Sporting News: The 20 Smartest Athletes in Sports

THWUGA

THWUGA

Dodd-Like except wouldn't have left the SEC
Joined
Jan 26, 2003
Messages
3,992
Congrats to our own Sean Bedford... in some good company on this list.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/fee...news-names-the-20-smartest-athletes-in-sports

17. Sean Bedford, C, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets


• Age: 22

• On-field accomplishments: 2009 All-ACC first team, on the preseason watch lists for the Outland and Rimington trophies.

• Major, GPA: Aerospace engineering and public policy (minor in law science and technology), 3.8

• SAT score: 1520. “I didn’t study. I took it three times. First one in seventh grade and got an 1130. The next time in 10th grade and got a 1400.”

• Off-field/intellectual interests: “I’ve always been fascinated with the space program. ... I’d love to be an astronaut. At the moment, being (6-1, 281), none of them are quite as big as I am.”

• What I’m reading now: “Right now, I’m reading The Prince, by Machiavelli. After that, I’ll move on to Paradise Lost, by Milton. I try to keep it to one a week, and if I have spare time, I’ll pick it up more.”

• Nerdiest thing about me: “When I was 7 or 8 years old, I could give you the name of not only every NASA mission from the first Mercury flights to the end of the Apollo program, I could name the crew and give a brief synopsis of each mission.”
Click to expand...
​
 
I was getting pissed about him being ranked 17th because I initially thought it was out of this year's college football players, but alas, it is not. That's impressive.
 
Is it just the media or does Bedford relish a little too much in being seen as an intellectual?

The guy's not even planning to become an engineer.

Not trying to be negative, but I've seen 100+ positive things about Bedford, so thought I'd give an alternate perspective.
 
I wish him the best, but I am not sure that he could be an astronaut. First he would have to drop a good bit of weight to qualify. Also, a good number of military aviators studied engineering in college. The military puts great value in technical/science degrees.
 
Bedford is a baller, on and off the field. Represents our program better than anyone.
 
gtzulu said:
Is it just the media or does Bedford relish a little too much in being seen as an intellectual?

The guy's not even planning to become an engineer.

Not trying to be negative, but I've seen 100+ positive things about Bedford, so thought I'd give an alternate perspective.
Click to expand...

Because only engineers are intellectual...
 
It is very rare to have a Student Athlete with the on field and off field accomplishments as Sean Bedford. I really cannot remember another more impressive in GT's history.
 
PTCJacket said:
I was getting pissed about him being ranked 17th because I initially thought it was out of this year's college football players, but alas, it is not. That's impressive.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but carrying a 3.8 GPA with a double major at GT is far more impressive than most of the people on that list. Far easier to excel in most of those schools once admitted. Rolle certainly is accomplished, but #2 on that list is a joke.
 
BarrelORum said:
It is very rare to have a Student Athlete with the on field and off field accomplishments as Sean Bedford. I really cannot remember another more impressive in GT's history.
Click to expand...

George Godsey was an industrial engineering student.
 
GTSurgery said:
I'm sorry but carrying a 3.8 GPA with a double major at GT is far more impressive than most of the people on that list. Far easier to excel in most of those schools once admitted. Rolle certainly is accomplished, but #2 on that list is a joke.
Click to expand...

I'm ok with him being there but Peyton, Pau, and Murray seem pretty weak to be above Bedford. Not that SAT scores mean everything but 1030 for Peyton? Pau didn't graduate and I have no idea how good his school is. Douglas Murray majoring in Hotel Management and not even graduating seems a little much to be above Bedford.
 
gtfan088 said:
Because only engineers are intellectual...
Click to expand...

I am just trying to say he's not the ideal Tech student athlete. Most Tech students are engineering and become engineers. Planning to go into law is a football-player thing to do. And something a lot of underachieving engineering students do. Nothing wrong with law--a few lawyers are fairly smart--but again it's not a path the model Tech student would choose. Call me elitist if you want; that's just how it is.
 
gtzulu said:
I am just trying to say he's not the ideal Tech student athlete. Most Tech students are engineering and become engineers. Planning to go into law is a football-player thing to do. And something a lot of underachieving engineering students do. Nothing wrong with law--a few lawyers are fairly smart--but again it's not a path the model Tech student would choose. Call me elitist if you want; that's just how it is.
Click to expand...

I will disagree with your view. Actually, most tech students who go into law do much better than others who enter law because they already have the critical thinking skills that are required to be a good lawyer. Additionally, if he is really interested in IP law - patent law I presume - this is one of the highest paying law professions out there (particularly straight out of law school - up to 160k or more starting). As an associate in a large law firm he can make at least 3 times the money he could could make as an engineer and will make 5-10 times that amount if he makes partner. Also, he would still get to work in high tech with the leading technology companies if he gets in with a big law firm. Further - to be a good lawyer, at least in a big firm, you have to have social skills... So, you may be right - this may not be the path for the model Tech student, but it is certainly the path for the exceptionally talented and socially apt Tech student....
 
gtzulu said:
I am just trying to say he's not the ideal Tech student athlete. Most Tech students are engineering and become engineers. Planning to go into law is a football-player thing to do. And something a lot of underachieving engineering students do. Nothing wrong with law--a few lawyers are fairly smart--but again it's not a path the model Tech student would choose. Call me elitist if you want; that's just how it is.
Click to expand...

3.8 GPA is not something "a lot of underachieving engineering students do."

And yeah, there's a world beyond engineering. True engineers aren't typically poor, but they're not extremely rich either. Law will offer Bedford a lot more opportunity if that's what he wants. Personally, not enough money in the world would get me to do it, but there's far more opportunity there than going to some job to design the dyes for wheel bearings.
 
gtzulu said:
I am just trying to say he's not the ideal Tech student athlete. Most Tech students are engineering and become engineers. Planning to go into law is a football-player thing to do. And something a lot of underachieving engineering students do. Nothing wrong with law--a few lawyers are fairly smart--but again it's not a path the model Tech student would choose. Call me elitist if you want; that's just how it is.
Click to expand...

You're an idiot.
 
gtzulu said:
Is it just the media or does Bedford relish a little too much in being seen as an intellectual?

The guy's not even planning to become an engineer.

Not trying to be negative, but I've seen 100+ positive things about Bedford, so thought I'd give an alternate perspective.
Click to expand...

Aerospace is widely considered to be the hardest major at Tech.

HE HAS A FREAKING 3.8 GPA IN THE HARDEST MAJOR AT TECH.

He has every right to embrace his image as an intellectual. I bet he is more of an intellectual than you.
 
Wow, we're some jaded ****ers. A 3.8 as a senior in AE says a hell of a lot for ones scholastic abilities, and doing that while putting in the hours required to play ball makes it all the more impressive.

Edit: Not that it matters at all, but wasn't Godsey EE? Thought I remembered a friend having a few classes with him when he was in his senior/masters year?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top