The Bodda Getta

Nice to have you back Phillip and making many very valid points as usual. WDE

Thank you for the interesting bits of information on various schools, people and associations. I agree with your statement or question on Emmert. He oversteps his boundaries in the name of what? It is his ship and it is on rocky shores for the past several years. The distance learning programs that Johnny Football is taking have long been a question for me as to why more players don't use them. Kids can spend time on courses when they want usually under the better programs, which frees them up for more time in football or other things. Of course, if the school does not have them, that would be a major disadvantage. With the sources on the web available to students even in the hard sciences, this will be a wave of the future if it is not already here. Having started one in graduate school ten years ago, I can tell you our research showed the students preferred them over on-campus course overwhelmingly. Finally, I agree with the sentiment regarding the Alabama players, family and friends. This could turn out to be a tragedy for these young men as it did for the Auburn 4 which still distresses me to this date. Everything in front an nothing to gain from becoming the "perps," so why? I want to beat Alabama when they are at full strength and on their field. I am very excited about this year coming and the new direction, new staff and new money coming into the program. When going through bankruptcy, and I think the football program was bankrupt last year, you need three things according to the judge: A new plan, A new management team and new money. I think we are headed in that direction.

As someone who has taught traditional classes in the classroom in college and also taught online courses, I think I might be able to offer a good perspective here. Online courses are not, nor will they ever be as effective as an actual class where the person teaching is actually there and able to interact with the students. Sure, you will have a couple of exceptions. That said, the traditional classroom is a much better teaching and learning environment than online courses. At least, that's the way I think anyway.

The key to what you are saying is 'interaction'. It was long time ago when I was in classes at Auburn but some were small enough for that interaction and some were not. Those that were not required students getting together on their own and having study groups to figure stuff out when the course material was that demanding. Those that did not do that probably had a tough time with it.

Another factor is whether the student has access to the classroom and if the option is online courses versus nothing, then online is the way to go. Manziel likely made an informed and wise decision to take online courses this semester due to the travel demands on his time associated with the Heisman and other awards he is involved with... just like Cadillac Williams did because of the NFL combines and workouts when Pete Thamel did his dishonest, unethical, and immoral hit-piece on Auburn. IMO, that is the jest of Philip's comments.