Tee Shepard has a hearing deficit and other learning disabilities. He grew up and went to school in a depressed neighborhood, with no advantages.
If his counselors and teachers planted false hope with him by divorcing production (achieving grades) from the expectations, so be it. You can debate that, or make jokes about it if that is what you wish.
I don't think many could do as well as he has done with some of the obstacles he faces.
Here is the hard truth for ND fans. There are a lot of gifted athletes that have learning disabilities, some more severe than others. Few if any will go to ND. It is a private school. ADA and the title programs do not provide resources at private institutions.
And I have seen no initiative on the part of anyone at ND to provide these as no cost resources for all members of the student body.
I have seen a lot of ridicule and even some contempt directed toward Tee and Eddie, but the fact of the matter is, neither should go to a school where they cannot get the greatest resources available. I just saw somewhere in the last couple of days where someone criticized EV for jumping from USC, to ND, to UCLA. What would you expect? In addition to a football scholarship, the kid can get help tailored to his needs to insure he can compete in the classroom, or at least learn something.
Someone criticized me for asking if EV had a particular spectral disorder. You can often watch a kids parents to find out. That was the real reason for all the subterfuge. Not bagmen, or the devil Mora, Jr., as some but-hurt ND fans wanted to presuppose. [Edit: Eddie is high functioning autistic. Please check Asperger's Disease.]
ND is awesome. Beyond politics. Beyond dogma. Beyond religious or ethnic identity. Beyond elitists sanctity. Our society is better when we help those in need, and sometimes they aren't those we assume need the helping. See what there is to gain?
