College Entrance Scam includes former Yale Women's Soccer Coach

[timbuck]

Well this story just keeps going

Ex-USC soccer coach tells of faking athletic credentials

Ex-USC soccer coach tells of faking athletic credentials

A former assistant soccer coach at the University of Southern California testified Monday that she regularly created fake athletic profiles with exaggerated accomplishments and images she found on Google to help get unqualified students admitted

abcnews.go.com

Wow.
I didn't come from a privileged background. My parents put me through college with any money they could scrape together (neither of them were college educated).
How in the hell if you come from a super wealthy family- Do you not have the grades to get into a place like USC? (Harvard or other Ivy's - I can understand). If you, as a parent, who works a ton of hours and makes enough money to pay several hundreds of thousands/millions of dollars to get your get into a back door at "good" school- You have failed as a parent. Send your little shit head to community college and teach them a lesson.

For those of us (most of us, I hope) that did it the right way- Congrats. You are a better person for it.

 

[lafalafa]

Wow.
I didn't come from a privileged background. My parents put me through college with any money they could scrape together (neither of them were college educated).
How in the hell if you come from a super wealthy family- Do you not have the grades to get into a place like USC? (Harvard or other Ivy's - I can understand). If you, as a parent, who works a ton of hours and makes enough money to pay several hundreds of thousands/millions of dollars to get your get into a back door at "good" school- You have failed as a parent. Send your little shit head to community college and teach them a lesson.

For those of us (most of us, I hope) that did it the right way- Congrats. You are a better person for it.

Silver spoons, laziness and privilege that's how. When you never had to work hard you don't.

Brother and I where first in the family to graduate college and we didn't have any help, we saved, worked 20-40hr+ every semester and did all the side hustles we could find.

We worked for a property management firm and did maintenance and repairs in exchange for apartment near campus. Bought a couple used beat motorcycles and restored them so we had transportation. We thought the kids in the dorms and frats where living the life, rooms and meals provided for them. Booze no problem, they had plenty, parties back than ever weekend. We made our own meals and learned how to shop for fresh food and cook. Both our spouses probably cook less than we do even today.

Anyway, as parent I wanted to make sure my kids earned what they achieved by themselves, worked hard, and found the value of a dollar. We never did the allowance bit, one they where old enough to do laundry that became there responsible in middle school. Cooking and cleaning was similar although I did pay for them to attend cooking classes, seminars and some books, supplies, and stuff.

6 college grads later, 2 doctors, a PhD, and junior heath student, freshman in progress and things have turned out pretty good for us but even so all 7 of our kids between the two of us have good jobs and work including the two still in college. Can't wait to see what the future brings.

 

[Mossberg]

Maybe I've missed something but I still don't understand how the UCLA women's soccer coach got off and didn't find herself in a pot of hot water.

 

[lafalafa]

Maybe I've missed something but I still don't understand how the UCLA women's soccer coach got off and didn't find herself in a pot of hot water.

Plead ignorance, blamed the men's coach for setting her up or something like that.

She claimed she didn't have any "direct" involvement in the ghost player(s) that end up on her preseason roster or something alone those lines.

 

[crush]

Silver spoons, laziness and privilege that's how. When you never had to work hard you don't.

Brother and I where first in the family to graduate college and we didn't have any help, we saved, worked 20-40hr+ every semester and did all the side hustles we could find.

We worked for a property management firm and did maintenance and repairs in exchange for apartment near campus. Bought a couple used beat motorcycles and restored them so we had transportation. We thought the kids in the dorms and frats where living the life, rooms and meals provided for them. Booze no problem, they had plenty, parties back than ever weekend. We made our own meals and learned how to shop for fresh food and cook. Both our spouses probably cook less than we do even today.

Anyway, as parent I wanted to make sure my kids earned what they achieved by themselves, worked hard, and found the value of a dollar. We never did the allowance bit, one they where old enough to do laundry that became there responsible in middle school. Cooking and cleaning was similar although I did pay for them to attend cooking classes, seminars and some books, supplies, and stuff.

6 college grads later, 2 doctors, a PhD, and junior heath student, freshman in progress and things have turned out pretty good for us but even so all 7 of our kids between the two of us have good jobs and work including the two still in college. Can't wait to see what the future brings.

Amazing parenting bro and i mean that 100%. Great job I had a best friend in college that did a Newspaper route for the OC Register all four years. The guys called him, "paper boy." No days off either. Dude got up at 3am every morning, even if he was up late doing homework or just hanging with the fellas. He always got up and I thought he was nuts.

 

[crush]

Maybe I've missed something but I still don't understand how the UCLA women's soccer coach got off and didn't find herself in a pot of hot water.

My adopted mom's first blood son went to UCLA and was All American. My mom went to USC as did her hubby. All they did was fight over who is best. Every single year. I wonder what she would say today? He hubby was a top lawyer who would never, ever tolerant this kind of "pay to be on the team BS" all so one can brag about kid their being a stud student/athlete at big time U. Paying for a spot sounds not right. However, I see if it's out in the open it could help pay for the sports teams that don't make money at the ticket booth. I said this before. Have 20 A+ players on the roster and then have 20 C+ and B+ who pay for a spot on practice squad. $50,000 for each spot. Have the D1 team of players and the coaches share in the loot. The girls are busting their tails off and sacrifice their time and their bodies and cash is King and sharing is the Queen. Put the cash in the pot and share is my motto and do it out in the open. The sailing coach thought this was how the schools raised money. This is not what sports are about, right?

 

[Carlsbad7]

My adopted mom's first blood son went to UCLA and was All American. My mom went to USC as did her hubby. All they did was fight over who is best. Every single year. I wonder what she would say today? He hubby was a top lawyer who would never, ever tolerant this kind of "pay to be on the team BS" all so one can brag about kid their being a stud student/athlete at big time U. Paying for a spot sounds not right. However, I see if it's out in the open it could help pay for the sports teams that don't make money at the ticket booth. I said this before. Have 20 A+ players on the roster and then have 20 C+ and B+ who pay for a spot on practice squad. $50,000 for each spot. Have the D1 team of players and the coaches share in the loot. The girls are busting their tails off and sacrifice their time and their bodies and cash is King and sharing is the Queen. Put the cash in the pot and share is my motto and do it out in the open. The sailing coach thought this was how the schools raised money. This is not what sports are about, right?

Sounds great. Now make that an official program + watch how many real A+ players will jump at the chance to play for USC (or whoever) at all levels.

No matter how you try to justify the scam for every undeserving player that gets a position theres another player that if forced to play in a JC that could have been at USC.

 

[outside!]

Plead ignorance, blamed the men's coach for setting her up or something like that.

She claimed she didn't have any "direct" involvement in the ghost player(s) that end up on her preseason roster or something alone those lines.

Yet the player was even on the website roster as a midfielder. Someone suggested UCLA should have been required to play her as a midfielder at least 50% of every game. I think that would have been a good lesson for everyone involved.

 

[warrior49]

Yet the player was even on the website roster as a midfielder. Someone suggested UCLA should have been required to play her as a midfielder at least 50% of every game. I think that would have been a good lesson for everyone involved.

The "player" was in the team picture, listed on the team roster, yet somehow AC has no culpability. I'm still trying to figure out how that works.

 

[lafalafa]

The "player" was in the team picture, listed on the team roster, yet somehow AC has no culpability. I'm still trying to figure out how that works.

Claimed she wasn't compensated or took any money so looking the other way apparently is ok with UCLA.

Ethnics well in college sports those boundaries seem to differ depending on how well teams/programs are doing or something?

 

[outside!]

The "player" was in the team picture, listed on the team roster, yet somehow AC has no culpability. I'm still trying to figure out how that works.

I wonder if she got issued the team swag (practice jerseys, warm ups, etc.) that the other players got or was everyone in on the scam?

 

[lafalafa]

I wonder if she got issued the team swag (practice jerseys, warm ups, etc.) that the other players got or was everyone in on the scam?

She had the uniform and swag to be in the pictures but you don't keep the uniform. They give them to the players cleaned before each game.

Not sure if the other players ever saw her at practice so that might have have been surprising for them to see her at the photos.

Our daughter was considering UCLA just before this and had a official visit. The time demands and sacrifices the players where making after spending some time with them made her pause and reevaluate that's for sure.

 

[Mystery Train]

Maybe I've missed something but I still don't understand how the UCLA women's soccer coach got off and didn't find herself in a pot of hot water.

My cynical answer is: Three Pac 12 championships, 3 Cup finals appearances, and a national championship will exempt you from being held to the same level of responsibility as random assistant coaches, part-timers, or crew and sailing coaches. You know that if she had a poor record, she'd have been fired for lack of oversight. Not saying it's right or wrong, just true.

 

[GT45]

The men's coach at UCLA was behind that female non-player being on the women's teams roster. Cromwell was a much newer employee at the university at the time. Whose to say she was not pressured into this by superiors? I have no inside knowledge at all. But that is a plausible scenario. If her superior told her this was going to happen (she would be getting a manager who will be rostered in exchange for a donation to the univeristy), she is not culpible, in my opinion. She is taking orders.

 

[espola]

The men's coach at UCLA was behind that female non-player being on the women's teams roster. Cromwell was a much newer employee at the university at the time. Whose to say she was not pressured into this by superiors? I have no inside knowledge at all. But that is a plausible scenario. If her superior told her this was going to happen (she would be getting a manager who will be rostered in exchange for a donation to the univeristy), she is not culpible, in my opinion. She is taking orders.

That's exactly where ethics begins.

 

[GT45]

That's exactly where ethics begins.

It depends how it was spun to her. She may have just been told that there was a sizeable donation to the university and she was being a team player. If she knew nothing about the bribe the men's coach took, it comes off as weird that they want me to roster her, but it is not illegal. If you expect a newer coach at UCLA to blow the whistle on her boss and risk her prestigious coaching job over it (which would have likely happened), good luck finding that person.

 

[espola]

It depends how it was spun to her. She may have just been told that there was a sizeable donation to the university and she was being a team player. If she knew nothing about the bribe the men's coach took, it comes off as weird that they want me to roster her, but it is not illegal. If you expect a newer coach at UCLA to blow the whistle on her boss and risk her prestigious coaching job over it (which would have likely happened), good luck finding that person.

That's exactly where ethics begins.

 

[Sike]

How in the hell if you come from a super wealthy family- Do you not have the grades to get into a place like USC? (Harvard or other Ivy's - I can understand).

USC and UCLA are not easy to get into. About a 10% overall acceptance rate, and kids with GPA's well above 4.0 and high test scores consistently get denied. I am not suggesting it is Ivy league level, but (if you don't have a hook) you generally need to be at the top of your class now to get into either school.

 

[GT45]

That's exactly where ethics begins.

You ignored what I said, smart guy. There was potentially nothing illegal (just strange) about the plausible scenario I presented. That would not be about a lack of ethics. How many football coaches (or any sport) let the guy join their roster even though he will never see the field ... perhaps because he is a kid with connections? It happens all the time.

 

[espola]

You ignored what I said, smart guy. There was potentially nothing illegal (just strange) about the plausible scenario I presented. That would not be about a lack of ethics. How many football coaches (or any sport) let the guy join their roster even though he will never see the field ... perhaps because he is a kid with connections? It happens all the time.

Legal and ethical are not the same thing.

 

[lafalafa]

Legal and ethical are not the same thing.

Feds didn't find a financial trail or transaction to her so she was not charged.

They had the goods, paper trail, finances on the men's coach and some speculation he was a scapegoat

Obviously they had been acquaintances since they both had been at UCLA several years when this broke.

Head coaches are responsible for their programs and it's not like the other teams coach can put players on your roster or make personnel decisions for you. SHe either did some favors, turned a blind eye or let him and/or assistants do things without her knowledge or approval which did raise questions about ethic's and controls in place.

UCLA did their own investigation and decided to retain her.