Petition for Isaiah McKenzie

[Irish To The Core]

No...it is none of our business as fans of the football team who Notre Dame does and does not admit in my opinion.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Where was the Golson petition in June.....

 

[Irish#1]

Guys... I am having a real hard time becoming a millionaire in life. If I start a petition to give me maybe 1 or 2 million dollars, would you sign it?

No. but maybe we can find a million people to give you a dollar each.

No...it is none of our business as fans of the football team who Notre Dame does and does not admit in my opinion.

Speak for yourself my friend. ND is more than just a football team to me.

 

[adsnorri]

I appreciate some of the more thoughtful posts....Haha. Some of the other BS posts wreak of resentment because you were not admitted to the school based on academics... Totally different situations with a lot more factors involved.

I would definitely not want something like this to further embarrass McKenzie, thanks for the perspective Lax.

To be honest, I didn't know he wasn't cleared by NCAA at all. Strictly from a fans perspective, he looks like a take over some other recruits that we have welcomed regardless, but not my decision.

I see him working hard, albeit too late in the game. I would love to see ND offer the Holy Cross route though, that would not only help us with him but other recruits that are borderline in the future. Put them in the shallow end before throwing them in the deep end. lol

This situation with McKenzie drives me crazy from a morality perspective. I know some of you worked two jobs while in school to make a better life. "I walked uphill to and from school everyday as well". I just know that for some kids, the light switches on much later in their life and for some it is too late, for others it is just in time. I would like to think his light is now switched on, that's the reason for this thread....

 

[Wingman Ray]

This situation with McKenzie drives me crazy from a morality perspective. I know some of you worked two jobs while in school to make a better life. "I walked uphill to and from school everyday as well". I just know that for some kids, the light switches on much later in their life and for some it is too late, for others it is just in time. I would like to think his light is now switched on, that's the reason for this thread....

That is why there are city jobs like trash collection and places like Walmart who always need more employees. To the spoils go those who prepare and work hard the whole race...not just the last minutes.

 

[connect the dots]

Disclosure- I do not know McKenzie at all or know of his personal life at all.
I know he has a recruiting thread already and mods can merge if they feel appropriate. However, this kid is the epitome of "kid left behind". Like others have mentioned, if he had some earlier guidance, he would be in the class and a student athlete of Notre Dame next year. Due to his standardized test scores being too low, he is having trouble being admitted into Notre Dame. He has taken multiple tests to raise his score to satisfy the admissions requirements but is having troubles doing so. However, he "seems" to be working his tail off to get the correct scores and imo hurting his chances of being recruited by other big time programs. They see his love to get into Notre Dame and decide not to use resources to recruit an unlikely signee.

In life there are guidelines and restrictions put on us to do the things we want, especially better ourselves. In this case, I think McKenzie needs to be put on a pedestal and shown to recruits and other kids as an example of "working hard" and not giving up on your dreams. I also think that we should start a petition(regardless of weather it will have any impact) to show our support for a recruit and person that may not have all of the resources in life as many others but is fighting to keep his dreams alive. Many other recruits simply choose another school with less academic standards.

My question is if I start a petition, will you sign it? A simple yes or no is fine or if you would like to add your input, I would love to hear what you think? Changes happen in numbers and by good, strong willed people.

I second this emotion. However, for my own tranquility, I have no intention of reading what others have say about your proposal.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I'm not going to make fun because I respect the idea and intent behind this, but unfortunately there isn't anything to be accomplished here.

 

[adsnorri]

That is why there are city jobs like trash collection and places like Walmart who always need more employees. To the spoils go those who prepare and work hard the whole race...not just the last minutes.

Don't want to get into a pissing match with you sir but Walmart is one the most successful MNC in the world. I would love to be an executive at this company....they are employees as well.

As for people that didn't work hard the whole race....Not sure what race you are discussing. There are quite a few people in the world that aren't in the same race as you or I but are much more successful than you or I. Please...save me the tough guy talk.

As well, there is never a wrong time to turn your life around and do great things, implying that this recruit can't do the same because he didn't do well in three years of high school puts you in a box that is outdated. Nothing personal but in your case a simple yes or no would have sufficed...

 

[woolybug25]

As for people that didn't work hard the whole race....Not sure what race you are discussing. There are quite a few people in the world that aren't in the same race as you or I but are much more successful than you or I. Please...save me the tough guy talk.

As well, there is never a wrong time to turn your life around and do great things, implying that this recruit can't do the same because he didn't do well in three years of high school puts you in a box that is outdated. Nothing personal but in your case a simple yes or no would have sufficed...

Exactly, when did trying your hardest at any point become a bad thing? There are a lot of kids that don't try at all and have everything laid out for their success. McKenzie wasn't one of those kids. So him trying this hard now is admirable. He could have just bowed out like Elam when he saw the difficult path in front of him. He's fighting until he hears the whistle, and until that whistle blows, i'll be rooting for him.

 

[Cackalacky]

That is why there are city jobs like trash collection and places like Walmart who always need more employees. To the spoils go those who prepare and work hard the whole race...not just the last minutes.

This is a total bullshit post. The kid is 18 years old...I would love to meet the person that has the game of life figured out at his age...

 

[Rhode Irish]

This is a total bullshit post. The kid is 18 years old...I would love to meet the person that has the game of life figured out at his age...

I can honestly say that, outside of sports, I put in precisely zero days of honest hard work and gave precisely zero fucks in my life until I was 21 or 22. I was kept afloat by a support system that wouldn't allow me fail. Not everyone is so lucky. People that are willing to put in the work should be given the opportunity to do so, regardless of when they figure it out. Making people suffer because they didn't have a good support system at 15 or 16 is inhumane.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I can honestly say that, outside of sports, I put in precisely zero days of honest hard work and gave precisely zero fucks in my life until I was 21 or 22. I was kept afloat by a support system that wouldn't allow me fail. Not everyone is so lucky. People that are willing to put in the work should be given the opportunity to do so, regardless of when they figure it out. Making people suffer because they didn't have a good support system at 15 or 16 is inhumane.

Agreed on many counts. But that doesn't mean a private college should lower admissions standards to allow that kid in.

 

[Cackalacky]

Agreed on many counts. But that doesn't mean a private college should lower admissions standards to allow that kid in.

Yes but because he can't get into private institution does not equate to having to collect trash or work for Walmart ( not that you said that).

 

[Monk]

I think most of us get the point here. It's admirable to work hard and try to reach your dreams at any point you decide to do so, but that does not mean your dream will always be reached and nothing we say can change that. Good luck to the kid and hopefully he will continue to work hard at all his endeavors (whether that be an executive at Walmart or managing a multi million dollar disposal company).

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Yes but because he can't get into private institution does not equate to having to collect trash or work for Walmart ( not that you said that).

Yep. Not that there's anything demeaning about jobs like those. But, yep.

 

[Cackalacky]

 

[Irish#1]

Don't want to get into a pissing match with you sir but Walmart is one the most successful MNC in the world. I would love to be an executive at this company....they are employees as well.

As for people that didn't work hard the whole race....Not sure what race you are discussing. There are quite a few people in the world that aren't in the same race as you or I but are much more successful than you or I. Please...save me the tough guy talk.

As well, there is never a wrong time to turn your life around and do great things, implying that this recruit can't do the same because he didn't do well in three years of high school puts you in a box that is outdated. Nothing personal but in your case a simple yes or no would have sufficed...

I may be wrong I think he's talking about the rat race of life.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Agreed on many counts. But that doesn't mean a private college should lower admissions standards to allow that kid in.

Yeah I'm not even advocating for that as much as I am arguing against the point that life is a "race" and if you get off to a slow start, then fuck you.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Yep. I agree.

 

[Wingman Ray]

Not meaning to piss people off. I just think it is BS alone that kids get golden opportunities all their lives because of God given talent and when they dont get the next step opportunity due to their lack of effort, people are willing to say "oh man...he needs a hand up". BS. I came from a low income family and had to bust my butt for everything I had from my first piece of junk $600 car to paying tuition at college. Now Im not saying that for a pity party at all. Im just saying it is not right how athletes get so many gimees all their lives. Dont have to study, get the pretty girl when they look like the back of someones ballsack (Manziel), people taking their exams in college, getting greased by in HS to being given a job post college just because they played football somewhere when the average joe has to bust his ass for all of this. The list goes on and on.

Hey Im all for effort and God bless him trying to make a change in his life. But to even mention this is a big finger to everyone who actually had to work to get into college.

And for the record, I meant Race of Life

 

[woolybug25]

Not meaning to piss people off. I just think it is BS alone that kids get golden opportunities all their lives because of God given talent and when they dont get the next step opportunity due to their lack of effort, people are willing to say "oh man...he needs a hand up". BS. I came from a low income family and had to bust my butt for everything I had from my first piece of junk $600 car to paying tuition at college. Now Im not saying that for a pity party at all. Im just saying it is not right how athletes get so many gimees all their lives. Dont have to study, get the pretty girl when they look like the back of someones ballsack (Manziel), people taking their exams in college, getting greased by in HS to being given a job post college just because they played football somewhere when the average joe has to bust his ass for all of this. The list goes on and on.

Hey Im all for effort and God bless him trying to make a change in his life. But to even mention this is a big finger to everyone who actually had to work to get into college.

And for the record, I meant Race of Life

So you think it would be better if he didn't try at all because its too late? That doesn't make sense.

He could have taken Elam's approach and just gave up when the coaches told him he didn't have the grades. But instead, he is working until the very last buzzer sounds to do everything he can to try to get into a school like Notre Dame, when he could go somewhere else without the work. But here you are... shitting on him because he didn't buy his first car with his paper route money.

Like you know what this kid has been through or circumstances that made his grades low up until this year anyway. The only thing we know now is that he is working his butt off despite the grim outlook in front of him. Good for him. I'm not going to fault the kid for actually putting effort into it.

 

[wizards8507]

That is why there are city jobs like trash collection and places like Walmart who always need more employees. To the spoils go those who prepare and work hard the whole race...not just the last minutes.

I'm a proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy and I'm probably the biggest personal responsibility / conservative / libertarian guy you'll ever meet. I agree with you 100% except on one key point: children. You just can't apply the "spoils of war" analogy to kids.

 

[ND NYC]

That is why there are city jobs like trash collection and places like Walmart who always need more employees. To the spoils go those who prepare and work hard the whole race...not just the last minutes.

Judge Smalls...is that you?

"...the world needs ditchdiggers too"

 

[Redbar]

I can honestly say that, outside of sports, I put in precisely zero days of honest hard work and gave precisely zero fucks in my life until I was 21 or 22. I was kept afloat by a support system that wouldn't allow me fail. Not everyone is so lucky. People that are willing to put in the work should be given the opportunity to do so, regardless of when they figure it out. Making people suffer because they didn't have a good support system at 15 or 16 is inhumane.

Yeah I'm not even advocating for that as much as I am arguing against the point that life is a "race" and if you get off to a slow start, then fuck you.

Reps!

 

[Irish#1]

Never thought a thread on starting a petition for Isaiah would turn into a debate on the social impact of our youth and their efforts or perceived lack of efforts towards the institution of academia.

 

[Cackalacky]

Never thought a thread on starting a petition for Isaiah would turn into a debate on the social impact of our youth and their efforts or perceived lack of efforts towards the institution of academia.

Really? I am currently compiling data from this site in order to make the claim that things like the above are a virtual lock to occur in any given thread on IE.

 

[Redbar]

Really? I am currently compiling data from this site in order to make the claim that things like the above are a virtual lock to occur in any given thread on IE.

Yep, it's about a statistical certainty.

 

[Son of Kenmare]

Not sure if this is posted anywhere else. This was linked in by Bleacher Report.

Isaiah McKenzie starting to find his way in life at American Heritage - Broward High Schools - MiamiHerald.com

 

[NDohio]

Not sure if this is posted anywhere else. This was linked in by Bleacher Report.

Isaiah McKenzie starting to find his way in life at American Heritage - Broward High Schools - MiamiHerald.com

I really hope he can make it to ND. The football aside, this kid seems to really want to get a ND education. He would be a great example for others if he can get in and then succeed. Keep working hard IM.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Not meaning to piss people off. I just think it is BS alone that kids get golden opportunities all their lives because of God given talent and when they dont get the next step opportunity due to their lack of effort, people are willing to say "oh man...he needs a hand up". BS. I came from a low income family and had to bust my butt for everything I had from my first piece of junk $600 car to paying tuition at college. Now Im not saying that for a pity party at all. Im just saying it is not right how athletes get so many gimees all their lives. Dont have to study, get the pretty girl when they look like the back of someones ballsack (Manziel), people taking their exams in college, getting greased by in HS to being given a job post college just because they played football somewhere when the average joe has to bust his ass for all of this. The list goes on and on.

Hey Im all for effort and God bless him trying to make a change in his life. But to even mention this is a big finger to everyone who actually had to work to get into college.

And for the record, I meant Race of Life

Are you Irishpat's kid brother?