- Some coaches may tell you that the academic program
in the field of study you plan to pursue is the “best in
the nation” at their college or some similar hyperbole.
Consult with your high-school counselor, or there are a
number of publications, easily accessed on the Internet,
to check the accuracy of that statement. It is usually a
sleazy recruiting tactic. - Some coaches may promise you easy courses, easy profes-
sors, and no academic pressure. These coaches have little
concern about your future beyond helping their program.
By making your academic requirements easy, the coaches
have done you no favors. After all, you are going to do
more important things in your life than compete in ath-
letic contests. You’ll need a good education that requires
you to rise to high standards if you are to be successful in
those more important things. - Student guides that invite prospects to parties where
alcohol, drugs, or sexually provocative activities are,
unfortunately, not uncommon. There are many reports
of these sleazy recruiting tactics in Division I football and
basketball, but there is anecdotal evidence of this sleazy
tactic being employed at other divisions and other sports.
If you experience this on a visit, you know that the coach
has sunk to odious recruiting depths and has no interest
in your success or welfare as a student athlete. - There is substantial evidence that some (usually Division
I football/basketball) coaches have offered substantial
inducements to prospects to enroll in their school and
compete for their team. Some have even offered money to
high-school coaches if they would “steer” a blue-chip ath-
lete to a certain school. Recently, a credible allegation has
102 The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide