Big difference between admitting students and giving someone a scholarship.
I'd agree, but the argument being presented was that these students would not have been admitted if not for the fact that they are football players. In both cases, they had multiple scholarship offers for starters, they could have made it on many campuses, but my point was simply that they would get admitted to many schools as ordinary students, right or wrong. I'm not saying I support that system.
In terms of a football scholarships, Cam Newton (stole from a student) and Zach Mettenberger (sexual battery by the way) are two examples of high profiles second chances. Once again, I won't defend that, although in terms of Pettway, from what I understand he did not commit an act of violence and can understand his second chance. Taylor I was always hesitant about. That's a separate issue though, and I do think in the media and even here it's being blended into one.
One is the issue of college admissions, which is quite lenient, yes criminals, convicted or pending are all over the place. The other is should some people be given a second chance in the form of a football scholarship (the one major limitation to a criminal conviction is that it can prevent federal student aid)? I would lean towards yes in most scenarios, unless it's something like rape. If you don't give them a football scholarship, you are ending their education entirely.
But, does any of that mean Alabama shouldn't have higher standards? I tend to agree that the football program should have higher standards, should aspire to higher goals. I don't argue that, but I am irritated by the propaganda which suggests that these guys only got admitted because they were football players, and that Nick Saban was the only one who would stoop so low. That's simply false and driven by an agenda to disparage Alabama and Nick Saban. I suppose I've explained myself and the facts as well as I could though, so people who want to dislike Nick Saban will hold firm in their belief and continue to spread misinformation.