Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

You are an as_hole. Kids in the Benilde program are not all athletes. There is one coach who is a teacher in the program. The kids who are in Benilde have to score above 50 percent on the HSPT to be considered and they have to have a diagnosed learning difference. These kids don't get any other support besides extra time on their tests and executive function support. So if they are sooo dumb how are they doing the same work that your precious daughter does????

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All,

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

This type of thing has been going on for basketball for at least 25 years when Hargrave Academy (with Stu Vetter) was coaching top 5 ranked HS basketball teams. This isn't any different than IMG, Spire, what the St. James wants to be, etc. I don't see how there is money in this type of school but there has to be otherwise they wouldn't last. There will be some schools that make it but there will be a lot of bad actors out there taking advantage of kids and delusional parents - the AAU circuit is filled with these type of programs. What's the old adage a fool and money are soon parted. Shrugs shoulders.

I saw that Highland school in VA has created an institutional NIL program for its HS athletes and one of their players, Nate Ament, signed a $250k NIL deal with Reebok.

My guess is that big money will start flowing to HS players and the schools themselves will help facilitate those deals and also receive sponsorship money.

And then in a few years, the bubble will burst. There are only so many ads people can see and only so many influencers they can follow.

I mean, are you going to start buying Reebok because some HS kid signed a deal?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All,

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

This type of thing has been going on for basketball for at least 25 years when Hargrave Academy (with Stu Vetter) was coaching top 5 ranked HS basketball teams. This isn't any different than IMG, Spire, what the St. James wants to be, etc. I don't see how there is money in this type of school but there has to be otherwise they wouldn't last. There will be some schools that make it but there will be a lot of bad actors out there taking advantage of kids and delusional parents - the AAU circuit is filled with these type of programs. What's the old adage a fool and money are soon parted. Shrugs shoulders.

I saw that Highland school in VA has created an institutional NIL program for its HS athletes and one of their players, Nate Ament, signed a $250k NIL deal with Reebok.

My guess is that big money will start flowing to HS players and the schools themselves will help facilitate those deals and also receive sponsorship money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All,

This is a brand new idea…so it’s safe to say that whatever SJC promoted in the arts or STEM or whatever won’t be impacted immediately.

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

So that means an additional 200 student slots will be taken by athletes…which mean there are 200 fewer students that want to do arts or robotics or whatever non-sport ECs.

I have to believe they are doing this because they are losing top athletes to sports-focused academies like St James, IMG et al…and new ones seem to be popping up every day.

The AOL founder went to St. John’s and has donate a lot of money for STEM so no, STEM is not going away.

200 athletes is some insane madd up number

Relax mom and m sorry if your just bitter your child didn’t get in but they will be fine.

It’s adding up the number of athletes (including the 70 new football athletes) for all the sports where it’s reasonable to have national teams (including some women’s teams). Football and baseball alone put you at 100 athletes.

Nobody said STEM is going away…but if you don’t increase overall attendance at SJC it will definitely change the school.

The alleged 70 new football athletes aren't all coming in at one grade level but multiple levels - at least, that would be my guess. Most will be juniors and seniors that have proven themselves at another place. Bunch some will come in as freshman - what you don't think SJC recruits football players. What will end up happening is the kids with some talent but not physically ready (but maybe ready by senior year) will sit on the bench. Maybe that's why they are going allegedly going to the 2 team model - at least that's my hunch.

If this is the case, how exactly does this build community or help any particular deserving students?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All,

This is a brand new idea…so it’s safe to say that whatever SJC promoted in the arts or STEM or whatever won’t be impacted immediately.

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

So that means an additional 200 student slots will be taken by athletes…which mean there are 200 fewer students that want to do arts or robotics or whatever non-sport ECs.

I have to believe they are doing this because they are losing top athletes to sports-focused academies like St James, IMG et al…and new ones seem to be popping up every day.

The AOL founder went to St. John’s and has donate a lot of money for STEM so no, STEM is not going away.

200 athletes is some insane madd up number

Relax mom and m sorry if your just bitter your child didn’t get in but they will be fine.

It’s adding up the number of athletes (including the 70 new football athletes) for all the sports where it’s reasonable to have national teams (including some women’s teams). Football and baseball alone put you at 100 athletes.

Nobody said STEM is going away…but if you don’t increase overall attendance at SJC it will definitely change the school.

The alleged 70 new football athletes aren't all coming in at one grade level but multiple levels - at least, that would be my guess. Most will be juniors and seniors that have proven themselves at another place. Bunch some will come in as freshman - what you don't think SJC recruits football players. What will end up happening is the kids with some talent but not physically ready (but maybe ready by senior year) will sit on the bench. Maybe that's why they are going allegedly going to the 2 team model - at least that's my hunch.

Anonymous wrote:All,

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

This type of thing has been going on for basketball for at least 25 years when Hargrave Academy (with Stu Vetter) was coaching top 5 ranked HS basketball teams. This isn't any different than IMG, Spire, what the St. James wants to be, etc. I don't see how there is money in this type of school but there has to be otherwise they wouldn't last. There will be some schools that make it but there will be a lot of bad actors out there taking advantage of kids and delusional parents - the AAU circuit is filled with these type of programs. What's the old adage a fool and money are soon parted. Shrugs shoulders.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Maybe this will help you understand.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/under-armour-founder-gives-16m-to-dc-hs-alma-mater/109734/?amp=1

Kevin would have given SJC millions regardless of whether the football team was playing well. After all, SJC took him in when he was kicked out of Gtown Prep.

He similarly gave $ to HR (where he attended k-8), and HR has never been a sports powerhouse.

Lots of alums who get lucky and strike it rich make gifts to their former schools, but that doesn’t explain why schools over-emphasize certain athletic programs by giving free rides to athletes who otherwise wouldn’t set foot in the school.

There is a high school less than an hour away from SJC that is heavily sponsored by UA, plays their home games at UA stadium, just won a “national championship” broadcasted on espn 2 wearing UA jerseys. The same team that frequently publicly makes fun of SJC for being afraid of scheduling them.

I don’t think any of this is fully a coincidence. I think UA is invested in the growth of SJC football both as a matter of business and ego as sportswear continues to drive the corporatization of high school sports and NIL investments continues grow at this level.

You can like it or not but the reality is this is the direction many of the WCAC “money sports” might be headed in the near future

I suspect this is likely one of the root causes of the shift in SJC's views. You also have the recent appearance of football academies on the local scene like Loudoun Football Academy and the TSJ academy (the Good Counsel - TSJ score was a big wake up call for them). And this is an attempt to compete with those schools for parents that might be all in on that nonsense but still want their son's to be at a real school. This isn't some new occurrence. Basketball has been doing this for decades and now it is seeping down into other sports. Where there is money, there is a way.

Of course, what ends up happening is SJC will (at least for football) will be kicked out of the WCAC just like St. Frances was and play a vagabond schedule traveling the country. Some kids will really benefit from this by getting scholarships but a majority will be left by the wayside once high school is over.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All,

This is a brand new idea…so it’s safe to say that whatever SJC promoted in the arts or STEM or whatever won’t be impacted immediately.

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

So that means an additional 200 student slots will be taken by athletes…which mean there are 200 fewer students that want to do arts or robotics or whatever non-sport ECs.

I have to believe they are doing this because they are losing top athletes to sports-focused academies like St James, IMG et al…and new ones seem to be popping up every day.

The AOL founder went to St. John’s and has donate a lot of money for STEM so no, STEM is not going away.

200 athletes is some insane madd up number

Relax mom and m sorry if your just bitter your child didn’t get in but they will be fine.

It’s adding up the number of athletes (including the 70 new football athletes) for all the sports where it’s reasonable to have national teams (including some women’s teams). Football and baseball alone put you at 100 athletes.

Nobody said STEM is going away…but if you don’t increase overall attendance at SJC it will definitely change the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All,

This is a brand new idea…so it’s safe to say that whatever SJC promoted in the arts or STEM or whatever won’t be impacted immediately.

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

So that means an additional 200 student slots will be taken by athletes…which mean there are 200 fewer students that want to do arts or robotics or whatever non-sport ECs.

I have to believe they are doing this because they are losing top athletes to sports-focused academies like St James, IMG et al…and new ones seem to be popping up every day.

The AOL founder went to St. John’s and has donate a lot of money for STEM so no, STEM is not going away.

200 athletes is some insane madd up number

Relax mom and m sorry if your just bitter your child didn’t get in but they will be fine.

NP. SJC is very easy for admissions LOL.

Anonymous wrote:All,

This is a brand new idea…so it’s safe to say that whatever SJC promoted in the arts or STEM or whatever won’t be impacted immediately.

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

So that means an additional 200 student slots will be taken by athletes…which mean there are 200 fewer students that want to do arts or robotics or whatever non-sport ECs.

I have to believe they are doing this because they are losing top athletes to sports-focused academies like St James, IMG et al…and new ones seem to be popping up every day.

The AOL founder went to St. John’s and has donate a lot of money for STEM so no, STEM is not going away.

200 athletes is some insane madd up number

Relax mom and m sorry if your just bitter your child didn’t get in but they will be fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Maybe this will help you understand.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/under-armour-founder-gives-16m-to-dc-hs-alma-mater/109734/?amp=1

Kevin would have given SJC millions regardless of whether the football team was playing well. After all, SJC took him in when he was kicked out of Gtown Prep.

He similarly gave $ to HR (where he attended k-8), and HR has never been a sports powerhouse.

Lots of alums who get lucky and strike it rich make gifts to their former schools, but that doesn’t explain why schools over-emphasize certain athletic programs by giving free rides to athletes who otherwise wouldn’t set foot in the school.

Certain events with strong programs draw prospective families to campuses. Football games attract thousands every week during the fall. A strong theater program can also be simarly impactful. It helps showcase the beauty of your campus and might generate further curiosity into your academic and other programs.
It can also help with media attention- look at what PVI basketball is doing for a school that many hadn't heard of before.

Isn't SJC already attracting applicants?

Yes.

They had something ridiculous like 1,500 applicants for 350 seats.

They certainly don’t need a good football team to attract applicants.

To maintain it and shape the class the way that you want, yes you do.

Then how come Sidwell, GDS, etc. don’t need a good football team? Or even Prep or Gonzaga?

Gonzaga has a great football team, so this makes no sense.

This mom is mad and misinformed all around.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s telling that most of the kids in the Benilde program (academic support) are athletes. In fact, many of the coaches are tutors in this program. My daughter is an athlete at the school and reports that those recruited for varsity scholarships as freshman had HSPT scores in the 30% range - way below the norm!

This is interesting. My non-athletic kid applied to Benilde and I was hoping it wasn’t a program with just athletes.

Wow. Please don’t believe everything you read here. Ask current parents at the school first. Benilde does not exist as a crutch for athletes and is not simply “academic support.” Whoever wrote this knows nothing about the Benilde Program or its students.

I have 2 dyslexic kids and one did Benilde and one did Ryken at GC. It’s absolutely not full of athletes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Maybe this will help you understand.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/under-armour-founder-gives-16m-to-dc-hs-alma-mater/109734/?amp=1

Kevin would have given SJC millions regardless of whether the football team was playing well. After all, SJC took him in when he was kicked out of Gtown Prep.

He similarly gave $ to HR (where he attended k-8), and HR has never been a sports powerhouse.

Lots of alums who get lucky and strike it rich make gifts to their former schools, but that doesn’t explain why schools over-emphasize certain athletic programs by giving free rides to athletes who otherwise wouldn’t set foot in the school.

Certain events with strong programs draw prospective families to campuses. Football games attract thousands every week during the fall. A strong theater program can also be simarly impactful. It helps showcase the beauty of your campus and might generate further curiosity into your academic and other programs.
It can also help with media attention- look at what PVI basketball is doing for a school that many hadn't heard of before.

Isn't SJC already attracting applicants?

Yes.

They had something ridiculous like 1,500 applicants for 350 seats.

They certainly don’t need a good football team to attract applicants.

To maintain it and shape the class the way that you want, yes you do.

Then how come Sidwell, GDS, etc. don’t need a good football team? Or even Prep or Gonzaga?

The prep and Gonzaga dads are about to come at you… AT YOU… for saying they don’t have a good football program.

Sidwell and GDS will never have a good football program… so why try

The reality is our area needs good football programs, it needs good basketball programs, it needs good science program programs, it needs good theater program programs… y’all mad because they have good programs?

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU!

Why "TF" are you equating sports and academics? It's a school, not the NFL.

Students who go to SJC can play football. Unless, of course, they recruit super hard for football such that only the new recruits can play.

Sigh.

When they aggressively recruit kids who aren’t catholic and aren’t equipped to handle the academics from far-flung public schools to play football or basketball and give them a full scholarship for sports then that begs the question “why”.

I assume the school somehow benefits financially despite subsidizing tuition. And I suppose that answers the OP’s question.

I mean, SJC imported a basketball player from another country a number of years ago. Why? It’s weird, right?

Bullis, GC, and even GP recruiter and subsidize star athletes.

Apparently sports matter, so maybe SJC will go national.

WWJD?

Gonzaga had to create a whole school (Washington Jesuit) to help kids be prepared for the academics. Also, San Miguel help kids teach their potential

It’s literally what we are compelled to do as Catholics. Help others reach their potential and give them love and support.

Catholic schools have a long history of doing this through sports and they are growing their arts.

I actually think sports and arts contribute to society more positively than a Wall Street Chad or a lawyer.

This was a part of the Catholic mission.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how the recruitment works? Does SJC give a lot of aid or only to top athletes that truly need it?

My kid is a football recruit and we did not apply for aid because we will not qualify. We only know three other recruits personally, and I know they would also not qualify for aid. At no time has anyone suggested there is other aid or scholarships for recruits. I hope and expect aid is there only for families who need it.

The aid is obviously for star athletes whether they need it or not.

Note: a star athlete is actively recruited by multiple schools, so the aid (read: full ride) is offered as a carrot.

And it gets better:

Does your school have a star athlete from another country or out of state?

If so, those kids sometimes live with a host family whose own kid gets a tuition discount or full ride. I know two area privates that have done this/are currently doing this.

And your full tuition covers this.

(Not that you’ll answer this, but) which two schools?

I mean, everyone can probably guess the two—but the reality is most schools known for sports does this.

I know boys who were aggressively recruited. All the usual suspect schools threw money at them despite the fact that the families were objectively affluent.

I also know of an athlete from another state currently attending an area private. Full ride for the athlete, and free tuition for the family hosting him.

And I know another family at a different school that hosted an international student athlete. Same deal: free ride for the athlete and the host family’s student.

As a full-pay family, I cannot for the life of me understand why athletics are prioritized to the extent they are. They must bring in significant money for the schools, but I can’t understand how exactly.

Maybe this will help you understand.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/under-armour-founder-gives-16m-to-dc-hs-alma-mater/109734/?amp=1

Kevin would have given SJC millions regardless of whether the football team was playing well. After all, SJC took him in when he was kicked out of Gtown Prep.

He similarly gave $ to HR (where he attended k-8), and HR has never been a sports powerhouse.

Lots of alums who get lucky and strike it rich make gifts to their former schools, but that doesn’t explain why schools over-emphasize certain athletic programs by giving free rides to athletes who otherwise wouldn’t set foot in the school.

Certain events with strong programs draw prospective families to campuses. Football games attract thousands every week during the fall. A strong theater program can also be simarly impactful. It helps showcase the beauty of your campus and might generate further curiosity into your academic and other programs.
It can also help with media attention- look at what PVI basketball is doing for a school that many hadn't heard of before.

Isn't SJC already attracting applicants?

Yes.

They had something ridiculous like 1,500 applicants for 350 seats.

They certainly don’t need a good football team to attract applicants.

To maintain it and shape the class the way that you want, yes you do.

Then how come Sidwell, GDS, etc. don’t need a good football team? Or even Prep or Gonzaga?

The prep and Gonzaga dads are about to come at you… AT YOU… for saying they don’t have a good football program.

Sidwell and GDS will never have a good football program… so why try

The reality is our area needs good football programs, it needs good basketball programs, it needs good science program programs, it needs good theater program programs… y’all mad because they have good programs?

WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU!

Why "TF" are you equating sports and academics? It's a school, not the NFL.

Students who go to SJC can play football. Unless, of course, they recruit super hard for football such that only the new recruits can play.

Yes sports is part of academics. It’s literally a career. Do you know how many people work for the NFL. NBA, MLB who will never play professionally? What is wrong with having a passion even if it’s not for a career? Out of inside of your mouth you’ll complain about obesity and mental heath, then the other complain about the exact thing that prevent it.

You have a chip on your shoulder with respect to sports and your opinion is not shared.

Anonymous wrote:All,

This is a brand new idea…so it’s safe to say that whatever SJC promoted in the arts or STEM or whatever won’t be impacted immediately.

I think others have alluded to the bigger risk. If this new national sports team model is successful for football, then one has to think they will extend it to baseball, basketball, LAX, hockey etc al.

So that means an additional 200 student slots will be taken by athletes…which mean there are 200 fewer students that want to do arts or robotics or whatever non-sport ECs.

I have to believe they are doing this because they are losing top athletes to sports-focused academies like St James, IMG et al…and new ones seem to be popping up every day.

Exactly. This has potential to be a long term problem. Maybe not so much in the short term.