Scoring schools on athletics

Re “Balancing grades and gridiron,” Opinion, July 14

Allen Sack provides a fresh look into how the top schools in the country, both athletically and academically, deal with admission standards for their precious athletes. It’s no surprise that Division I schools such as USC, UCLA and Louisiana State University lower their standards for incoming athletes. The United States service academies, on the other hand, have the highest standards for their athletes. Sure they don’t win every game, but they graduate their athletes and lead our country to new heights.

The schools that give their athletes the “fast pass” for college are setting low standards for themselves and teach their “student athletes” to do the bare minimum academically. But what happens when an athlete has a career-ending injury? It makes me sick to think that when I apply to a USC or a UCLA that someone would be accepted to that school only to play a sport.

Brandon Black

Granada Hills

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It is obvious that the best football programs have the most players leaving early for the NFL draft. The question is, should a player who can get a multimillion-dollar contract stay in school? Case in point: USC’s Heisman Trophy-winning former quarterback Matt Leinart stayed in school for his senior year and degree. He passed up being a No. 1 pick and was instead drafted mid-first round the next year, making millions less than he could have. When you have reached your athletic peak in college, it is financially advantageous to move to a higher level if the opportunity arises. The lack of a diploma will not affect your future.

Gary A. Robb

Los Feliz