College admissions and athletes

SPORTING GOODS

While the University of Connecticut and its apologists will no doubt pat themselves on the back for not having a special admit policy, the truth of the matter is that

If grades make you a long shot for college, you're much more likely to get a break if you can play ball.

And while South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman can try to justify this all he wants ("It's also a way to get better artists, better musicians," he said. "It's not all athletes. If you graduate, if your people are successful, there's going to be more flexibility. And that's what we've done."), the program is clearly aimed at athletes and not cello virtuosos.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this policy. When I see the NCAA getting huffy about Sam McKnight's borrowing of a car while raking in millions from his efforts, I don't see a lot of reason there.

Let's put it this way: With Alabama and Texas each getting a piece of the $31 million the BCS/NCAA will distribute after the national championship game, it behooves colleges to bend the rules a little bit to admit students who might help schools in getting that money.