State Rep. Rickey Hardy’s twice-failed effort to raise the minimum grade point average for high-school athletes will be a main topic of discussion Saturday morning at the Hollinger JockSmart Breakfast Forum in the Cajundome Convention Center, but the Louisiana High School Athletic Association — the main opponent of Hardy’s efforts — will not be there.
The event’s namesake — former UL All-American tennis player Curtis Hollinger (at left), who created the JockSmart Sports Fest to raise money for the UL Athletic Foundation — expressed frustration that his offer to the LHSAA was ignored. “[LHSAA Commissioner] Kenny Henderson was reached out to twice by me, but never returned my phone calls or my e-mails,” Hollinger said by phone Friday morning, “and James Simmons, who is the local Lafayette Parish School Board athletic director, sent me an e-mail saying he was going to play and participate, and all of a sudden he backed out on me, so LHSAA will not be in the house to my understanding, unfortunately. But they were reached out to.”
The forum, set for 9 a.m., will feature as panelists Hardy, state school Superintendent Paul Pastorek, Southern University Athletic Director Greg Lafleur — all supporters of Hardy’s bill to raise the minimum GPA for high extracurricular activities from 1.5 to 2.0. The only opponent scheduled to participate is Janet Hiatt, former principal at Northside High and Acadiana High.
Hardy’s legislation, which was shot down in committee in the 2008 and 2009 legislative sessions, was also backed by the state Board of Secondary and Elementary Education and Gov. Bobby Jindal. One argument against the higher minimum GPA was that it would prevent more high school students — many, if not a majority, of them African-American — from participating in athletics and could lead to a higher drop-out rate and increased crime in the community. Hardy isn’t buying it. “Arguments such as this are undocumented, unresearched and bulls**t,” the Lafayette lawmaker and former school board member said Friday, offering a preview of comments he will make Saturday morning at the forum. “A student can do nothing with a below-average D, I stress below-average D. One cannot be accepted into college with a below-average D; once cannot play sports in college with a below-average D. Why? Because the student is academically below average.” Indeed, the NCAA requires student athletes to maintain a 2.0 average to participate in collegiate athletics. “Remember,” Hardy adds, “they’re student-athletes, not athlete-students.”
The state rep says he’ll introduce the legislation again next year, and every year until he’s either successful or can no longer serve in office. “I’m fired up man, I’m ready to rumble!”
For more information on attending the Hollinger JockSmart Breakfast Forum call Curtis Hollinger at 233-1471 or Julie Falgout at 482-0700, or log on to goacadiana.com and click on sports. Tickets are $20 dollars for adults and $15 for students; attendees receive a ticket to Saturday’s UL-Southern football game at Cajun Field. The featured speaker at the forum will be Florida State All-American football player and Rhodes Scholar Myron Rolle. Former Heisman Trophy winners Mike Rozier and George Rogers, as well as former New Orleans Saint Dalton Hilliard and UL gridiron great Todd Scott will also attend.
... written by LA Taxpayer , September 04, 2009 - 05:17 pm
I can say, as a former Louisiana high school and UL-Lafayette athlete, the LHSAA does not give a damn about student athletes, only about what brings money to the gates at the events.
When they do actually investigate violations and take action, it's against small money sports like soccer or baseball.
... written by Student , September 10, 2009 - 07:33 pm
I think Rep. Hardy should work with the LHSAA rather than against them. The LHSAA will know what is in the best interest of the student-athletes. I think people should be a little more educated about issues such as this, and realize the Athletic Association does not focus more on money than they do on the students-athletes. I for one have found the LHSAA to be very helpful and informative when I have reached out to them.
... written by SportsFan24/7 , September 10, 2009 - 07:43 pm
Contrary to popular belief, I think that the LHSAA does have the student-athletes in mind. The argument which was raised from the LHSAA was that of graduation. They were very adamant that the goal of the high school experience was not to play sports, but to graduate and continue the education process. If sports help keep students in school- then so be it!
Right now, Louisiana already has one of the highest drop-out rates in the country… so a good way to keep them involved in school is to take away the one reason many of them go in the first place? I think not- many believe that sports are the reason some students stay in school.
The majority of students will tell you that they dream of playing college sports and making it to the professional level. This cannot happen if they do not carry the grades to get into college. Many students feel that this is their only “way out†and way to live the American Dream.
Representative Hardy will argue that the student will “rise to the occasionâ€- then why are we having this argument? If that were the case, then why are they not already rising to the occasion of the current 1.5 GPA restrictions? Why do we still have high drop our rates Mr. Hardy? It is because some students lack the ability to motivate themselves… they lack parental control… and many of them find this motivation from the opportunity to play sports and also from their coaches. For many, these coaches are the only structured individuals in their lives.
So why- why does this argument continue to come up? Are we really helping the students by going up on the GPA so quickly? No- the only results will be higher drop-out rates and grade inflation of those athletes needed to better the teams’ chances of victory. This inflation will not help the student, but will in turn, lower their ability to reach their potential by letting them slip behind.
In closing I add- the LHSAA, to my knowledge was NOT against raising the GPA- their stance was to let the principals of Louisiana, the ones who deal with the kids on a regular basis take care of this- not the lawmakers! They want the GPA to be raised and to have more student-athletes go on to not only graduate, but continue in college and become better citizens. There is a process though- and the due process in this case would to do this on a scaled system over a five to six year time period.
You ask for change- but change takes time and should be methodically thought out.
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The event’s namesake — former UL All-American tennis player Curtis Hollinger (at left), who created the JockSmart Sports Fest to raise money for the UL Athletic Foundation — expressed frustration that his offer to the LHSAA was ignored. “[LHSAA Commissioner] Kenny Henderson was reached out to twice by me, but never returned my phone calls or my e-mails,” Hollinger said by phone Friday morning, “and James Simmons, who is the local Lafayette Parish School Board athletic director, sent me an e-mail saying he was going to play and participate, and all of a sudden he backed out on me, so LHSAA will not be in the house to my understanding, unfortunately. But they were reached out to.”
sessions, was also backed by the state Board of Secondary and Elementary Education and Gov. Bobby Jindal. One argument against the higher minimum GPA was that it would prevent more high school students — many, if not a majority, of them African-American — from participating in athletics and could lead to a higher drop-out rate and increased crime in the community. Hardy isn’t buying it. “Arguments such as this are undocumented, unresearched and bulls**t,” the Lafayette lawmaker and former school board member said Friday, offering a preview of comments he will make Saturday morning at the forum. “A student can do nothing with a below-average D, I stress below-average D. One cannot be accepted into college with a below-average D; once cannot play sports in college with a below-average D. Why? Because the student is academically below average.” Indeed, the NCAA requires student athletes to maintain a 2.0 average to participate in collegiate athletics. “Remember,” Hardy adds, “they’re student-athletes, not athlete-students.”
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When they do actually investigate violations and take action, it's against small money sports like soccer or baseball.