Unt Loses Committed Recruit

MeanGreenZen · January 31, 2009

Here's where I'll depart from most people who follow recruiting. The Tony Charles thing isn't a matter of him not wanting to play bad enough. It may not even be a case of laziness (although, I'll grant you, it could be).
I'd bet the vast majority of us grew up in safe places with good, safe schools. We probably had both parents and never lacked basic needs - food, clothing, etc. Our extended family (aunt, uncles, cousins, etc.) was probably, for the most part, stable with many of those being college graduates.
I'm here to state the obvious - we grew up in environments that were conducive to learning, both at home and schools. Again, stating the obvious, not everyone grows up that way. And, whether fair or not, many college athletes come from backgrounds that are not steeped in learning.
Therefore, something that would be a no-brainer to you or me - passing three more classes - may not be for a kid with no real academic background. If you can't read, write, or comprehend well, you can't read, write, or comprehend well. No magic class or program will change it. And, as you get older, it gets more difficult.
You can't be mad or surprised by kids like this. Academics probably wasn't in his background or his family's background. It's no indictment against them; that's just society.
Best of luck to Tony at Arkansas Tech - off the field more than on it.

Somebody's been reading Malcolm Gladwell...

Monkeypox · January 31, 2009

Here's where I'll depart from most people who follow recruiting. The Tony Charles thing isn't a matter of him not wanting to play bad enough. It may not even be a case of laziness (although, I'll grant you, it could be).
I'd bet the vast majority of us grew up in safe places with good, safe schools. We probably had both parents and never lacked basic needs - food, clothing, etc. Our extended family (aunt, uncles, cousins, etc.) was probably, for the most part, stable with many of those being college graduates.
I'm here to state the obvious - we grew up in environments that were conducive to learning, both at home and schools. Again, stating the obvious, not everyone grows up that way. And, whether fair or not, many college athletes come from backgrounds that are not steeped in learning.
Therefore, something that would be a no-brainer to you or me - passing three more classes - may not be for a kid with no real academic background. If you can't read, write, or comprehend well, you can't read, write, or comprehend well. No magic class or program will change it. And, as you get older, it gets more difficult.
You can't be mad or surprised by kids like this. Academics probably wasn't in his background or his family's background. It's no indictment against them; that's just society.
Best of luck to Tony at Arkansas Tech - off the field more than on it.

You ever been to Venice, FL? It's a retirement/vacation town outside Sarasota. About 20k people, 98% white. Crime rate miniscule, violent crime rate microscopic. Now, that doesn't mean TonyCharles didn't have it rough. I mean, who knows? I just think it's funny the number of assumptions made in your post and how you fail to comprehend their inherent hypocrisy.

russell360 · January 31, 2009

Drove through Russellville Ark. on the way to Hot Springs once. There is a sign as you enter town "Home of the Arkansa Tech Wonder Boys".

We stopped to eat lunch there and as we walked into the restaurant everyone stopped and stared at the out-of-towners as if we were from Mars. We were the only people that were not smoking so I asked for the non-smoking section. They looked at me like I was crazy... Arkansas is a trip.

SilverEagle · January 31, 2009

Drove through Russellville Ark. on the way to Hot Springs once. There is a sign as you enter town "Home of the Arkansa Tech Wonder Boys".
We stopped to eat lunch there and as we walked into the restaurant everyone stopped and stared at the out-of-towners as if we were from Mars. We were the only people that were not smoking so I asked for the non-smoking section. They looked at me like I was crazy... Arkansas is a trip.

You're lucky they weren't staring at you to assess you as their newest potential source of sexual gratification..........or were they? :unsure: