WAG Div I NCAA Walk-On Offer Info

[BachFlyer]

This is not supportive language, this is cover-your-arse language. If you ask me.

 

[coachmolly]

I recently spoke with a college student who walked away from a scholarship at another Big 10 university who said that the Big 10, based on her experiences and those of her friends, is a particularly toxic environment. She had a friend who dreamed of attending Penn State who quickly changed her mind after her visit. This article seems to back that up.

My brother was recruited in swimming and after a year of head games, being pushed around, and other bad behavior walked away after a year. So it's not just gymnastics. However, I also had roommates who were D1 soccer players- soccer was the chosen women's sports at that particular university- and they were treated like royalty. They had some ups and downs, but the perks far outweighed the negatives for them. So there are great college athletic experiences to be had out there, you just need to do your research very carefully.

 

[twocurlygirlz]

do we have specific SEC horror stories?

 

[bookworm]

just looked at her Penn State bio and saw the coach's comments...seems odd/off- "completely overwhelmed" "gnawed at her"- or am I being too picky...

Coach Thompson on DiFrancesco
"Alyssa is joining our team for the second time. Last year, as a freshman, she wasn't completely sure what to expect. She became completely overwhelmed right away and quit early in the semester. That decision gnawed at her throughout the year and, as she sat in the stands and watched every home meet, she made the decision to return as a specialist on vault and balance beam. We welcomed her with open arms and expect her to make an impact this season."

Nope you're not being too picky....and that is why Penn St has had issues with its team over the years...

 

[bookworm]

I recently spoke with a college student who walked away from a scholarship at another Big 10 university who said that the Big 10, based on her experiences and those of her friends, is a particularly toxic environment. She had a friend who dreamed of attending Penn State who quickly changed her mind after her visit. This article seems to back that up.

My brother was recruited in swimming and after a year of head games, being pushed around, and other bad behavior walked away after a year. So it's not just gymnastics. However, I also had roommates who were D1 soccer players- soccer was the chosen women's sports at that particular university- and they were treated like royalty. They had some ups and downs, but the perks far outweighed the negatives for them. So there are great college athletic experiences to be had out there, you just need to do your research very carefully.

There are many horror stories in many conferences, not just the Big 10...I've even heard a nightmare story coming out of the Ivies this year, and I thought for sure with their focus on academics, the Ivies wouldn't have this similar mind set but it's out there..and in many sports....my daughter has friends in many different sports ( i.e. lacrosse, fencing, track and softball to name a few) who came to do their sport in college because they loved it but thank you NCAA coaches, they don't love it anymore...

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

The Thompson have many rumors about their poor treatment of athletes. There was an interview where Jeff said something along the lines of he wont take any kids from 'broken' homes.

 

[SeaActually]

I was a D1 athlete (not gymnastics) in the 90's and overall a good experience, however I do remember being weighed weekly and pretty sure it was publicly displayed.

 

[twinmomma]

My daughter will never be college gymnast material, thank God. I love gymnastics for the confidence and life lessons it has taught her so far, but I'd be thrilled at this point I think if she picked a different sport.

 

[twocurlygirlz]

There are many horror stories in many conferences, not just the Big 10...I've even heard a nightmare story coming out of the Ivies this year, and I thought for sure with their focus on academics, the Ivies wouldn't have this similar mind set but it's out there..and in many sports....my daughter has friends in many different sports ( i.e. lacrosse, fencing, track and softball to name a few) who came to do their sport in college because they loved it but thank you NCAA coaches, they don't love it anymore...

this is so sad- but I so value your input and openness on this thread-- if this track becomes a reality for my little one my eyes will really be wide open...the SEC on the outside just looks like the place to be.....all that glitters as they say....

 

[ZJsMom]

just looked at her Penn State bio and saw the coach's comments...seems odd/off- "completely overwhelmed" "gnawed at her"- or am I being too picky...

That totally reminds me of NFL coaches who punish their players by taking digs at them in the media.

 

[bookworm]

do we have specific SEC horror stories?

They do exist as well....

 

[bookworm]

I was a D1 athlete (not gymnastics) in the 90's and overall a good experience, however I do remember being weighed weekly and pretty sure it was publicly displayed.

And unfortunately, this tactic is alive and well in 2016 in NCAA....girls are weighed weekly, in front of everyone, and their "numbers" are posted on the locker room wall....and we wonder why eating disorders are rampant....

Well I actually I don't wonder anymore...

 

[twinmomma]

And unfortunately, this tactic is alive and well in 2016 in NCAA....girls are weighed weekly, in front of everyone, and their "numbers" are posted on the locker room wall....and we wonder why eating disorders are rampant....

Well I actually I don't wonder anymore...

DD begged for gymnastics for a year before I allowed her even into a beginner class - not knowing AT ALL what I was in for with her and being on the team. The reason I was resistant was because we'd worked SO hard to get weight ON to her, that I was afraid of having her in a sport where they might tell her she was fat or needed to lose weight, etc... It hasn't been our experience, yet. Luckily the two gyms DD has competed for (first one fell apart) had girls of all body types on the team.

I find it interesting that weigh ins are part of college gymnastics, because one of the things that I've always loved about seeing the college teams is how the girls don't seem to have the same body "type" valued at the Olympic level. From the outside, it seems to be healthier in that regard. Clearly that's not the case.

 

[mariposa]

While I know there are likely great experiences, it makes me glad my daughter doesn't have aspirations to be a college gymnast. I think there are probably many stories like this, but the love of gymnastics for these young ladies is so strong, they don't want to let their families down, lose scholarship, etc, we just don't hear it. Much like club gymnastics, often our kids endure things most kids won't and keep going back because they want to do gym.

I think for club gym, they have their friends and it's more fun because they get to compete as long as they have skills. But college gymnastics adds in that while they are your teammates, you are competing every week for a spot in the line up against these same teammates. Has to add stress. Even when you want the team to win and know someone else has better chance. Sometimes they don't due to favorites, etc. And all the stress of letting down family, losing scholarship, etc. The simple fear of not being able to do gymnastics again.

 

[bookworm]

I have said that college sports is like The Lord of the Flies...every man for himself..

 

[GymDad9.9]

Nope you're not being too picky....and that is why Penn St has had issues with its team over the years...

Where is the Athletic Director on all of this?

 

[GymDad9.9]

The Thompson have many rumors about their poor treatment of athletes. There was an interview where Jeff said something along the lines of he wont take any kids from 'broken' homes.

The last thing Penn State athletics needs is another scandal; this time athletes being abused by their coaches. Hope this story finds its way into the mainstream sports media.

 

[bookworm]

Where is the Athletic Director on all of this?

Supposedly when Samantha Brown was fired for speaking up for the girls and the way they were treated by the Thompsons, the AD and the Thompsons " all had a good chuckle "....and the AD has had multiple complaints from former PSU gymnasts and parents and has dismissed them as " sour grapes "....so that's the mind set that's out there..

 

[GymDad9.9]

Supposedly when Samantha Brown was fired for speaking up for the girls and the way they were treated by the Thompsons, the AD and the Thompsons " all had a good chuckle "....and the AD has had multiple complaints from former PSU gymnasts and parents and has dismissed them as " sour grapes "....so that's the mind set that's out there..

Nothing new about the mindset in Happy Valley. I see Samantha Brown was only hired a few months earlier from her firing and was a former athlete of the Thompsons when they coached in Cincinnati. What Cannibals!

 

[bookworm]

Indentured, the Inside Story of the Rebellion against the NCAA by Nocera is a book that delves into the systematic abuse of power by the NCAA in general and it's student athletes.... Like I've said before, my job couldn't treat me like this and then prohibit me from working elsewhere without their permission, if they even give it...but that's exactly what happens to my kid and everyone else's in NCAA.