For most Notre Dame freshmen, orientation consists of ice-breakers
conducted in the late summer sunshine. But for George West of
Spencer, Oklahoma, Chris Stewart of Spring, Texas, and James Aldridge
of Crown Point, Indiana, their introduction to student life included
a heavy dose of weightlifting in the dead of winter.
The three football players were the first since at least the
mid-1960s to finish high school a semester early and enroll at
Notre Dame in January, allowing them to take part in winter conditioning
and spring practice. Early enrollment of a few highly rated recruits
per class is a practice that has become increasingly common at
major college football programs over the last 10 years.
In the past Notre Dame was reluctant to enroll football players
or any other students early because they would not be able to
begin the First Year of Studies Program in the fall with the rest
of their classmates, according
to a statement from Dan Saracino, assistant provost for enrollment.
But after a two-year review of that position, the University decided
to allow a limited number of students to begin their course of
study in January.
Coach Charlie Weis
mentioned the early enrollees at his signing day press conference
on February 1. "They broke ground as a new phase at Notre Dame
as midyear admits," he said. "All reports have been that they've
settled in nicely. Everything seems to be going along well."
Pete D'Alonzo, lead
counselor of Academic Services for Student Athletes, said the
players were taking the same 15-credit program required of any
first-semester freshman, only theirs was geared toward beginning
in the winter. "It doesn't matter when you come if you have the
machinery and structure to help ease the transition," D'Alonzo
said. For the players that structure included meeting with student
mentors three nights a week and spending two hours a week at Academic
Services. D'Alonzo added that enrolling in January can benefit
a player with aspirations to play in the NFL, as it allows him
to graduate in a full four years as well as train in the NFL Scouting
Combine the spring after his senior season.
The players were
not allowed to speak to the media during the spring semester,
but they were the focus of a January 15 article in the South
Bend Tribune. West, the article said, was planning to attend
his senior prom and high school graduation ceremonies, and the
decision to enroll early was a difficult one for him. "There was
a part of me who wanted to go out and enjoy my senior year," he
told the Tribune. "But I understand this as an opportunity
to go out and do something special. The pluses outweigh the minuses."
* * *
(April 2006)
