Fanning the academic flames
July 10th, 2008, 3:04 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Mark Heller
Here’s CNNSI.com writer Stewart Mandel’s take on the Pac-10 football prowess, and how Arizona State could narrow the gap (a little) on Southern California.
But, in explaining why ASU could be a contender, brings back that old academic argument, which, yet again, might raise the ire of Sun Devil followers:
“But to me, the Pac-10’s sleeping giant — as it’s been for more than 30 years — is Arizona State. It’s never ceased to amaze me how the Sun Devils aren’t a more formidable program. You would think selling a 17-year-old male on Tempe would be as easy as convincing a 5-year-old to eat a Happy Meal.”
“First of all, most recruits take their official visits in December and January. Have you ever been to Arizona in December or January? And have you ever seen that campus? Two words: The Library. And while Arizona coach Mike Stoops took heat last winter for referring to ASU as a “junior college” … let’s be honest: He wasn’t that far off. Academic restrictions aren’t one of the program’s bigger obstacles.”