Ramblermania.net

Ouch

Might this situation have been feared, prompting PM to pursue another big like Rajala?

Man this is really rough. I was really looking forward to seeing him play and add much needed height.

Um..... uh... I just do not understand, for the life of me, how this could happen if he was on campus this summer. and he had access to tutors and help he would need to get up to snuff...

I suppose the only good thing about this is that, I'm assuming everyone within the athletic department were equally (if not more) excited that we got him... so when it appeared it was not going to be easy to get him eligible, it certainly could have opened up some ethical dilemmas... I'm sure there other schools who would have "figured out a way" to get him eligible... I guess, kudos to Loyola for (presumably) doing everything they could for the kid within the rules???? I guess I'm glad we have that, at least... but that won't help us come the start of the season....

Hope he gets his studies in order.... and maybe gets back to Rogers Park????...

Toledo - My guess is that LU knew he was a couple classes short of eligibility and brought him in for summer school to get all his credits in order. And he failed to do so. Summer school is easy, show and up and you'll make it. Wonder how closely his hand was held to get him where he needed to be. Who knows, maybe the kid just didn't have the drive. But I don't think there was any ethical dilemma. You're in or you're out - they knew ahead of time they'd have to get him eligible. As someone noted earlier, sounds like at least one other school walked away due to worries of academics. It's a shame a kid can graduate from a CPS institution and not have enough credits to play college sports, but that's a story for another day. For now, LU is faced with another Wasted Scholarship Year. Tough obstacle to climb when you're building from the ground up.

I agree that the entire department knew he needed summer school to be eligible. They should also know he important it was for basketball to be able to hold Jones up as an example of what Loyola can do for a kid.
1. You know the odds of a CPS student being capable of doing the work are low. So where is Betsi Burns and her staff making sure he's getting the help he needs.
2. Compliance should be all over this one. Jay Malcom and Burns should want everyday reports.
3. Why aren't Susan Malisch's fingerprints all over this one. As AD this one of your main responsibilities, the health of the flagship program.
4. Athletics reports to Tom Kelly. Does he even know about Jones? If you want to the responsibility of this department well here it is.
This whole thing smacks of inexperience and incompetence. This is a great example of why Loyola struggles with athletics.

So now, where does that leave us? Will Porter try to find someone else to take that scholarship for the year or do we roll down one scholarship?

Speculating, but odds of a solid contributor being available at this stage are slim since fall classes are getting going. Opens a scholarship for a semester transfer, though.

08rambler wrote:Toledo - My guess is that LU knew he was a couple classes short of eligibility and brought him in for summer school to get all his credits in order. And he failed to do so. Summer school is easy, show and up and you'll make it. Wonder how closely his hand was held to get him where he needed to be. Who knows, maybe the kid just didn't have the drive. But I don't think there was any ethical dilemma. You're in or you're out - they knew ahead of time they'd have to get him eligible.

And if you don't show up...

...You'll be shown the door from a $200,000 education and an opportunity to "build a championship program in his hometown of Chicago".