re: How serious do sec athletes take college classes?

Very few do. Most if these guys wouldn't have even got a denial letter back from schools. Because of football and only football or basketball are they even allowed on the grounds. I went to jacksonville st. And I thought it was hard. I was there in the early 90s and my girlfriends roommate was a tutor and the jsu qb was assigned to her. This was about the dumbest sumbitch I ever saw in my life. He asked once how to spell amen and I am not making that up.
I remember the DAY after the last regular season game in mid November he packed and left school. Unfortunately his story was not a rare one. There is no way, no way this guy passed enough hours to stay eligible on his own.