Athletes do better before, during and after college

Preparing athletes for their next life

 

There has been a discussion on college campuses on what is considered a viable major for students and student-athletes. It is basically a smokescreen for falling standards overall.

There have been majors that many athletes gravitate to…. it may be because the subject is interesting… such as Psychology or Business…. or maybe…. gasp!… because it is easy.

USA Today reported that athletes do tend to congregate in certain subjects:

“When the Auburn football team’s defense heads into the huddle, the players probably don’t talk sociology. But seven defensive players on Auburn’s 2003 football roster are majoring in that field. Overall, 10 of the 38 Tigers football players whose majors appear in the team’s media guide are in sociology.”

Another article describes a similar tale:

“A review of ASU’s 2003 football team revealed that the most popular major is interdisciplinary studies, a degree program widely considered by students and faculty to be among the university’s easiest. A full 18 percent, or 17 of 94, team members were in the program this past fall.”

Some folks on and off campus grumble about any efforts to give athletes what they consider ‘preferential treatment.’ You know these guys, they were picked last in grade school:

“NCAA Commissioner Myles Brand announced sweeping academic reforms, aimed at increasing dishonesty, cheating, and preferential treatment for student athletes.”

Well, bad stuff happens….. but for most student-athletes this is a rare experience. With the changes in NCAA rules, athletes can continue their athletic performance in graduate school…. for those academically gifted to continue.

It should not escape anyone’s notice that many of the top academic schools in the country are also the top athletic powers as well. The reason for this is obvious, a rich alum makes a donation to their athletic program and then turns to donate funds for a new Physics building. it happens all the time. Some of the best college presidents have recognized this from the beginning… athletics brings in the supporters that can be massaged into donating something more.

Take a trip on U.S. News and World Report and check out the top colleges… you may be surprised to see how many big bowl colleges are top ranked academically!

Research Medical Schools:

# 3 — University of pennsylvania
# 6  — Duke university
# 7 — Stanford
also #7 — University of Washington
# 10 — Baylor Continue reading “Athletes do better before, during and after college”

Laugh through Animations

 

Follow the leader! 
Animations are fun and make us laugh and take serious subjects and make them fun!

Karla's Football Rivalry animation -- Florida Gators and Arkansas
My daughter Karla has always made me smile with her charming animations…. her simple understanding of the basic humor and the emotion we all find in everyday life is impressive.

Karen writes a web based newsletter that literally goes all over the world… and Karla has faithfully produced everything Karen has asked…. including this poor Arkansas Razorback getting kicked through the goal posts by a Florida Gator.

Famous Trojan Poodle with a fanKarla has drawn Arroyo Grande high School Eagles, San Luis Obispo High School Tigers, SMU Mustangs ( Paruna), Florida Gators and USC Trojans for Karen… Here’s a few of the ‘Mascot Battles of the SEC.’

 

Some of my favorite of Karla’s drawings are what she has done for my alma mater…USC.

Karen of Troy!

 Thanks Karla…. You always make us smile.

Love,

Dad

 

U.S.C. Trojan Football Greets Nebraska’s Cornhuskers!

Trojans Meet Cornhuskers!

 

Saturday, September 16th, the Cornhuskers from Nebraska come to Los Angeles to meet the Trojans of U.S.C.

We have family from Nebraska (Omaha)and graduates from UN. My grandfather (Harold Hjersted) and his brother lived in a little town called “Rulo” population 32 about 70 miles from Lincoln or ‘Cornhusker Central’. Rulo was actually a big town before they moved the railroad across the Mississippi in the late 1800’s… then it dried up.

Hard to fnid places to eat in Rulo

I was a bit surprised to find this picture of one of the few places to eat in the area of Rulo, Nebraska. I haven’t been there since around 1990 or so… but I do remember that they’re next to the river and serve up great fried catfish! YUM!

Notice the flag streamers atop the restaurant?… in common language, when folks put these on their business (gas stations, etc.) it usually means, “I’m dying here! Buy something quick…. before I close!” Sorry to say, Rulo population 32 old folks is not long for this world. It’s a quiet and beautiful place.

Anyway, we’ll be heading to the game this Saturday dressed in the obligatory cardinal and gold! It’s going to be especially fun bringing a wife who loves football.

In any event, it looks like the faithful from all sides are beating the drums:

Nebraska’s BULLhorns:

Nebraska Team Briming with confidence
Real Football 365
NCAA football — Nebraska

Trojan Faithfull:

Recruiting Catch-up
How Nebraska Stacks Up
Tribute to Troy

Others:

Week 3 Picks
Chuck’s Top 25
IRISH-TROJAN Blog (what the hell is that?)
Kevins Picks

FIGHT ON! TROJANS!

Roger Freberg

Happy 34th Wedding Anniversary, Sweetheart……. Fight on!

 

Laura in Trojan Suit and Happy    

Now, most men will recognize that Laura (my wife) is NOT wearing a soccer uniform… which, of course, makes her look all the more facinating, alluring and provocative.

What she is wearing is a USC Trojan Football Uniform and sipping a diet Pepsi at Federico’s in Buelton, California. We were returning home from a USC-UCLA game a couple of year’s ago. Trojans won.

How could you not love a woman who loves football? I think back to our first date… I was being recruited and recieved tickets to a previous rivalry game (1969) and ,since I had no money, asking a girl to a footall game served many purposes… especially financial. Little did I know it was the ‘perfect’ date for her.

Today we have been married 34 years with three adult children in whom we are proud…. and we go to football games together… what could be better?

So, boys, want to be happy for the rest of your life… find a girl who loves football…

Happy anniversary ,hun.

 

Roger Freberg

Others celebrating anniversaries:

9th Wedding Anniversary
1st Anniversary
a Military anniversary
Remembering their 8th anniverasary despite work
another 8th anniversary alone
a day late… but 7 years!

Tinkerbelle’s annoyed with wedding… but marriage is good
19 years and all is well?
sooooon to be married
2 years and happy

UPDATE: My bride has sweetly blogged about me… unbeknownst to me!

 

 

Sports: it’s a guy thing!

A true fanatic... but NOT a cute guy... sorry ladiesWell, we’re talking about ‘sports’ again… so you gals can head out to the mall. heh heh

Not that any of us guys didn’t know this… but guys like sports and many women don’t. There really is a science behind male fanatic behavior.  Ah ha! you say…. that means SOME women like sports? Yep, the women who like sports are just about the most beautiful creatures that God has ever placed on this earth…. I know… I married one and produced daughters who love sports too… especially football.

If you don’t believe me that women who love sports are a RARE commodity… I have PROOF! This past weekend, while my daughters and my wife and I were all watching football (down boys… only two of those females are single), we watched an ad for eharmony.com.

A Football Loving Couple brought too you by eharmony.comWhat was so unusual about the ad you ask? Well, this is kind of an ‘advanced dating’ site that delves deep into your personality and looks to see if you can share the housework and if she can watch football while giving you a sensual backrub.

 The eharmony man said that he was looking for a woman who liked to watch football… and the only thing they now apparently fight about is the fact that she is a Brown fan and he is a Steeler. Holy , drop the remote, Batman! I could just see millions of guys logging on to eharmony…. while their girlfriends/whatever were out at the mall.

Go get a good one this time, guys! The guy pictured on the left FOUND his football loving fiance’! Continue reading “Sports: it’s a guy thing!”