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Getting In: College Choice for Pacific Islander High School Football Players

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Getting In: College Choice for Pacific Islander High School Football Players Getting In: College Choice for Pacific Islander High School Football Players KEALI‘I KUKAHIKO SSGM DISCUSSION PAPER 2017/7 Introduction high school football recruits. For PI high school football recruits, a spot on a collegiate football Pacific Islander (PI) communities are underrepre- team can include a guaranteed four-year college sented in US higher education, and hold bachelor’s scholarship, social mobility for their family and the degrees at rates lower than the national rate (US potential for exposure to play professionally in the Census 2012). Empowering Pacific Island Com- National Football League (NFL). The purpose of munities (EPIC and Asian Americans Advancing this qualitative study is to investigate the goals and Justice 2014) reported that Guamanians (13%), Samoans (11%), Tongans (11%), Fijians (10%), and expectations of PI high school football players in Micronesians (4%) all hold bachelor’s degrees at relation to their college decision. Specifically, this less than half the rate of the national population of paper identifies and explores the decision-making the United States (28%). As college tuitions con- process of PI high school football recruits and tinue to rise (Mumper and Freeman 2005; Schoen how they chose a particular college to launch their 2015), and meritocratic aid (Perna and Titus 2004) academic and athletic careers. replaces need-based aid, there is the possibility that Global Relevance of Pacific Islanders in PI participation in higher education may be ham- American College Football pered even further. This research on ‘college choice’ for PIs entering college athletics is an attempt to The significance of Pacific Islanders in sport goes study alternative pathways to higher education. beyond the borders of the United States. In Aus- This research should inform policymakers, staff, tralia for example, I have had conversations with faculty and administrators about the goals and several universities that are considering the func- expectations that PI student-athletes bring with tion of college athletics. Executives of these athletic them to college, in order to better serve and sup- divisions realise the ability of college sports to cre- port this population. ate cultures of belonging, and of sports to merge If US higher education is to become institutional identities with student identities, and more inclusive towards PI communities, the the impact of this relationship on alumni affilia- institution itself (i.e. policymakers, faculty and tions and economic profit (i.e. increased enrolment, administration), PI high school football recruits, alumni donations, sales and broadcasting revenue, their families, community outreach organisations, etc.). The results of this study could be useful to and the staff who support them, need to better higher education providers who do not currently understand how ‘college choice’ will impact this employ athletic recruitment models. The perspec- population’s ability to realise short- and long-term tives of PIs in sport found in Australia and New academic and athletic goals. Although there is a Zealand, specifically the policies and programming wide body of literature focused on college choice initiated by the National Rugby League (NRL), (e.g. Hossler et al. 1989; McDonough 1997; Pérez provide the United States with a and McDonough 2008; Teranishi et al. 2004), paradigm shift in addressing the there is a need to understand the nuances involved demographic and research popula- in the recruitment process of college football, and tion of this study, the implications how these factors impact college choice for PI of which are examined below. State, Society & Governance in Melanesia ssgm.bellschool.anu.edu.au Keali‘i Kukahiko Road Map to College Football institutional and non-institutional football camps where the high school football recruits are trained The value of student-athletes to college sports has and assessed by college football coaches. grown exponentially since the inception of the University compliance offices are responsible National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)1 for regulating their own football staff with regard to in 1905. March Madness, the National College the recruiting rules and schedule set by the NCAA. Football Championship, its associated Bowl Games These rules and schedules 1) protect the integrity of and college rivalries have made the two ‘revenue the sport by maintaining a level playing field when sports’ of basketball and football a multi-billion- recruiting, 2) protect high school football recruits dollar industry (Berkowitz 11/3/2014). The profit- by limiting the frequency and periods that college ability of this industry has compelled the members coaches can contact them, and 3) establish guide- of Division 1 college football programs to invest lines for professional and responsible moral con- heavily in the recruitment of potential talent from duct of institutional agents. within the ranks of our high school football system While high school football recruits may contact and the international community. Within the Unit- college coaches and visit college campuses as many ed States, many athletes and their families begin the times as they want without regulation, unless the journey in youth football, where talent is scouted college football program is interested in offering the by high school coaches interested in having the best recruit athletic aid (scholarship), their efforts are talent matriculate to their individual programs. often in vain. For example, ‘junior days’ are non- From the best high school football programs, young evaluation events where college football programs football players hope to be showcased to the top try to attract the best high school juniors they can college football programs in the country. recruit, but a majority of high school players that The high school coach has traditionally been attend these events have no chance of being offered the gate keeper who provided a solid buffer between a scholarship because they have not been identi- college football recruiters and the high school ath- fied by any of the institutional agents as ‘recruitable’ lete, but recent participation in private off-season candidates. The personnel needs and the number football academies has allowed ‘specialist’ coaches to of athletic scholarships college football programs begin advocating on behalf of the high school foot- have available each year restrict access for these ball recruits and college football coaches. Big Man non-ranked high school football players. In 1978, academies (that work with offensive and defensive the NCAA split Division 1 football into two divi- linemen) and 7 on 7 teams (that work with many sions: the 1A division known as the Football Bowl of the ‘skill’ positions) compete at national show- Series (FBS), and the 1AA division known as the cases sponsored by major athletic companies (for Football Championship Series (FCS). In 2016, there example, Nike and Under Armor), and are meant were 128 teams in the FBS, each with a maximum to showcase the best talent in the United States. Not of 85 full athletic scholarships, but limited to 25 only has attending the right — professionally orient- new scholarship offers per year. The FCS consisted ed and influential — high school football program of 125 teams, each allowed a maximum of 63 full become important, but participating with the right athletic scholarships, and limited to 30 new scholar- football academy in the off-season also has become ship offers a year. Once recruits have been deemed a a major concern for those families intent on receiv- good fit athletically by agents of a given institution, ing college football scholarships. their grades are evaluated to assess whether they Once a high school football recruit has shown meet the minimum academic requirements for ath- proficiency at the sport, college recruiters can find letic aid set by the NCAA. Many institutions, how- them in several ways. High school football coaches ever, have higher standards of admission than the and academy football coaches can introduce pro- NCAA, and these further restrict the opportunities spective players to the college coaches on the high for high school football recruits with low academic school campuses or by telephone, but there are also capital. Once an institution is convinced that the SSGM2 Discussion Paper 2012/1 State, Society http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/ssgm & Governance in Melanesia SSGM Discussion Paper 2017/7 high school football recruit is a good fit, they will lights the longitudinal process involved. The three- offer the recruit an athletic scholarship. This offer is stage model describes the college selection process not guaranteed, as institutions hedge their bets by for prospective matriculants: a predisposition stage, offering multiple players the same scholarship ‘slot’ a search stage, and a choice stage. Hossler and Gal- in case some choose other universities. This offer lagher’s college choice model is fundamental, in has traditionally been a one-year renewable scholar- that it continues to inform policy and institutional ship that can be denied for renewal for any reason, administrators on college decision-making, but including failure to contribute to team success. this study requires a more nuanced framework that Many college football recruits are unaware that recognises PI ontology, axiology and epistemology, most scholarships are one-year renewable contracts, or cultural frames of reference. This is important but the NCAA (2014) recently
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