Is it about bragging?

[rdbass]

That's only in Pennsylvania. I blame the pork roll.......

Scrapple.

 

[BobInMadison]

Sports have an interesting effect on SOME kids.

My DS rows at a D-3 school. Yes, the practices and regattas take away some of his study time. OTOH, he gets a lot of exercise, he gets to spend some time every day doing something he really loves, and he gets to hang out with his teammates. The health and psychological benefits probably greatly outweigh a more cramped study schedule.

 

[Lenski]

Scrapple.

In Cincinnati he have something similar. It's called Goetta. It contains scraps of pork, beef, spices, and pin-head oats formed into a loaf and pan fried.

 

[YOCOACH]

Having the right degree is important. But by the time that they graduate hopefully they have picked up and refined some actual real life skills. Which is where playing a sport can make a big difference as those skills typically transcend athletics. I have interviewed many college graduates and once we are done talking about coursework and grades they often struggle with questions about real life skills and experience. Which is why I tend to favor hiring athletes and veterans.

RB, please don't excuse my post as an opposite to what you're saying. The point still remains that softball after college is pretty much moot. the top 1 percent of the top 1 percent of the college players make it. Even then, some teams such as the Akron Racers, don't even pay there players. They find them decent paying jobs in their field of study that will work around their softball schedules getting them much needed experience in the workplace.

That said, a degree in a school that has great networking contacts such as an ivy league school or even one such as Boston University or Notre Dame, far out-trumps a job interview between two people; one that has a degree from Acorn State that played a sport and one that graduated from ND.

I'm sorry... I just believe the proper school with a better "pedigree" will win the job opportunity most every time.

 

[JAD]

The main reason kids wash out in the first year is because they can't handle both the academic plus the athletic workload. Between workouts, school, mandatory study tables (which is double the time for freshmen), and practice my dd's typical day is 14 hours long. Some kids just can't handle that........

A lot of kids wash out because most players are not used to working their butts off and sitting - it is a rude awakening. 6am workouts also loose their luster for partial scholarship players who will not see the field.

 

[dadofadirtlover]

Last night at we had this discussion about college softball and what was more important. I thought this would make for some fun answers.
What is more important ( not for the parent ) being on a D1 team or playing on a D1 team ?

This all came from what is better, to start every game on a D2 school or sit the bench on a D1 school ?
Is it really playing D1 if you go to Prairie View or Alcorn

At first when I saw this, my immediate reaction was.....what do YOU have against the SWAC?!? Then, I took my homer hat off and remembered a youtube video I saw this summer of my heart school (not my alma matter) and quickly thought how HORRIBLE they played. They didn't care. They didn't try. It was really bad and it immediately reminded me why it's just my heart school. Will always love them. So, I recanted my misplaced indignation.

With all that out of the way, playing on a competitive team vs. sitting is a given. If the choice is playing on a crappy team vs. sitting on a competitive team....idk. I like to win and I love to compete. So, telling me I'm not good enough will likely fuel a super intense focus to get good enough to play on the competitive team. My DD is 9 so who knows? Today.....she's like that. That could change in 1 season, 1 game or 1 practice, though. I want her in the best place for her future.

 

[Rocketech1]

So it would be a mistake to play softball at UNC Greensboro if you can get into UNC Chapel Hill but not make the softball team there?

If it was my DD, I would have a serious heart to heart conversation with her about the difference between having an opportunity to attend a top 30 national university vs playing softball at a school ranked closer to 200. If academics and future job prospects are important to her, the decision is a pretty easy one.

 

[grcsftbll]

I have a business degree from a state school. My GPA was 3.06, with zero extracurriculars. I worked my way through, no time or energy for much else even if I were a joiner. I was offered every job I interviewed for, took one in the finance arena. Stayed there a couple of years, moved to another finance related job. Made good money til I quit to raise the kiddos. Practical experience (I did some office work while in school) and interpersonal skills (giving a good interview) are important too. If you're an average person just looking for a decent job, probably more important than a big name school and all that jazz. Unless you're looking to do something elite I don't think the college you go to matters all that much, assuming the one you choose is reputable at all.

 

[Lenski]

A lot of kids wash out because most players are not used to working their butts off and sitting - it is a rude awakening. 6am workouts also loose their luster for partial scholarship players who will not see the field.

Oh....it's not just the pine-riders on partials. It's any kid that does not want to deal with the demands set forth by the coaches, trainers, and professors. As a matter of fact, it's the girls on partials that are trying to prove they are game worthy and are trying to get their scholarship increased. Walk-on's bust their tail just as hard or harder to prove they're team worthy.

 

[sbmom19]

I just love to watch my DD play. Her intensity, drive and strength just fills me with pride. So for me it doesn't matter D1 or D2 or D3 or JUCO - I just want to see her play. We are not from a huge softball area (we drive 4 hours to practice with her TB team) so the number of softball players that go on to play in college are few and far between. So my wish is that she finds a great fit academically and athletically that is hopefully within a reasonable driving/flying distance so that I can see her play.

That being said, DD seems to want to play at a bigger school in a larger city but is not adverse to playing at a JUCO to prove herself to a bigger school. So we will see...