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twitterSTUDENT ATHLETES:
Questions raised about postgrad football school
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Southern Tech Academy
A North Carolina football academy is recruiting Clark County high school seniors for a post-graduation program, saying it can improve their odds of making a college team.
Beyond the Sun
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But some local educators have serious doubts whether the new Southern Tech Academy can deliver on its promises.
Southern Tech, in Charlotte, N.C., bills itself as a Christian college prep program for students who have struggled academically or with their football skills but want to play college ball. The new program is recruiting for its first team.
The NCAA requires future college athletes to be high school graduates with at least a 2.0 grade-point average and qualifying scores on the ACT or SAT exams.
Postgraduate programs are typically affiliated with accredited prep schools or military academies, providing supervision and academic support. But Southern Tech has no such ties, which Clark County officials say is one of many red flags.
Bob Gerye, principal of Spring Valley High School, began looking into the academy after two of his students received unsolicited acceptance letters. After hearing students had encountered high-pressure sales tactics and requests for a $5,000 deposit by next month, Gerye sent a letter to other district principals cautioning them about Southern Tech.
Several students were under the impression that Southern Tech was a junior college, which reflected poorly on the recruiter’s presentation, Gerye said.
District educators and coaches told the Sun they were also put off by Southern Academy’s Web site. The text was rife with grammatical errors and the photos of its offices in a Charlotte business park didn’t inspire confidence.
The Web site states Southern Tech is “setting the standards for real Post-Grad Football Programs” and urges, “Before you choose a program research and fine (sic) out what are you getting.”
The academy’s local recruiter, Rick Kranz, a 1994 graduate of Green Valley High School, called Gerye’s letter inaccurate and unfair.
Kranz said he obtained the names of some students from coaches, and others contacted him after hearing about the academy from friends. Kranz, who spent several years coaching in European leagues and has worked locally, said he hasn’t misled students about the program and never implied it was a junior college.
“Right now, I have no credibility with the schools,” Kranz said. “I can’t talk to the coaches. My reputation has been destroyed.”
The confusion about the program, however, appears to extend beyond a few students. As recently as Wednesday, Southern Tech was listed under “colleges” on NVPreps.com, which maintains a roster of local student-athletes who have signed letters of intent to play college sports.
“I’ve already informed our kids that they don’t sign anything until we find out what’s going on with this school, and they definitely don’t give them any money,” said Dave Snyder, head football coach at Legacy High School. “I’d like to find out what the school is all about and either quash it or allow it to flourish, if it’s something positive.”
Snyder said Legacy students recruited by Southern Tech are decent students and good athletes, who at a minimum have a shot at playing for a junior college.
Jacob Henderson, head coach at Southern Tech, said the problem is Las Vegas schools aren’t familiar enough with postgrad athletic programs to recognize the opportunity they offer.
“We are another alternative for guys trying to make it,” said Henderson, who told the Sun he coached high school football in Florida for six years. “It’s not for everybody, but for some guys it’s a good fit.”
The program’s $9,700 tuition covers room and board, football equipment, one online high school academic course and a test preparation class, according to the academy’s Web site. Students will live in furnished apartments in the same complex as their coaches, allowing for supervision and mentoring, Henderson said. Mandatory study halls will help prepare participants for college, he said.
Royale Jones, a Spring Valley High senior who wants to attend Southern Tech, said he wasn’t entirely clear on how the academic program works, but the chance to play college football was too good to pass up. He said he believes Southern Tech is his best path to a college team.
Jones’ mother isn’t as sure. The tuition is beyond her means, Tamika Jones said, and she’s not comfortable with her son essentially repeating a year of high school.
“I know he’s really trying to play football,” Tamika Jones said. “He thinks he can’t play anywhere else.”
Spring Valley is trying to find Jones a spot at a community college, Gerye said. The school tries to place every student graduate in some form of postsecondary education, be it a junior college, four-year university or career-training program.
A number of Spring Valley athletes are excelling in community colleges in neighboring states, Gerye said.
“It might not be starting quarterback for the USC Trojans,” Gerye said. “But if you truly love a sport and are willing to work hard, there’s a place for everybody.”
Discussion: 21 comments so far…
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the website reads like it was written by a third-grader..
I guess its true you dont beleive everything you read in the paper...first off its called SOUTHERN TECH ACADEMY......NOT a football academy..i think they left the whole school part out...I do have to agree that people on the west coast have no clue what a post grad school is...and on the website it says the tuition is $9799.00 not $9700.00....compared to other post grad schools most of them are at least $25,000 or more..$9799.00 is a steal and includes all of their meals as well, which i think was also left out as well..as i saw Royal Jones on nevada preps, he play's RB not QB... MR.gerye i thought he was your student maybe you should check on what position your student play's before you speak to the media...and make a silly comment like that..JR. college and community college football is sometimes not the best way to go coaches no that but, usually have no where else to put players...i think its a great idea...they have my vote..
this from their site:
"What about the education? Southern Tech offers college prep courses online."
i have no interest one way or the other...but this whole thing looks fishy...
Rabies
i am curious as to whether all they offer are online courses...
this, also, from their site:
"Look Southern Tech has an New Toll Free 800 phone number."
maybe whoever writes 4 them should take one of those online classes to learn when to use "a" and when to use "an"...
just an thought...
Rabies
i read the article and i am a little mixed up. my understanding is that southern tech is a school in north carolina. is it a jr college or a prep school? on the web site it is talking about classes but it doesn't specify what classes. it is saying something about online classes. is it a school or what? the tuition is almost $10,000. what are the students paying for? the article say the students will be paying for equipment. don't they already have equipment? it looks like it may be a scam.
I have a son that is a senior this year and after reading this article I also have some questions. I have been doing some research on Prep Schools. I do not know a whole lot about prep schools but I see there are some successful ones like Fork Union Military Academy and Valley Forge. You can see the rich tradition and the campus but when you go to Southern Tech you see a little office and just a building? Those other Prep Schools have classes but Southern Tech is say they are taking online classes? Also you can see the years of experiences the coaches have at Fork Union Military Academy and Valley Forge. Coach Henderson might have been a head coach but it doesn't say it in his bio but he does have 9 years of experience it says but that is at the JV high school level but it doesn't give his record. After looking at there website, their other coaches do not have college experience so show can they help service my son to get a college scholarship? After doing some research the Prep school thing is a very good idea, I have seen some very successful programs, but there are some red flags out their and just wanted to see if Southern Tech could answer them before we make a decision.
after reading the story it made me even more curious. on southern tech's website i noticed that they were a nonprofit christian school. based on state rules a private school can not be a nonprofit. maybe i'm wrong. nonprofit schools are public school. why then is the tuition $9700? public schools are free. they call themselves an academy but they offer online courses. they list christa mcsulife academy as the provider of classes so southern tech is not a school. is it a football program? looking at the experience of these guys as football coaches, they have no experience. i mapquest the school and it is not a school- it is a business park. if it is a school, i would like to know where it is. i understand it is a first year program, but it is a lot of red flags.
After looking at the article, I have some big concserns with Southern Tech Academy. People do a lot of bad things, but to lie about their Christianity and being a member of the FCA brings a lot of red flags to my concerns. These kind of peolpe should not be working around young people peorid. They list on their website that they are a member of the FCA and have huddle mettings, and through my research I found that not to be true. I have contacted the FCA today and spoke to them and they told me that they are not a member of the FCA. Its one thing to lie on people, but to lie on God is another thing. If you will lie about something simple as that, imagine what bigger lies they could be telling. What other things are they hidding.
After doing some more research on Southern Tech, I have learned that the background on their home page is the city of Chicago. I don't understand the ties of Chicago to Charlotte. Why would you have a picture of Chicago when you are in a city that is in the south. I notice that they have a conference, I have tried to contact Central Carolina Academy but they don't have a phone number to contact them. And Western Carolina Tech who doesn't even have a website. I thought maybe these schools could answer some of the red flags I have had. Also, I have tried to contact their radio station WSTW but WSTW doesn't exist. I do hear them having a coaches show but maybe it is a type-o on their website. Please if someone could answer these red flags I would like to know.
By all means we should continue to promote athletecism, we definetly are in need of more jocks playing football. To hell with the need for solid education for these young men...let's make football and basketball players out of all young men leaving high school...our counry really needs more jocks....
It concerns me after reading the last statement because I have been asking questions about Southern Tech and this is how you answer it. This lets me know it is truly a scam. You are taking advantage of a lot of innocent people. This shows you really don't care about people and education and I will pray for you.
From an inside source. You be the judge on what is going on with these PG programs in NC. This letter was directed toward the people at Central Carolina Sports Academy. It is in it's original form and has been cut and pasted without modification.
Gentlemen: It was nice meeting you yesterday. My firm and I have further investigated and analyzed Central Carolina Sports Academy's proposal to use Proehlific Park and/or enter into an arrangement to be "affiliated" with Proehlific Park. After much investigation, thought and analysis, we have decided that we will be unable to enter in any such arrangement or affiliation with Cenral Carolina Sports Academy and we must therefore decline the proposal at this time. We certainly wish you the best in all your endeavors. I must also request that you discontinue using Proehlific Park in your advertising, including, but not limited to, internet and print advertising. In addition, please discontinue publishing any materials that indicate in any way that Ricky Proehl and/or Jill Jones are on the Board of Directors for Central Carolina Sports Academy (or are affiliated in any respect) as they have not agreed to such and are not in a position to be on your Board of Directors. As a result of our decision, there will be no need to meet tomorrow. Again, we wish you the best of luck in your efforts. With kind regards, I remain. Norman Klick
Norman F. Klick, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Direct Phone 336.478.1162
Direct Fax 336.478.1163
Mobile 336.339.4566
nfk@crlaw.com
235 N. Edgeworth St.
P.O. Box 540 (27402)
Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone 336.379.8651
Fax 336.478.1175
www.crlaw.com
I have been checking into these coaches background and they have no coaching background at all. I looked at Coach Hendersons background and it mentions 10 years but I can only 2 years. I looked into Coach Allens background and you cannot find any. I don't count youth football. Kranz background is very checkered, not stable. At the Post grade level, that is a very important level for a player. People who are coaching these kids should know really what they are doing. They have those kids life in the palm of their hands. That is something you don't play with. I just don't see the experience. Who are these guys. Can someone let me know.
Need some information please. After reading this article, it has raised some questions for me. Last year the Mason Dixie Combine camp was suppose to go off at Griffin High School, the camp never happened and after talking to some coaches I learned about Southern Tech. The same two gentlemen, Jacob Henderson and David Allen, were the contacts. After doing some background check on Coach Henderson, in his bio he has 9 years of experience. The only experience I see is one year. After researching Allen's background, I see none. I tried to find the school in Charlotte and it was a business park not a school. Can someone please tell me whats going on.
Attended their Parents Day weekend. Here's what was presented:
CLASSES: Tuition covers cost of whatever core course is needed and whatever standardized test preparation is needed. Classes will be taken in monitored computer labs at the local University of Phoenix under the design of Christa McAuliffe Academy ( an internet based developer of online school curriculums fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools ). Per the reports of representatives from CMA, all earned credits from Southern Tech's cirriculum are reported directly to the NCAA clearinghouse.
All reporting players are pre-screened in problem subjects to determine which subject areas are strong and which are weak. That way ( according to what was presented )all prospective student athletes have subject matter that is specific and individualized. Teachers of courses fully accessible both on line and on phone; Southern Tech in process of arranging /organizing additional "in-person" academic support for student-athletes via local certified teachers.
HOUSING: players to reside at two-apartment complexes within 300 yards of one another; coaches to accompany players in their respective apartment complexes. Apartments appear very nice (nicer than anything they'll get at a college, for sure ), and appear to be in a safe part of the city. Access to shopping, simple dining, and simple entertainment ( ex.: movies ) all very close. Apartments are 2 and 3 BR, and student-athletes will be housed dorm style ( 2 per room ). Both apartments have laundry facilities; student-athletes will have to bring their own bedding. Strict curfew to be enforced every night at 10:00pm.
TRAINING: All training to take place at Velocity Sports in South Charlotte ( @ 3-5 miles directly down the road from where classes are taken and where prospective players will reside ). Facility appears to have everything they need to train and have combines. Appeared very legitimate.
TRANSPORTATION: All student athletes to be transported by Southern Tech via vehicles that school has purchased ( large volume passenger vans ). Students have option to bring own car, but will have keys taken away upon enforcement of curfew every night.
FAITH: Southern Tech had a few ministers speak and spend extensive time on their faith views and their apparent gratitude in becoming partners with Southern Tech. They appeared sincere in their mission to help whatever kids come to the school to grow as young men and closer to Christ. In addition, a few of the coaches, when asked to present themselves, expressed the same apparent sincerity and sentiment.
ATHLETICS: Football schedule includes Milford Academy and Fork Union. In checking those prep school's websites, they confirm the same dates and times as Southern Tech. Birmingham Southern and Louisburg College ( JC ) also list Southern Tech on their schedules; others have not yet listed their 2009 schedules online. Schedule looks challenging.
Based on observations of whole day, either these guys are in partnership with a lot of people ( who themselves would have a lot to lose ), and spent some coin to pull off a snazzy presentation and apparent scam, or they're doing something very different and very innovative to help kids. They did not appear to hide what they are trying to do and who they are. They appear to, indeed, be a first year program that has made some mistakes. But they also apppear focused on trying to do something good for kids. Time will tell.
This must be Jacob Henderson and David Allen, the same two gentlemen who falsely used FCA as a sponsor as well as other local sponsors as our research showed. Why wont they list the name of the apartments. This is the same gentlemen who said he had 10 years of experience but we can only find 2. Had used fake buildings and used Internet trickery. They altered an article on a young man that lost his, they said he was going to attend Southern Tech but he was really attending St. Augustine College. Who can believe anything they say. Also advertised Mason Dixon Combine as a High School Combine camp. At first they had their names as the contacts and now they don't have them on their because they don't want people to know. After doing research schools never let them take part at their school because of trust factors. Look at the big picture here people. These are the same people who said they were going to play South Alabama but after talking with South Alabama it was a lie. All these guys do is lie and they are wannabes.
I also attended the Family Day and I AM from the Vegas area. I was very impressed with the sincerity of ALL the people in charge of the program. They have a goal and a mission. I for one have never been lied to about the program or what the program entails. I have spoken directly with the FCA and Shannon who is the regional director of FCA in the Carolinas. Southern Tech has never NOT ONCE spoke down about another program or another person. They constantly build these young men up by emphasizing academics and the goal of college educations. I for one wish this paper would do a follow up on Southern Tech and this option. I hope that some people in this discussion would find out the facts by contacting the people involved and don't listin to people that have never been or talked with David and Jacob. God Bless.
You must be one of them or one of the coaches. I'm very confused the questions about Southern Tech have not been answered. They say they were a member of the FCA, but the FCA said they were not members but Southern Tech was using the FCA logo like they were with the FCA and if they were with the FCA then why do they not have it on their website right now. It is no where to be found. I have seen David Allen talk bad about another program in the local area. It is on FootballScoop.com. So the statement you made is a lie. There are several red flags about Southern Tech, from the buildings they operate in to the dead player they had on their website that said he was going to attend Southern Tech and to the experience of the coaches. The two guys in charge have never been in a leadership role at a school. Don't you think you need some leadership experience to be a leader. If you know any experience on these men please let me know. Quite trying to fool people. You take people to be stupid and that is an insult to people. I am just trying to get the facts.
You seem to have your mind already made up about these men. I don't believe that anyone could give you "the facts". I AM sending my son to this program and I feel very comfortable with the decision. I agree, you are confused but I hope everything works out for you.
ps...I am a single mother that loves her son and wants to better his life. For me Southern Tech does this for my family. I hope you can get rid of that meanness in your heart. God bless!