proper upbringing, values, and work ethic this wouldn't have happened. It's not the systems fault. The system doesn't take the tests, the player does. It's nobody's fault but his own.