It is hard for most any kid to compete in the classroom with the current class of ND students.
Granted, the athlete gets tutors, early choice of classes etc. BUT that same athlete has tremendous additional responsibilities (meetings, practice, lifting...) Keeping that kid eligible and even more importantly ensuring that he receives a quality education is no small task. It does the kid a disservice to just lump him in some shit major and push him through.
I think ND does a good job here, but the support and balancing football and education is a must. Without the support, all those great recruits just turn into transfers and academically ineligibles that we will then be complaining about here.
Go Irish