students with 3.8 and higher GPA, etc. It is one thing getting into the school... it is entirely another issue fitting in and passing classes.
Many athletes are already getting an exception simply to gain admittance to BYU. The struggle comes when they are competing in classes with kids who are far smarter and academically gifted than they are. That is the real hurdle BYU faces with these kids.
Allowing a kid in to only have him fail academically does far more damage than never letting him in at all.