--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't make a kid graduate. We're…" description: "\"We can't make a kid graduate. We're trying to get a kid graduated in four years, and yet play on the road weeknights, miss a lot of school.\" — Tom Izzo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/tom-izzo-4431_education_we-can-t-make-a-kid-graduate-we-re-tryin_2004733.png" --- # We can't make a kid graduate. We're trying to get a kid… ![“We can't make a kid graduate. We're trying to get a kid graduated in four years, and yet play on the road weeknights, miss a lot of school.” quote by Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/tom-izzo-4431_education_we-can-t-make-a-kid-graduate-we-re-tryin_2004733.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/tom-izzo-4431_education_we-can-t-make-a-kid-graduate-we-re-tryin_2004733.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/tom-izzo-4431_education_we-can-t-make-a-kid-graduate-we-re-tryin_2004733.png) > “We can't make a kid graduate. We're trying to get a kid graduated in four years, and yet play on the road weeknights, miss a lot of school.” [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Students balancing athletics and academics often struggle to meet graduation timelines due to competing demands. **In simple terms:** Athletes may fall behind school because of sports commitments. Key Takeaway Prioritize academic planning and support for student‑athletes. Themes education sports time management student life Mood concerned optimistic Type advice reflective When to use this quote - college athletes - high school seniors - time‑crunched professionals Key Concepts dual‑career academic achievement athletic commitment Questions to Reflect On - How can schools better align athletic schedules with academic requirements? - What resources help student‑athletes stay on track? A Different Perspective Balancing sports and school can still lead to burnout without proper support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Graduate Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduate-trying-3546874/) [Graduated Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduated-years-601181/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Kid Graduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid-graduate-3546872/) [Kid Graduated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid-graduated-3546873/) [Make Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-kid-1599267/) [Miss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miss/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [I went to NYU for a year and a half, and I graduated from there and then years later went to Columbia for graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-holofcener/i-went-to-nyu-for-a-year-and-a-half-and-i-graduated-from-there-and/) [Nicole Holofcener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-holofcener/) > [The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree-has-served-neither-taxpayers/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [My mother fiercely valued education. She entered college the same year I did, in 1979, and graduated eight years later. She was a remarkable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perez/my-mother-fiercely-valued-education-she-entered-college-the-same-year/) [Tom Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perez/) > [I went to college in Ohio, at Ohio University, and I graduated two years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-perabo/i-went-to-college-in-ohio-at-ohio-university-and-i-graduated-two/) [Piper Perabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-perabo/) > [I actually graduated two years early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-michelle/i-actually-graduated-two-years-early/) [Ava Michelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-michelle/) > [Sandy Koufax went to the same school as me. I graduated two years ahead of Sandy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/sandy-koufax-went-to-the-same-school-as-me-i-graduated-two-years/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [Sometimes the only thing you can do is the wrong thing to make your kid look good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/sometimes-the-only-thing-you-can-do-is-the-wrong-thing-to-make-your/) [Kevin Mccarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [“I don't think having a My Chemical Romance action figure will make a kid start his own band, I like to think that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-don-t-think-having-a-my-chemical-romance-action-figure-will-make-a/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [I don't think any movie is going to make some kid run out and have sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-don-t-think-any-movie-is-going-to-make-some-kid-run-out-and-have-sex/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [It's cool to be able to make somebody's day and smile, make a kid feel good and make mom and dad happy. And listen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/it-s-cool-to-be-able-to-make-somebody-s-day-and-smile-make-a-kid-feel/) [Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/) > [Keith Olbermann made my son the world's worst person. How can you make a kid the world's worst person?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-doocy/keith-olbermann-made-my-son-the-world-s-worst-person-how-can-you-make/) [Steve Doocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-doocy/) > [“No matter what I see, I always think, “They just don’t make them like they used to.” Well, except for kids. People still make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/no-matter-what-i-see-i-always-think-they-just-don-t-make-them-like/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I'll do anything to make my kid laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-ll-do-anything-to-make-my-kid-laugh/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [“I dont think having a My Chemical Romance action figure will make a kid start his own band, I like to think it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-dont-think-having-a-my-chemical-romance-action-figure-will-make-a/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## More by Tom Izzo > [Time doesn't heal, time helps heal and learning helps heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/time-doesn-t-heal-time-helps-heal-and-learning-helps-heal/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I'm a pizza guy, so yes, I love cheese!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-m-a-pizza-guy-so-yes-i-love-cheese/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [In 2009 we were pretty good but North Carolina would have beaten some NBA teams that year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/in-2009-we-were-pretty-good-but-north-carolina-would-have-beaten-some/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I'm pleased to say I am here for life at Michigan State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-m-pleased-to-say-i-am-here-for-life-at-michigan-state/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [There's efforts to win games and there's efforts to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/there-s-efforts-to-win-games-and-there-s-efforts-to-win-championships/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [Words can't truly express what Mike Garland means to me. We've been friends since we met the first night in college and basically have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/words-can-t-truly-express-what-mike-garland-means-to-me-we-ve-been/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I want to go to Scotland in particular. 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Some are the partying type, some are the studying type, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/it-s-not-my-job-to-judge-one-of-my-athletes-everybody-is-different/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [No comment always means you're hiding something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/no-comment-always-means-you-re-hiding-something/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I feel like I spend a lot of time in the inner cities and around different people, and always felt like I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-feel-like-i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-the-inner-cities-and-around/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I just think there's something about being in the Olympics, even though I think it's been tarnished a little bit by commercialization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-just-think-there-s-something-about-being-in-the-olympics-even/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [I think we all are coaches in our own respect because we have to try to figure out a way to help make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/i-think-we-all-are-coaches-in-our-own-respect-because-we-have-to-try/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) [Explore all 111 Tom Izzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. 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But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can't make a kid graduate. 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