Failing academically isn't the problem. Notre Dame continues to graduate the most amount of it's football players. I think BK is just trying to get his players a better academic chance with possibly taking less credit hours per semester. Maybe he is lobbying to get even more athletes admitted to his team that he hasnt been allowed to otherwise? Maybe he feels like he's behind the 8 ball when it comes to the players and their academics? I'm all for whatever he is trying to accomplish to help these kids out get into a better position to succeed.
There are a lot of different potential audiences for this sort of talk:
One is internal to Notre Dame. The administration and faculty who control academic support, admissions, and course requirements for athletes. Make the case to them that players need more help, and he needs more leeway in admissions.
Two is recruits, and the programs we compete with for recruits. Demonstrate to them that - despite what the neg recruiters might say - Notre Dame is prepared to help student-athletes succeed, and that the long-term payoff is substantial.
Three is the broader college football world, which is engaged in this massive debate over what the university owes a student-athlete. Notre Dame is planting a flag that the university owes its student-athletes a quality education, while at the same time having the intellectual honesty to acknowledge that few of these student-athletes would be admitted without their athletic skills. Framing college football as an opportunity, not an entitlement or an exploitation. That's a smart way to go.
Four is probably the current players, who've seen several of their friends get burned on the altar of academic integrity. Only natural that there'd be some concern, and it's important to know that your head coach understands.
Anyway, both Kelly and Swarbrick have been refreshingly honest on these topics, and seem serious about finding good solutions. That's nice to see.
