Post by mountaineerinpa on Mar 24, 2009 7:41:18 GMT -5
Terence Kerns forced to take a step back
Ex-Pats RB leaves WVU after flagged test; lands at a Pennsylvania CC
Originally published March 24, 2009
By John Cannon
News-Post Staff
Staff file photo by Skip Lawrence
Terence Kerns
Click here to check out a list of 2009 college commitments by area athletes
Everything seemed to be going fine for Thomas Johnson graduate Terence Kerns at West Virginia University last fall.
After attending a prep school and finally getting an ACT test score to academically qualify for WVU last summer, he was a Mountaineer.
The running back was practicing with the Mountaineers team and looking forward to embarking on his career as a Division I football player. But after waiting so long to start that career, he would have to wait even longer.
Kerns' ACT score was red-flagged because of how much it improved. He said he didn't cheat, but he was forced to retake the test and fell short of the score he needed to remain at West Virginia.
He now attends Lackawanna College, a junior college in Scranton, Pa. He'll play for that school's football team and take classes, hoping to rejoin the Mountaineers after one or two years at the junior college.
"I can go back to West Virginia. They want me to come back," Kerns said. "West Virginia chose for me to come here (to Lackawanna)."
Kerns' mother told him his test score was red-flagged.
"My mom called me one night and let me know about it. That kind of messed me up," he said. "Everything was going fine. I think my lowest grade was a C."
Before Kerns qualified with a 22 last summer, his previous best test score was a 17.
"They said, 'Your score went up too much,'" Kerns said. "I told them I didn't cheat, and they reviewed it."
The review took four weeks, and Kerns kept taking classes at WVU. He was told to retake the ACT test. Taking the test again in December, he had to be within three points of the 22. He got an 18.
"They said I couldn't be at West Virginia anymore," Kerns said. "I was kind of mad, but I figure everything happens for a reason."
Kerns has often had trouble performing on standardized tests. When asked about that, he said, "I'm not sure. I get nervous."
Kerns thought the red-flagged test is why he was put
on West Virginia's scout team. The running back initially practiced with the starters.
While he hoped he might be able to return to West Virginia for the 2010 season, he said he might have to play two years at Lackawanna. If so, he would have two years of eligibility left and come to West Virginia as a junior. After graduating from TJ in 2007, Kerns attended Hargrave Military Academy to help him qualify academically for West Virginia.
Lackawanna is coached by Mark Duda, who played for Maryland and the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals. Kerns is about to begin the spring season, and he says there are other Division I caliber players on the team.
"Everything's going fine," Kerns said. "The same type of workouts, getting up early in the morning at 5:30."
Ex-Pats RB leaves WVU after flagged test; lands at a Pennsylvania CC
Originally published March 24, 2009
By John Cannon
News-Post Staff
Staff file photo by Skip Lawrence
Terence Kerns
Click here to check out a list of 2009 college commitments by area athletes
Everything seemed to be going fine for Thomas Johnson graduate Terence Kerns at West Virginia University last fall.
After attending a prep school and finally getting an ACT test score to academically qualify for WVU last summer, he was a Mountaineer.
The running back was practicing with the Mountaineers team and looking forward to embarking on his career as a Division I football player. But after waiting so long to start that career, he would have to wait even longer.
Kerns' ACT score was red-flagged because of how much it improved. He said he didn't cheat, but he was forced to retake the test and fell short of the score he needed to remain at West Virginia.
He now attends Lackawanna College, a junior college in Scranton, Pa. He'll play for that school's football team and take classes, hoping to rejoin the Mountaineers after one or two years at the junior college.
"I can go back to West Virginia. They want me to come back," Kerns said. "West Virginia chose for me to come here (to Lackawanna)."
Kerns' mother told him his test score was red-flagged.
"My mom called me one night and let me know about it. That kind of messed me up," he said. "Everything was going fine. I think my lowest grade was a C."
Before Kerns qualified with a 22 last summer, his previous best test score was a 17.
"They said, 'Your score went up too much,'" Kerns said. "I told them I didn't cheat, and they reviewed it."
The review took four weeks, and Kerns kept taking classes at WVU. He was told to retake the ACT test. Taking the test again in December, he had to be within three points of the 22. He got an 18.
"They said I couldn't be at West Virginia anymore," Kerns said. "I was kind of mad, but I figure everything happens for a reason."
Kerns has often had trouble performing on standardized tests. When asked about that, he said, "I'm not sure. I get nervous."
Kerns thought the red-flagged test is why he was put
on West Virginia's scout team. The running back initially practiced with the starters.
While he hoped he might be able to return to West Virginia for the 2010 season, he said he might have to play two years at Lackawanna. If so, he would have two years of eligibility left and come to West Virginia as a junior. After graduating from TJ in 2007, Kerns attended Hargrave Military Academy to help him qualify academically for West Virginia.
Lackawanna is coached by Mark Duda, who played for Maryland and the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals. Kerns is about to begin the spring season, and he says there are other Division I caliber players on the team.
"Everything's going fine," Kerns said. "The same type of workouts, getting up early in the morning at 5:30."