Wharton: A big draw for football, men's hoops

Though the exact reason isn't clear, those two teams have a disproportionately large Wharton population. With top rankings from magazines and college guides, the Wharton School of Business's undergraduate division has an easy time attracting many first-class high school students interested in business careers. But Wharton also plays a major role in luring football and men's basketball recruits to the University. The proportion of Wharton students on those two teams is considerably larger than on other male sports squads or in the overall male undergraduate population. A Daily Pennsylvanian analysis found that during the 1995-96 school year, approximately 52 percent of Penn football team members and 60 percent of the men's hoops squad were enrolled in the business school -- more than in all the other undergraduate schools combined. By contrast, approximately one-fourth of all male student-athletes and male undergraduates study in Wharton. But Admissions Dean Lee Stetson said his office doesn't keep statistics of student-athlete admissions rates. "We are seeing just more applicants from prospective men's basketball and football athletes because there has been a tradition of students studying in the business curriculum in those [athletic] programs," Stetson said. He added that football and men's basketball recruits "receive no special treatment" in the admissions process, even though they are considered valuable to Penn athletics. Rich Comizio, a 1987 Wharton graduate who ranks No. 3 in career rushing yards for Penn, said he doesn't believe admissions standards are lower for incoming football recruits. But they might have a leg up on non-athletes anyway. "I would ascertain that the greater a person's athletic ability, the greater their chance of getting a spot in Wharton," said Comizio, who works for University Trustee George Weiss's company in New York. Comizio and other athletes and administrators said they were surprised to learn of the large percentage of football and men's basketball team members in Wharton. But they generally saw no problem with the numbers -- particularly because Wharton puts the University in a unique position among Ivy League schools and even nationally. "We're the only Ivy League university with an undergraduate business school, so it's a natural edge," Wharton Undergraduate Dean Richard Herring said, noting that many other top business programs only admit students after their sophomore year. U.S. News and World Report magazine recently ranked Wharton's undergraduate program as tied for first place with the University of Michigan's business school -- a two-year program. But a College sophomore who requested anonymity said she suspects incoming football and men's basketball recruits meet lower academic standards than non-athletes. "I'm sure there are instances in which students wouldn't have gotten in without help from coaches," said the student, who has been involved with the Penn athletic program. "I don't believe that anyone truly believes that we don't bend the rules." She compared the University's admissions policy for such athletes to the InterFraternity Council's "Bring Your Own Beer" policy, claiming enforcement for both are lax. Comizio, however, had strong words for anyone who criticized the relationship between Wharton and the football and men's basketball teams. "I'd say basically, 'To hell with them'," he said. "These are people who are competing in a collegiate league who are providing something to the University, and in return they're getting an education." Several Wharton students said they either saw no problem with the higher number of football and men's basketball players in Wharton, or didn't really care. "I think it's probably beneficial to the school because it brings in recognition," Wharton sophomore Scott Goldchain said. "I think many of these athletes are very bright kids." Wharton senior Mark Fleischhauer, a guard on the football team, said Wharton "definitely" played a role in his decision to matriculate at Penn. He added that several members of the team in other schools were denied admission to Wharton because they didn't meet the school's higher standards. "I personally don't know of any lower [admissions] standards" for football recruits, said Fleischhauer, who was recently one of 100 football players nationally honored by Burger King for athletic and academic performance. Wharton has enjoyed a strong reputation, particularly among football and men's basketball players, for years. Carl Robbins, a 1970 College graduate and co-captain of the 1969-70 basketball team, said he regretted not enrolling in Wharton initially. As an undergraduate, he became interested in business and took many Wharton electives, then continued to obtain a graduate degree from the school. "The reputation of the school really is paramount," Robbins said. "In short, I didn't know enough." According to Stetson, the number of football and men's basketball players in Wharton has remained higher than average because current team members play a role in recruiting high school students. "I think the present students help to recruit the new student-athletes and I believe many of the students are involved in the counseling process," Stetson said. "Of course, Wharton becomes a natural part of that discussion." For a small squad like the men's basketball team, the number of athletes in Wharton fluctuates from year to year, but is still consistently above 25 percent. This season, six of the 15 varsity team members are in Wharton. "I think it's been always 30 to 40 percent at any one time in Wharton," said head coach Fran Dunphy. Dunphy added that even though recruits may express interest in Wharton, the University's need-based aid policy often makes it more difficult to attract "middle-income" recruits. Like at all Ivy schools, no athletic scholarships are awarded at Penn.