Big Ten notes: Wisconsin may change admissions process to help recruits
Tough admissions standards at Wisconsin have forced the school to turn away a number of top football recruits. Jon Solomon looks at a change to that process and more notes from the Big Ten media days.
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Jon Solomon
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4 min read
CHICAGO -- On the one hand, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez insisted Thursday that his program’s tougher admissions process for athletes compared to other schools has not competitively hurt the Badgers. On the other, Alvarez said Wisconsin is discussing a return to its old process so recruits could appeal verbally to their individual college at Wisconsin, making a case for why they should be admitted.
“I’d like to do it the old way because I think it’s only fair to our coaches and to some student-athletes that their stories should be heard,” Alvarez said at Big Ten media days. “They should have the right to have an appeal.”
Gary Andersen told CBSSports.com’s Dennis Dodd in January that he made the surprising decision to swap his post as Wisconsin’s coach for the same role at Oregon State because of the admissions process. Andersen said it was “highly frustrating” that he lost some recruits to academics after telling them they would be able to enroll.
Most recently, highly-touted Dallas running back Jordan Stevenson signed with Wisconsin and qualified under NCAA standards but was not admitted into the school. Stevenson announced Thursday on Twitter that he has been admitted to Big Ten rival Nebraska and will play there this season.
“I feel bad,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. “The kid did everything we asked him to do. … There’s a big part of me that’s happy he landed at a good place.”
Alvarez said he is hopeful a new admissions process will be in place for the 2016 class. Wisconsin’s admissions process changed about five years ago, according to Alvarez. Previously, the athletics department would take appeals to individual colleges rather than first through the admissions department.
“Our coaches understand the profile of our student-athletes … and they can present that case because they’ve researched those individuals to the individual college,” Alvarez said. “Now, the way we’ve been doing it, they don’t talk to coaches, they look at scores, they look at numbers, they look at whatever they see and at times make decisions before there is a verbal appeal.”
More from the 2015 Big Ten Football Media Days...
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Michigan State Spartans
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Allow center Jack Allen to explain why Ohio State has the most hostile fans in the Big Ten. “I get flipped off one time by a grandma,” Allen said. “I swear she came out on her porch with a walker when we were driving through. That was special.” |
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Illinois Illini
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Illinois coach Tim Beckman inelegantly tried to avoid questions about allegations that he verbally and physically mistreated players. The dance made for an awkward media days appearance. Beckman declined to deny all of the allegations given the university’s ongoing review by an outside law firm, and he repeatedly said he’s focused on the 2015 season. Beckman said the only instance when he has ever had physical contact with a player occurred while breaking up a fight. He described himself as a "father" to players and that Illini players are a "band of brothers." |
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Michigan State Spartans
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Running back Delton Williams has been reinstated to the team without a scholarship after getting arrested in March for brandishing a firearm in public while in a traffic dispute with a motorist. Michigan State must replace Jeremy Langford at running back, and Williams averaged 5.9 yards per carry as a reserve last season. But the key Spartan running back to watch is freshman LJ Scott, who drew comparisons to Le’Veon Bell by coach Mark Dantonio. |
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Ohio State Buckeyes
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Add Urban Meyer to the club of coaches who think cost of attendance is a competitive disadvantage and needs to be changed. “It’s wrong, it’s wrong,” Meyer said. “That needs to be fixed. Whoever came up with that ruling, it’s wrong. There needs to be a standardized (number). I’m surprised that (there) hasn’t become more conversation about it. It hasn’t hit us in recruiting yet, but regardless, it’s wrong.” |
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Maryland Terapins
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Coach Randy Edsall said the Terrapins’ first year in the Big Ten taught him that it’s a more lineman league and more physical than the ACC. “I don’t mean that there’s not skill people in the Big Ten,” Edsall said. “But you better be able to control the line of scrimmage if you’re going to give yourself a chance to win.” |
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Iowa Hawkeyes
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Coach Kirk Ferentz has lost two quarterbacks to the graduate transfer rule in the past two seasons -- Jake Rudock to Michigan and Cody Sokol to Louisiana Tech. Rudock may start for the Wolverines this season. Ferentz said he’s happy for Ruddock and schools should consider what’s best for the players. “But it’s not as cut and dry with that rule,” he said. “It’s a little bit of a gray-area rule, if you will.” |
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Ohio State Buckeyes
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How hardcore is Meyer over the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry? Offensive lineman Taylor Decker said freshman Rashod Berry got kicked out of a team meeting two days ago for wearing a blue shirt -- and it wasn’t even Michigan blue. |
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Quotes of the day
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“Does that reflect what I’ve already done at this point?” -- Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst when asked where public speaking ranks on the list of things he likes or doesn’t like to do. “I think he’s a handsome man. I’m glad he took them.” -- Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun on shirtless photos of Jim Harbaugh. |
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