Petition for Isaiah McKenzie

[adsnorri]

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.

 

[irishog77]

No

 

[irishog77]

But thanks for posting, nonetheless! I like the spirit!

 

[IrishLax]

Not to be too blunt here, but what good exactly do you expect a petition to do if a kid cannot even meet NCAA minimums to be admitted to ANY college?

 

[STLDomer]

No

 

[jimmymac]

This is funny

 

[Booslum31]

Not to be too blunt here, but what good exactly do you expect a petition to do if a kid cannot even meet NCAA minimums to be admitted to ANY college?

That's what I thought...it wasn't just ND. It was any school. I hear what you are saying about being left behind though.

 

[adsnorri]

Not to be too blunt here, but what good exactly do you expect a petition to do if a kid cannot even meet NCAA minimums to be admitted to ANY college?

The part that says "I also think that we should start a petition(regardless of weather it will have any impact)" should answer that for you. I just see a kid fighting to get clearance and appreciate the work ethic. I don't know his grades by year but what if he did horrible his first three years but then decided to change his work ethic in the classroom his senior year...Is this a person that would stand and promote the values of Notre Dame? Based on his Senior year, could he manage the academic workload...These are questions that if answered would make the situation much more clearer.

However, Like I mentioned...I see a kid fighting and I like that. Preferably at Notre Dame...

Lax, you have more info then I do and most likely would not want to share that publicly but you don't agree on any accounts?

 

[jimmymac]

Ps. If he is having this much trouble meeting the minimum requirements he's going to have great trouble passing at ND.

 

[Kak7304]

Maybe start a petition for ND to accept him as a JUCO in a few years if you really want to make a push for him.

 

[NDPhilly]

 

[IrishLax]

The part that says "I also think that we should start a petition(regardless of weather it will have any impact)" should answer that for you.

Yeah, I didn't mean "impact" necessarily but what "good" do you think it would do? Like, let's say this went gangbusters. Let's say we got ten thousand people to sign a petition, and it got picked up by ESPN or something crazy like that. All I see it doing is embarrassing McKenzie some more. I just don't see what "good" a petition could accomplish for anyone.

I just see a kid fighting to get clearance and appreciate the work ethic. I don't know his grades by year but what if he did horrible his first three years but then decided to change his work ethic in the classroom his senior year...Is this a person that would stand and promote the values of Notre Dame? Based on his Senior year, could he manage the academic workload...These are questions that if answered would make the situation much more clearer.

However, Like I mentioned...I see a kid fighting and I like that. Preferably at Notre Dame...

Lax, you have more info then I do and most likely would not want to share that publicly but you don't agree on any accounts?

I totally agree with the gist of all this. I think he was failed by people around him early in his academic career. I think this happens far too often for people like McKenzie. He dedicated himself to making improvement this semester (but probably could've done more, if we're being honest... not like he pulled a 4.0) but was in way too deep of a hole already.

It just is what it is, and it's a bummer. Could he handle the workload at ND? Maybe. Does he have the academic profile right now of a college student? No. Just not much anyone can do.

 

[Pachuco]

People can laugh, but I like the spirit of this post, man.

However, like others have said, it's going to be tough to keep up with the course work.

It's impossible to predict an absolute outcome, but the indicators are there that being a student-athlete at ND would be an overwhelming experience for the young man.

 

[BGIF]

Not to be too blunt here, but what good exactly do you expect a petition to do if a kid cannot even meet NCAA minimums to be admitted to ANY college?

To be more blunt, he CAN be admitted to college but he can NOT receive an NCAA Division 1 Scholarhip without clearance from the NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly, The Clearinghouse) on 1. Required Cores Courses and 2. the Sliding GPA/Test Score.

I know that you know that but it's obvious from reading posts like the one you responded to every year that many fans do not grasp that basic concept or refuse to accept it.

It's not ND Admissions simply being hardasses. Over the years they have shown incredible acumen in evaluating the abilty of ALL students to succeed in the ND academic environment. Over the yeas ND have taken many "chances" on recruits that were a "reach" academicall. I posted some weeks ago about an ND player that had an 800 on his SATs. With perserverence and the ND tutorial program's assistance he graduated in 4 years. He was the exception not the rule but he was declared Eligible by the NCAA so ND Admissions had the opportunity to render a decision. They do not in this case.

I believe part of the increased football transfer rate over the past 4 years has been due the increase in accomodations made to recruits by Admissions but to my knowledge all but one was declared eligible by the NCAA.

The subject of JUCOs also shows a lack of understanding by fans about the ND academic environement where average SAT scores are over 1350 (two part). This isn't the 20's or the 40's, Gipper would not be admitted today. Moriatry made the rare jump from JUCO to ND as highly qualified student that had health issues his senior year of HS. He didn't go to JUCO to get acadmically qualified. He already was. Rudy went the transfer route at Holy Cross. BUT Rudy wasn't on scholarship. The punter Wulfeck and the OL from Northwestern weren't JUCOs but qualified transfer students.

 

[Wingman Ray]

Absolutely 100% not.

Football players get TONS of handouts as is because of God given talent. Take away that God given ability and they wouldn't be within 100 miles of a university campus except to watch a game being played on their own dime.

To people like myself who had to bust their ass working two jobs through college, I resent already the fact that these guys get everything handed to them on a silver platter, and have their whole lives up to now because they are superb athletes.

If it was up to me, I would see all athletes have to meet minimum entrance standards of your standard D1 school for non athletes. Im not saying ND or Stanford but if you dont meet the minimum gpa or SAT/ACT scores for say a S. Carolina or Alabama or Michigan state, you dont get in anywhere. Lord knows if you cant make it with one of those schools, you shouldnt be in college.

As for this brainiac, Im sure he will go the JC route then get picked up by a college that has zero care for academics nor monitoring of its athletes. I can proudly say that ND isnt one of those schools.

 

[GBdomer]

No, please no

There are so many people in this world who want to go to Notre Dame but they can't.

 

[Kak7304]

To be more blunt, he CAN be admitted to college but he can NOT receive an NCAA Division 1 Scholarhip without clearance from the NCAA Eligibility Center (formerly, The Clearinghouse) on 1. Required Cores Courses and 2. the Sliding GPA/Test Score.

I know that you know that but it's obvious from reading posts like the one you responded to every year that many fans do not grasp that basic concept or refuse to accept it.

It's not ND Admissions simply being hardasses. Over the years they have shown incredible acumen in evaluating the abilty of ALL students to succeed in the ND academic environment. Over the yeas ND have taken many "chances" on recruits that were a "reach" academicall. I posted some weeks ago about an ND player that had an 800 on his SATs. With perserverence and the ND tutorial program's assistance he graduated in 4 years. He was the exception not the rule but he was declared Eligible by the NCAA so ND Admissions had the opportunity to render a decision. They do not in this case.

I believe part of the increased football transfer rate over the past 4 years has been due the increase in accomodations made to recruits by Admissions but to my knowledge all but one was declared eligible by the NCAA.

The subject of JUCOs also shows a lack of understanding by fans about the ND academic environement where average SAT scores are over 1350 (two part). This isn't the 20's or the 40's, Gipper would not be admitted today. Moriatry made the rare jump from JUCO to ND as highly qualified student that had health issues his senior year of HS. He didn't go to JUCO to get acadmically qualified. He already was. Rudy went the transfer route at Holy Cross. BUT Rudy wasn't on scholarship. The punter Wulfeck and the OL from Northwestern weren't JUCOs but qualified transfer students.

Just splitting hairs, but I think the average is in the low 1400's now.

 

[Irishnuke]

This idea makes me uncomfortable.

 

[ThePiombino]

Maybe start a petition for ND to accept him as a JUCO in a few years if you really want to make a push for him.

This would be his only shot of getting in at this point. And it's not really much of a shot at all. Poor kid.

 

[stlnd01]

On the other hand, it would be nice if McKenzie became our first-ever JUCO transfer after a couple of years of getting his academic house in order. Better that than him getting snuck into some SEC factory program.

 

[Irish YJ]

This would be his only shot of getting in at this point. And it's not really much of a shot at all. Poor kid.

I'll sign a juco petition today, two years in advance, for this young man. If he can handle his business at a JC college, and still loves ND, I'd love to have him.

BTW,,, none of us (well maybe some, who can't share) know this kid's situation. Assuming he can't handle the demands of ND is pure speculation. We don't know the level of support or help he has had trying to turn the ship in the last six months. I am however confident he'd get the right support if admitted. I'm also not saying he can handle the demands. I'm just not going to assume.

 

[stlnd01]

Seriously, if we (by which I mean the Notre Dame administration and football program, not IE posters) put a little effort into the JUCO thing, would that be a possibility? Get him to Holy Cross and see what happens? Do they have a football team?

 

[LoveThee]

I really want to go to Notre Dame too and Isaiah is my age. I hope if I am told I can't go there, someone starts a petition to let me go as a tribute to my hard work. Sometimes the work isn't enough. Thats just how the world works.

 

[LoveThee]

I'll sign a juco petition today, two years in advance, for this young man. If he can handle his business at a JC college, and still loves ND, I'd love to have him.

BTW,,, none of us (well maybe some, who can't share) know this kid's situation. Assuming he can't handle the demands of ND is pure speculation. We don't know the level of support or help he has had trying to turn the ship in the last six months. I am however confident he'd get the right support if admitted. I'm also not saying he can handle the demands. I'm just not going to assume.

I'll agree with this though.

 

[Irish#1]

I appreciate the gesture, but this is a longer shot than Rudy.

 

[Cackalacky]

snl bad idea jeans - YouTube

 

[scUM Hater]

Western Michigan will accept him in a heart-beat..........believe me

 

[Irish YJ]

I appreciate the gesture, but this is a longer shot than Rudy.

 

[phork]

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?

 

[Irish YJ]

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?

dude you have like 50billion.... why don't you throw a billion over to irish yj and i'll sign your petition