Comments on: Patriot League schools can now offer football scholarships

By: parents,Kids in sport

parents,Kids in sport — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:50:01 +0000

parents,Kids in sport…

[...]Vox Populi » Patriot League schools can now offer football scholarships[...]…

By: @Up next

@Up next — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:44:53 +0000

There really isn’t a clear place for Georgetown to go. The Pioneer Football League and the Ivy League are the only leagues left that do not grant scholarship aid. Obviously, the Ivy is a non-starter, and the Pioneer League isn’t a great option either. There are higher travel costs involved, and it’s full of much less prestigious schools (Marist, Jacksonville, San Diego, Dayton, Stetson…) The PFL doesn’t have an automatic bid to the 1-AA tournament now (but probably will by 2013). And to be honest, they will have 12 teams by 2013, and there’s a question whether they would even let Georgetown in.

Another possibility is becoming an independent in 1-AA. Georgetown would lose their automatic tournament bid, and would probably have to go undefeated to get into the tournament, but they would be freed up to play a sort of mercenary schedule of Ivy and Pioneer opponents, with some Patriot League and Northeast Conference teams thrown in.

The last possibility is dropping football altogether. This one is probably the least likely, but if the university wants to save some more money so they can waste it on the basketball program, it’s not a bad option.

By: Fareed

Fareed — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:15:03 +0000

Honestly, the whole idea of the amateur student-athlete is a farce.

People criticize athletic scholarships (selectively, in DeGioia’s case), but I actually think we pay these guys too little. They sacrifice their time and youth to raise money for the university in hopes of getting picked up for the major leagues.

We should end the illusion and make varsity athletes paid employees. At least they’ll get a jump start on Social Security contributions.

By: Up next

Up next — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:49:20 +0000

@ Kevin, or anyone else who would know the answer: If we exit the Patriot League, where do you think our football program will end up? Are there other leagues out there that currently ban scholarships the way the PL used to?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:58:37 +0000

“I am not supportive of moving to a scholarship program. I don’t believe that fits the ethos and the culture of Georgetown,” University President John J. DeGioia said in August.

But allowing half the basketball team into the school “fits the ethos and the culture”. Come on, what a farce.

This was all about $$$, something that Georgetown is not comfortably spending on football scholarships. It is only a matter of time before Georgetown exits the Patriot League.

By: mike l

mike l — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:15:59 +0000

It is fine and well that Pres. DeGioia does not believe in scholarships for football. I would hope he would offer an explanation why other sports at Georgetown are allowed to offer scholarships, specifically basketball. If he is going to be consistent as to the “ethos and culture of Georgetown” why basketball and not football?