FAMU Rattler gamers pen letter to highschool president

The 88 gamers of Florida A&M’s soccer crew sent a letter to the college’s president, Dr. Larry Robinson, to handle numerous points associated to the “student-athlete expertise at FAMU,” in accordance with numerous experiences.

Tallahassee’s ABC affiliate, WTXL, first reported the letter late afternoon Monday.

The problem stems from 26 FAMU gamers dominated ineligible to play this previous weekend in opposition to North Carolina, which was reported late final week.

“It was very damaging to the morale of our soccer crew to learn on numerous media retailers, ‘26 FAMU Soccer Gamers Dominated Inelible,’” the gamers wrote within the letter, in accordance with WTXL. “This narrative implies that we’re not performing within the classroom. The truth is, that couldn’t be farther from the reality. The problem at hand isn’t tutorial efficiency, however procedural points inside the registrar’s workplace, compliance division and tutorial advisement.”

The letter states the “root of the problem is the truth that our Educational Advisement and Compliance Workplaces are understaffed,” as a result of it “consists of 1 individual, who has no material experience in athletic compliance.”

“At present, we now have a number of gamers which have been deemed unable to take part in competitors as a result of easy duties akin to altering of majors, conferring of levels and the submission of grades haven’t been accomplished promptly,” the letter reads.

North Carolina defeated FAMU, 56-24, and the letter, which was signed by 88 gamers, addressed the explanation for enjoying regardless of solely seven offensive lineman initially touring with the crew.

“On Friday, after a lot dialogue inside our crew, we determined to play at UNC,” the letter reads. “We decided that we might not play for this establishment, however for our households, teammates, classmates, our rabid fanbase, and our coaches who had ready us and liked us. We performed our guts out, and within the course of, two of our teammates suffered season-ending accidents. After the sport, we determined to protest the Marching 100’s enjoying of the Florida Tune and FAMU alma mater by kneeling throughout each songs. We’ll proceed to take action till important modifications that facilitate a optimistic student-athlete expertise are made. We won’t sing a tune that begins ‘Faculty of Love and Charity…’ once we really feel neither from this college.”

By Monday evening, FAMU officers launched a press release in response to the gamers’ points, in accordance with WTXL.

It reads in full under:

“In line with FAMU’s longstanding dedication to sustaining a tradition of compliance and conformance with NCAA pointers, we’re justifiably happy with having achieved 13 of our 14 sports activities applications totally assembly the Educational Progress Charge (APR) necessities per the NCAA’s November 2021 APR Report regardless of rumors and misinformation on the contrary.”

“Our Compliance Group, which incorporates companions from Compliance, Athletics, Educational Affairs, and Pupil Affairs, has been working diligently with Athletics since Fall 2021 to implement plans for the remaining non-compliant program to satisfy the required APR rating and be part of the others in order that one hundred pc compliance is achieved.

After the assessments of Spring and Summer time 2022 tutorial progress, the Compliance crew exercised its due diligence to finish the certification course of on August 11 earlier than the Fall sports activities season started. These are, as all the time, tight home windows and starting on August 13 waivers started to be submitted to the NCAA based mostly on suggestions from our coaches.

The NCAA subsequently issued its choices on August 24, 25, and 26, 2022. We’re assured that our processes are efficient and well timed. We’ll proceed to watch our efforts on this regard and pursue all avenues to supply a wonderful pupil expertise to each athlete. FAMU is dedicated to upholding excessive requirements and rigorous adherence to NCAA pointers.”