Just watched a WSLS news story saying that SF Community College football program in Roanoke that a lot of kids in the area were getting offers and committing to was a complete scam. Hate it for the kids and families who were lied to. I thought I knew something was fishy with that program. Very similar to the Bishop Sycamore case from last year.
SFCC Scam
- Thread starter GWEagle1999
- Start date
This is sad. So many young men and families get taken advantage of and misled when it comes to recruiting.
VUL, SF Community College, and Central International University.. Damn shame. A lot of people just don’t know, none the less, do their research.
Reminds me of “CIU”. They were coming to Danville back in 2014 getting kids to take out loans and sign with their “university”. Their address was a run down store front church not far from Texas Tavern in Downtown Lynchburg. They were affiliated with the Virginia Storm semi pro team that started out in Gretna/Altavista but I think they play in Danville/Martinsville now. The coach said that for their spring season they could all play for the Storm and they were supposedly going to do what VUL does and play a bunch of buy games against FCS schools for homecoming. Luckily it folded but it’s unfortunate that people prey on kids and families who just don’t know any better.
As coaches, it’s our job to talk to our kids and guide them about these offers. If them and their parents don’t take heed, it’s on them but let’s at least have that conversation. VUL offered 5 of my kids this past year and I told them all that yes they play D1 schools, but the degree may as well be written on toilet paper cause that’s about what it’s worth, due to them not being accredited or even having credits that transfer to another reputable university.
Reminds me of “CIU”. They were coming to Danville back in 2014 getting kids to take out loans and sign with their “university”. Their address was a run down store front church not far from Texas Tavern in Downtown Lynchburg. They were affiliated with the Virginia Storm semi pro team that started out in Gretna/Altavista but I think they play in Danville/Martinsville now. The coach said that for their spring season they could all play for the Storm and they were supposedly going to do what VUL does and play a bunch of buy games against FCS schools for homecoming. Luckily it folded but it’s unfortunate that people prey on kids and families who just don’t know any better.
As coaches, it’s our job to talk to our kids and guide them about these offers. If them and their parents don’t take heed, it’s on them but let’s at least have that conversation. VUL offered 5 of my kids this past year and I told them all that yes they play D1 schools, but the degree may as well be written on toilet paper cause that’s about what it’s worth, due to them not being accredited or even having credits that transfer to another reputable university.
Dream turned nightmare: Local football program plagued with broken promises
Two football players came to Roanoke to pursue their dreams of playing in college.
If a school doesn't even have a website, probably should not give them any money.
Apparently VUL is accredited now by Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). I've never heard of this accrediting organization show I'm not sure how reputable it is.
Yeah they’ve been for a minute. If it’s not Regionally-Accredited and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, I get mine to stay away. Had one go to VUL last year despite our head coach and my warning , went into the portal and nobody took him seriously. None of his credits transferred and he was out of 10 of thousands of dollars. Too many Bluefields, Unions and Kentucky Christians that’ll take under the radar kids and give them good money, get a good education and play NAIA ball than to go to one of them schools and get ripped off.
Not to make it a racial thing, but unfortunately our people (who are in the majority who go to programs like this) fall hook line and sinker. I was a 1st generational college student and I remember telling my counselor in high school that I was going to VUL to play ball. My parents were just happy for me to graduate high school and go to college. Unfortunately it’s a lot of us are in that predicament. Generations and generations of no opportunity and now you have a school offering you a chance to play ball and “go to college”, many of us are taking it. It’s a cultural thing and it’s very important for us to educate the students and parents to do their research.
I deal with so many kids who’ll get “an offer” to a Ferrum, Averett, Guilford, Bridgewater.. Those schools are $52k minimum. I’ve had many coaches come tell my guys that they’ll give them $60k scholarship money and our kids and parents go crazy like they’ve won the lottery.. Well let’s break it down. The $60k is a 4 year total, meaning you’re subtracting $15k off that $52k.. Okay $37k.. Pell grant knocks it down to a whopping $31k for the year to come be apart of their football team. The only difference in those schools and SFC and VUL is Ferrum, Averett, etc. are accredited.
One of my former students left his offer sheet from Ferrum sitting on his desk when he left my classroom. It looked exactly the way you described it. There were 8 different types of grants/aid, but it was still a huge bill.
Yeah those private schools listed above are at least real schools, as compared to the non-accredited scams. But the financial reality is similar. You’re paying for the experience. But it’s worth noting those are real schools with real professors teaching real classes. Doesn't make it any more affordable though!
Indeed those private schools are real schools which is the most important thing to note. I appreciate how Randolph Macon only offers a kid if they’re actually going to actually assist the student athlete’s family, financially. Same with Emory & Henry even though they’re now D2 and can offer athletic money. Coach Tommy Buzzo is one of the best. Came to our school and handed out 5 full rides. I have problems with the others for reasons stated above. It’s very important for each varsity program to have a recruiting coordinator to help assist kids in the recruit process and to keep bad people like SFCC’s Coach far far away from the kids. It’s also very very important that your child’s varsity football staff is educator heavy.
