P.E. Major

[wizard1]

The PE major was eliminated in the 1980s. This was a terrible decision and was a major blow to Bradley Basketball and athletics because many BU graduates in PE became coaches and encouraged kids top go to Bradley, their old school. We no longer have this and it hurts us in recruiting in ways we never really hear about. The Chicago area was a hot bed of Bradley graduates who were coaches.

The administration could change this in a New York minute if they wanted to really help our programs but I won't hold my breath.

[real fan]

The PE major was eliminated in the 1980s. This was a terrible decision and was a major blow to Bradley Basketball and athletics because many BU graduates in PE became coaches and encouraged kids top go to Bradley, their old school. We no longer have this and it hurts us in recruiting in ways we never really hear about. The Chicago area was a hot bed of Bradley graduates who were coaches.

The administration could change this in a New York minute if they wanted to really help our programs but I won't hold my breath.

You are 100% correct in this statement, Coach Stowell talked about this at the time they decided to do away with P.E. as a major and tried to convince them that it would be a huge mistake , with all the new buildings I see no problem in restarting this major and the administration should do so if they really want to give Bradley Athletics a better chance to be successful.

[Chico]

The PE major was eliminated in the 1980s. This was a terrible decision and was a major blow to Bradley Basketball and athletics because many BU graduates in PE became coaches and encouraged kids top go to Bradley, their old school. We no longer have this and it hurts us in recruiting in ways we never really hear about. The Chicago area was a hot bed of Bradley graduates who were coaches.

The administration could change this in a New York minute if they wanted to really help our programs but I won't hold my breath.

Why was it eliminated in the first place?

[BUBalum05]

BU did establish a Criminal Justice major in 2010. Lots of athletes that don't become teachers often become police officers.

I wouldn't be amazed if PE major comes back either.

[wizard1]

P.E. Major

Chico---It was a very bad decision by an administration that was not very much into athletics. They said it was to save $$ which I doubt.

[BeBrave]

How many Bradley players (pre-elimination) were P.E. majors?

[amckillip]

Talk about the tail wagging the dog! BU should add a P.E. major so it can land better recruits??? I sure hope to god athletics have absolutely nothing to do with what majors BU adds. BU should be looking at adding Masters of Engineering Management and Nurse Practioner, etc. not adding a major so it might mean we get one slightly better basketball recruit every few years, SMH...

[Future Walk-On]

Talk about the tail wagging the dog! BU should add a P.E. major so it can land better recruits??? I sure hope to god athletics have absolutely nothing to do with what majors BU adds. BU should be looking at adding Masters of Engineering Management and Nurse Practioner, etc. not adding a major so it might mean we get one slightly better basketball recruit every few years, SMH...

We could just add a "Bachelors/Masters in NBA Level Skills and Athleticism" instead of a PE major......

[Chico]

Chico---It was a very bad decision by an administration that was not very much into athletics. They said it was to save $$ which I doubt.

Figured that when they fired DV.

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

I am an alumni of Monmouth College, and although DIII, they are very dominant in sports at their level. (Ironically enough except at basketball really). Anyways, I was friends with my people in track/football, and a ton of these kids are PE majors, and came to Monmouth because it was a smaller school that offered this major. I never realized Bradley did not offer this major. That to me is awful.

[Future Walk-On]

I am an alumni of Monmouth College, and although DIII, they are very dominant in sports at their level. (Ironically enough except at basketball really). Anyways, I was friends with my people in track/football, and a ton of these kids are PE majors, and came to Monmouth because it was a smaller school that offered this major. I never realized Bradley did not offer this major. That to me is awful.

You would think they would offer a Physical Education major in the Teacher Education program? Wonder why not.

Do PE majors have to go through rigors of the Illinois teaching guidelines?

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

You would think they would offer a Physical Education major in the Teacher Education program? Wonder why not.

Do PE majors have to go through rigors of the Illinois teaching guidelines?

Yep, they do. The only reason I could see that they don't offer it is that (maybe) PE graduates have a very poor placement rate, and that can hurt the college on placement numbers. However not having a physical education program when trying to recruit athletes seems like trying to recruit chemists without a science program.

[amckillip]

Yep, they do. The only reason I could see that they don't offer it is that (maybe) PE graduates have a very poor placement rate, and that can hurt the college on placement numbers. However not having a physical education program when trying to recruit athletes seems like trying to recruit chemists without a science program.

See, this is incorrect. We aren't trying to recruit chemists, we're trying to recruit people who want to be chemists. BU's charge is not to create pro athletes, there are minor leagues for that. BU's charge is to educate students. (vis a vis BU doesn't try to recruit MD candidates because we don't have a medical school, even though they tend to make a lot of money, that would be good for the university). Decisions on what departments a school should have should not be made based on whether or not they bring in athletes, those decisions should be made on a whole list of academic fit criteria - does in fit with our other offerings? Does it raise the reputation of the school? Is there a viable job market for such degrees? What is the student demand for those degrees? Is the market over/under served? etc...

[wizard1]

P.E. Major

AMCK---Your comments re: PE majors are not really very valid. Take off the blinders. Many young people are into athletics but are not skilled enough to participate on Divn.1 varsity teams. However, they do have an interest in teaching and coaching. While the PE major would help BU in recruiting, it also has many other benefits including adding graduates to the fine profession of teaching and developing young people. Apparently, your narrow, anti-athletic view doesn't recognize this.

Incidently, I am an Engineering graduate of BU and I do not feel that a masters in "Engineering Management" is a very important or necessary field of study as opposed to graduate degrees in pure Engineering. I base this on many years of business experience in Engineering and Management.

[alczervik75]

See, this is incorrect. We aren't trying to recruit chemists, we're trying to recruit people who want to be chemists. BU's charge is not to create pro athletes, there are minor leagues for that. BU's charge is to educate students. (vis a vis BU doesn't try to recruit MD candidates because we don't have a medical school, even though they tend to make a lot of money, that would be good for the university). Decisions on what departments a school should have should not be made based on whether or not they bring in athletes, those decisions should be made on a whole list of academic fit criteria - does in fit with our other offerings? Does it raise the reputation of the school? Is there a viable job market for such degrees? What is the student demand for those degrees? Is the market over/under served? etc...

There are a couple issues going on in this thread. First, I don't think it's a major issue today to have a PE program for the purpose of creating coaches that will likely end up in the Chicago area and hopefully send kids to Bradley. Recruiting has changed a lot in the last 30 years, and AAU programs are king now. I'm not saying a High School coach has zero influence now, but it is greatly reduced with the expansion of AAU. Geno, Chin and Uken understand this and have great relationships to build on.

I would be interested to get a coaches perspective on our offering of majors that fit the criteria that recruits want, and if we've actually lost players for that reason. If there are Athletes who would benefit from the PE major, it seems like a good choice to fit nicely within the existing education department.

The second thing is should the University allow the Athletic department any input into the academic offerings of the University? To that I say yes. The basketball program, in particular, is one of the most visible parts of the University, as well as one of the largest potential providers of a communal experience for this campus in particular. Bradley, as an institution, has decided to invest in competing at the highest level in athletics, and Basketball is the sport that drives that engine. To that end, it is best for the University if we have athletes that can develop into professional athletes at some level, while giving them academic background as well. I'm not suggesting we should create a fluff major simply for athletes, but within the context of the existing University, we should have a diverse enough offering that Athletes can benefit. Also, outside of basketball, most athletes on campus are paying for a portion, or all of their education.