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39 replies

Fraternity

T TS28MomMember
Son(freshmen) goes to college(D-1) is having a good time. School and baseball are both going better than even expected. Calls last night saying he was going to pledge to a fraternity. Never consider my son a frat boy just a baseball player. Now I'm wondering is that a good thing to do? How is that looked on by coachs and teammates? Does it take up more time from what he saids is already a busy schedule. Do baseball players join fraternities. I'm clueless on this one
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ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
My Opinion:


the baseball team and the athletic department are his fraternity


I agree.

If my son were adament about joining a fraternity, I would support his decision, but I would advise him not to join. I am guessing most coaches would prefer they not join either because of what is involved to be a member of the team. We have some college coaches that are members of this site and it would be interesting to hear what their take is.
Last edited by ClevelandDad
O Orlando1,000+ posts
You've probably already told him this, but he's at a D1 (meaning it's a good size school) and it's early days so he doesn't yet have an idea of the work it will take to balance his time between classes, studying, and baseball. And the Fall is the "easy" semester. Adding a fraternity in this early is another chunk of time gone.

I am assuming the program has academic mentors or tutors and that his grades will be monitored, so there shouldn't be any surprises there.

But it does sound like he's wanting to take a really big bite out of the college experience...
B Bee>1,000+ posts
quote:
by CD: If my son were adament about joining a fraternity, I would support his decision, but I would advise him not to join. I am guessing most coaches would prefer they not join either because of what is involved to be a member of the team. We have some college coaches that are members of this site and it would be interesting to hear what their take is.
kudos on the support

let me point out as a frat guy that a generalzation of frat life won't be accurate.

there were guys that were VERY involved, some who weren't at all, and also some athletes who understood that the frat stuff was way behind academic & team stuff on their time-management priority list. let me also add that the frat understood that athletes had a different set of priorities and were fine with it. often certain frats attract certain sports & it becomes like a baseball house, but more economical - with a big screen tv, pool table, fireplace, volleyball court, basketball court ...
and did I mention the parking?

that said - pledging a frat offered athletes


1) cheaper room & board

2) cheaper meals

3) priority parking

4) an expanded social circle

5) extra academic support

6) community visibility via community service projects

7) a few parties
Last edited by Bee>
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
As a Fraternity member myself, I am a supporter of the Fraternity system. The Fraternity gave me much more support than what was available to me elsewhere. It was the home away from home for me and many of my Fraternity brothers.

My chapter was a mixture of members from the various athletic teams from my school (small D2)along with many students from other disciplines. I value my time spent in the chapter.

That being said, each school is different. each coach is different..... a baseball team is in fact a fraternity even if it doesnt have an official Greek Name........although I have heard some called I SMACKA HOMA.....

The demands on time would be my only concern if my son had wanted to pledge. His baseball team is his fraternity and between school and baseball there is little time for another obligation.
jmepopjmepopHSBBWeb Old Timer
My son joined a frat last year, the majority of guys in it are athletes and the majority of them are baseball players. He wasn't allowed to join until his sophmore year and the busiest time, going thru the pledge process was during the fall. I was never much on frats when I went to school but he has enjoyed it immensely, they have a cook on staff so meals are probably better than available on campus and he has made a lot of contacts and friends.

It doesn't seem to interfere with either schoolwork or baseball. He did say that because he was injured last year that he got to enjoy the benefits of belonging a great deal more than if he has been playing but he seems to know where his priorities are and as far as I know there is no problem as far as the coaches go.
RacabRacab1,000+ posts
I agree with orlando, there is not enough time to share when you have to study and play and practice baseball. I agree with TR also, baseball team got it be his fraternity. You don't konw what kind of fraternity your son is talking about. Tell your son to ask his coach about it. Probably he is not the first with the problem and may be the coach had some prior experiences with other kids. He needs to have a very good relationship with his coach and who knows what the coach think about that fraternity and their members.
Last edited by Racab
D dbg_fan1,000+ posts
Unless anyone else who has responded has been both a fraternity member AND a D1 baseball player, then all you are really getting are opinions and conjecture. For the record, I am neither of the above.

My son is in his senior year of school and is both a D1 college baseball player and a fraternity member. All of his good friends are on the baseball team. All of his closest and best friends are in the fraternity. It is no coincidence that most of the baseball players are in the same fraternity.

I did not favor the idea of his joining a fraternity. I would say now that joining the fraternity is one of the best decisions my son has made. The network established through the fraternity extends well beyond the students he will meet during his 4 years of attendance. The friendships will last a lifetime.
T TG500+ posts
I played and joined a frat. I did not join my freshman year. A couple of teammates that did, set themselves back two years. They were terrible in the spring from fatigue. Other talent shot past them. One was kept up for 96 hours.

The frat to join is one dominated by baseball players. They understand a player needs to be able to perform on the field. I don't believe baseball players received any slack joining our frat, but their spots for abuse were better selected.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by dbg_fan:
Unless anyone else who has responded has been both a fraternity member AND a D1 baseball player, then all you are really getting are opinions and conjecture. For the record, I am neither of the above.

My son is in his senior year of school and is both a D1 college baseball player and a fraternity member. All of his good friends are on the baseball team. All of his closest and best friends are in the fraternity. It is no coincidence that most of the baseball players are in the same fraternity.

I did not favor the idea of his joining a fraternity. I would say now that joining the fraternity is one of the best decisions my son has made. The network established through the fraternity extends well beyond the students he will meet during his 4 years of attendance. The friendships will last a lifetime.


I do beleive FrankF's Josh was an RA at a fraternity?

I think lots depends on the situation, the school, the coach's philososphy, that particular Greek organization, etc. Smile

I used to think this was not common (baseball players joining fraternities), but finding out it is more than we think.
FrankFFrankF1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
quote:
Originally posted by dbg_fan:
Unless anyone else who has responded has been both a fraternity member AND a D1 baseball player, then all you are really getting are opinions and conjecture. For the record, I am neither of the above.

My son is in his senior year of school and is both a D1 college baseball player and a fraternity member. All of his good friends are on the baseball team. All of his closest and best friends are in the fraternity. It is no coincidence that most of the baseball players are in the same fraternity.

I did not favor the idea of his joining a fraternity. I would say now that joining the fraternity is one of the best decisions my son has made. The network established through the fraternity extends well beyond the students he will meet during his 4 years of attendance. The friendships will last a lifetime.


I do beleive FrankF's Josh was an RA at a fraternity?

I think lots depends on the situation, the school, the coach's philososphy, that particular Greek organization, etc. Smile

I used to think this was not common (baseball players joining fraternities), but finding out it is more than we think.


Yes he was. Like dbg_fan, I can't personally comment considering I was neither either (is that good grammer? Big Grin) but my son relished his time in the frat which was commonly known as the "baseball frat". He had to budget his time wisely to get everything he needed done. As far as I know, the Ivies are very much frat/sorority oriented so it isn't the end of the world to join one.

My oldest son was in a frat at SMS (now Missouri State) and they did a lot of community service related things.

To all who worry about their sons joining a frat should realize that they will still be invited to all the "pong", drunken orgies, etc... that the members enjoy. Roll Eyes Now where is that sarcasm emoticon when you need it.
B Bee>1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Bee>:
smart money says that freshman initiation to the baseball team is FAR more severe than any that today's frats would dish out


there are some college teams who initiate freshemen each in their own way ...
(review college freshman topics) - imo, a harmless mild hazing

AND - - I will stand by my view that ANY frat "NOW A DAYS", who -

awakened their pledges at 5 am,

ran 'em til they puked,

made 'em do groundskeeping/yardwork,

carry heavy equipment while others do NOTHING,

made 'em work out,

shaved their heads,

would be surrounded by Janet Reno w/tanks . . .
& if that sight itself wasn't eonugh punishment,
would be put on double secret probation, dismanteled, AND thrown off campus



that's pretty much a standard fall semester for a freshman baseball player
Last edited by Bee>
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
Have never been a frat member nor a D-1 baseballl player so hopefully I am still entitled to my opinion.

I believe that it is time to get out the old steno pad and start a list of the cons and the pros for a baseball player to join a fraternity. If the pros win out, then I think it is time to get out another sheet of steno paper and make a list of expectations ... positive and negative ... from the player if he joins a fraternity AND the consequences for any behavior identified as unacceptable. If he starts 'slipping' in any of the areas of concern ... I would just make sure that the consequences were enforced (e.g., resign from fraternity).

Now, I realize that these players are considered 'young adults' and many have full responsibility for their educational costs. In those cases, I would not interfere. But being a long time believer that 'them that pays the bills makes the rules', if I were contributing ANY $$ towards the education, I would have a real meeting of the minds with my son as regards what is and what is not acceptable. Altho our son was never interested in joining a fraternity (and none of his teammates were in a fraternity), we did have some serious conversations about consequences for unacceptable behavior ... and fortunately we never had to deal with some of the serious issues that arise for some players.

JMH(old school)O FWIW
B Bee>1,000+ posts
quote:
by FBM: I believe that it is time to get out the old steno pad and start a list of the cons and the pros for a baseball player to join a fraternity.
yaaaawn ..... when you were 20 did you sit with Mom & her steno pad?? Big Grin

if so, were you actually listening to pros & cons???

(might be rhetorical) Eek


quote:
by FBM: we did have some serious conversations about consequences for unacceptable behavior ...
there have been waaaay more athletes in the news for bad behavior in the last 5 yrs than frats Confused
Last edited by Bee>
C Clemente21100+ posts
Had the same conversation with son concerning joining a frat. Other baseball players are members of the frat he is considering. One of the postives that was mentioned was other frat members are able to help with note taking and keeping up with day to day class activities during long grueling road schedule. I will be attending parents weekend and the topic will be up for discussion. Should be quite interesting listening to his side. I will report the details.
B Bee>1,000+ posts
quote:
by c21: One of the positives that was mentioned was other frat members are able to help with note taking and keeping up with day to day class activities during long grueling road schedule.
not to mention the file cabinet containing copies of every test/quiz each prof has ever given for use as a "study guide"Wink
StyleMismatchStyleMismatch100+ posts
Animal house was a fairly accurate depiction of the fraternity I was in. Add together a kid who was suddenly away from home (and never learned good study habits because high school was a breeze), parties to attend, girls to chase, more parties, and then a few more parties for good luck..... I'd have to say that belonging to a fraternity cost me at least a year if not more towards graduation.

Now not all freshman handle distractions as poorly as I did, but I'd strongly suggest to a student (especially one with the added obligation of playing sports) to at least hold off a year and see how things shake out. (And if my money were going into this deal in any way, shape, or form it would be more than a suggestion).
Last edited by StyleMismatch
Dad04Dad045,000+ posts
quote:
I'd have to say that belonging to a fraternity cost me at least a year if not more towards graduation.



"Seven years of college...down the drain"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Vernon Wormer: Mr. Kroger: two C's, two D's and an F. That's a 1.2 grade average. Congratulations, Kroger. You're at the top of the Delta pledge class. Mr. Dorfman?
Flounder: Hello!
Dean Vernon Wormer: Zero point two... Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son. Mr. Hoover, president of Delta house? One point six; four C's and an F. A fine example you set! Daniel Simpson Day... HAS no grade point average. All courses incomplete. Mr. Blu - MR. BLUTARSKY... ZERO POINT ZERO.

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