The Thornton Center

#26
#26
DeerPark12 said:
This is completely inaccurate.

The Thornton Center is a partnership between the University and athletics and does nothing but provide academic support for student athletes and prospective student athletes. That's literally all it does. The academic side has had oversight of it since it opened.

Non-athletes cannot use it. Can't even get in the door. People from the Thornton Center monitor class attendance of athletes, communicate with professors and coaches about athletes' academic performance, and help athletes plan out their class schedules. They also organize study hall time and free tutors for athletes.

To say that there is no academic support for athletes at Tennessee is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on a message board. And with some of the things posted on here, that's saying something.

It's certainly not used against us in recruiting. In fact, the student-athlete academic centers at most schools are based on the model that UT started with the Thornton Center.
Click to expand...

This is literally the only post in this entire thread that is correct & should even exist. Thank God at least one member of this board has an ounce of common sense.

The rest of you are WAY off base. Way way way off base. The Thornton Center is the academic support center for ONLY student-athletes. The reporting go to Academics now, just like as MANY other schools, because it keeps ethical questions from arising, which is a big deal in today's current NCAA climate. Ask North Carolina.

Coaches have no business calling professors or talking to tutors. That is not an environment of compliance. Trust me, coaches have no problem whatsoever putting pressure on a tenured professor & would do it all the time. Instead, the Thornton Center & other academic support centers are the middle ground where academic advisors are the ones in contact with professors & report information to both the academic & athletic side of schools. The sport advisors meet & communicate players' academic progress with coaches regularly, so there is no need for the coaches to call professors or tutors anyway.

The academic disadvantages that Dave Hart alluded to likely have to do with enrollment & grading standards (such as a plus-minus grading system & D's not transferring from JUCOs). I cannot speak for the Thornton Center staff because everyone I know has left there now, but I can assure you academic support units at Tennessee & every other institution in the country are only advantageous for the Athletics department.

Here's some advice to everyone who thinks they know what's going on when they actually have no background or sources: Shut up. Your hearsay does nothing but damage your school's reputation & make you look ignorant.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#27
#27
Volleycat said:
Coach Summit's program benefitted from the continuity that her long term tenure provided. The current players have experienced position coach changes along with a turnover in academic advisors at Thornton. So, just when the coach and advisor are figuring out how to best support a particular student athlete, the coach and/or advisor move on.
Click to expand...

Turnover is very common in academic support units. The key is that the new advisors who are hired must be good at the job. Otherwise, it does take much longer to learn what works with each student.
 
#29
#29
DeerPark12 said:
This is completely inaccurate.

The Thornton Center is a partnership between the University and athletics and does nothing but provide academic support for student athletes and prospective student athletes. That's literally all it does. The academic side has had oversight of it since it opened.

Non-athletes cannot use it. Can't even get in the door. People from the Thornton Center monitor class attendance of athletes, communicate with professors and coaches about athletes' academic performance, and help athletes plan out their class schedules. They also organize study hall time and free tutors for athletes.

To say that there is no academic support for athletes at Tennessee is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on a message board. And with some of the things posted on here, that's saying something.

It's certainly not used against us in recruiting. In fact, the student-athlete academic centers at most schools are based on the model that UT started with the Thornton Center.
Click to expand...

This is accurate! ^^^^^^^

That other b*llsh*t is total crap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#31
#31
i dont think you guys should worry about academics taking up too much time... i worked as a tutor at the thornton center and tutored half of our football team the only requirement was that they had to be in the building like 8 or 10 hours a week. it just gives them a place to do hw and hang out pretty much... i dont think the standards are too high to ask them to pass their classes
 
#32
#32
I'm pretty sure Hart addressed this in his press confrence, he called this an "academic disadvantage". It is no secrect that the academic side has constantly been uping the requirements for athletes to be addmitted into the university. Hart clearly stated that every single disadvantage will be remedied moving forward.

Also as far as funding goes the athletic department is low on funds basically because they have been giving the academic side cash over the last few years. Hart told us its time to cash in on our investment, our athletic budget will not be limited by what we currently have avalible.

From my interpretation of this means gone are the days when a kid cleared by the NCAA does not qualify for addmitance. Coaches will be able to keep a closer eye on their players grades and will be able to do more to keep kids eligable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#34
#34
jortfreeTN said:
I'm pretty sure Hart addressed this in his press confrence, he called this an "academic disadvantage". It is no secrect that the academic side has constantly been uping the requirements for athletes to be addmitted into the university. Hart clearly stated that every single disadvantage will be remedied moving forward.

Also as far as funding goes the athletic department is low on funds basically because they have been giving the academic side cash over the last few years. Hart told us its time to cash in on our investment, our athletic budget will not be limited by what we currently have avalible.

From my interpretation of this means gone are the days when a kid cleared by the NCAA does not qualify for addmitance. Coaches will be able to keep a closer eye on their players grades and will be able to do more to keep kids eligable.
Click to expand...

I hope AD Hart can change things
 
#35
#35
SteveninTenn said:
The Ath. Dept ran it and now its run by academics some of whom dont give a sh*t about sports let alone football. Tell me how that helps our program. Tell me how it helps athletes to be help by a jealous academician who may think an athlete is a glorified beer pong player.
Click to expand...

Not true at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#36
#36
Just what, then, do you think Hart was addressing when he said we were at an academic disadvantage?
 
#37
#37
SteveninTenn said:
The Ath. Dept ran it and now its run by academics some of whom dont give a sh*t about sports let alone football. Tell me how that helps our program. Tell me how it helps athletes to be help by a jealous academician who may think an athlete is a glorified beer pong player.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm not one since I had to look the word up.
 
Last edited:
#38
#38
Dr H Lecter said:
Just what, then, do you think Hart was addressing when he said we were at an academic disadvantage?
Click to expand...

Entrance requirements, mostly.

The Thornton Center is probably the best thing UT does for its athletes, I'm stunned to see so much misinformation about it posted here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#39
#39
DeerPark12 said:
Entrance requirements, mostly.

The Thornton Center is probably the best thing UT does for its athletes, I'm stunned to see so much misinformation about it posted here.
Click to expand...

Well maybe I took it the wrong way when I was listening to coach Matthews I'm sorry for that my apologies but I hope Mr Hart convinces the acedemic folks to lighten up and get these studs in here
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top