Common Core and the SEC

It's the fall and I'm watching SEC football. Everyone in the stands has on their team's apparel. They stand and scream their support for their team. Passion for the game and love for their team is evident on every brightly painted face. But at the end of the game there will only be one winner. In what could have life long consequences for the players of the game, the winning team will be elevated in the rankings and the loser will be demoted. Players may be benched or even injured. How sad that someone's life should be effected by one loss! Surely something needs to be done so that all the players are equally prepared for success. No team should be left behind another.

What if a system that prepares every SEC football player for lifelong blocking and tackling was developed? A system that focuses on making players successful as productive members of a team through decisive leadership and collective action. This new system would need to prepare each football player for success by changing the rules, encouraging innovation, learning from other sectors, and applying new principles to football.

To ensure all players are ready for SEC college football success, the Football Core State Standards (FCSS) need to be written! The FCSS will establish clear, consistent guidelines for what every football player should know and be able to do in Offense, Defense and Special Teams, from true freshman through end of eligibility. Each player will be NFL or semi-pro ready.

The standards will be drafted by experts and coaches from across the SEC and will be designed to ensure players are prepared for today’s rivalry games. The Football Core focus will be on developing the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytically correct skills players will need to be successful.

Every SEC school will be required to follow these standards.

It will not matter what college you attend. EVERY football program will follow the exact same standards. Alabama's college football program will follow the same standards as other SEC teams. They will not have a choice. The Volunteers, the Gators, the Wildcats.... all using the same playbook. Oh the JOY!

What? You don't like it? You like the struggle for excellence brought about by competition? It gives you a sense of pride to know that your school is superior to those Big Ten schools?

So why do you think this same idea will work for your children? Why is the removal of local control a better option? Why is painting every child with the same low standard acceptable?

It should not be!

Get involved. Attend school board meetings. Ask questions. Never settle for standard when your child is worth excellence! Fight for your child's education with the same passion that you cheer for your favorite team.