I do see your point, but I believe mine is valid as well
I don't think we disagree. I really
don't know if Cheeks' requirements are stupid. When I say weeding out as many academic burdens (and time bombs) at the gate
before we bring them into the Vol family, I mean players who eventually disqualify themselves academically and don't get on the field anyway. Also, if a recruit's academic weaknesses are rooted in his character rather than academics (not judging any recruit who moved on), that's a football issue we dont want in the locker room.
Three thoughts to add: One, the NCAA is always under pressure from (once legitimate) civil rights groups to give more at-risk students a chance. Universities are under pressure from the same groups to provide more remedial classes for credit and more tutorial services. Point being that the NCAA's qualifying standards
likely fall below safe standards. They insure the NCAA's viability--they invite the trouble the NCAA investigates.
Two, there's also the
possibility that Cheeks new standards came
with Coach Jones' approval. Raising the team's APR and erasing the image of Vol thuggery have been points of emphasis from day one. He's certainly been more successful (and sooner) than I'd have imagined. Maybe Jones
likes having those standards beyond his control, so as a recruiter he's free to be the encourager, never the pessimist.
It's possible once CBJ is convinced "his culture" is in place, he would be willing to take on a few more academic projects. But I can't see him doing that before he hits a perceived ceiling of what Tennessee can achieve limiting itself to good students/good citizens.
Which is the third bit of conjecture: maybe the idea of bringing in guys who need special treatment--solely to get & keep them on the field--is an unacceptible compromise to the culture Jones wants.
Maybe in his eyes, once you cross that line where you're compromising standards just to achieve success on the gridiron, you lose your claim to being a "family" and become just another player-consuming, big-time program.
Like I said, just some thoughts... not claiming facts.