Ummmm, it's not EXACTLY how you put in there texas. I admit, that when the academy finds a very promising athlete, they will most definitely do what they can to get them in. But standards are NOT WAVERED. You have to realize that the average Academy appointee has scores WAY ABOVE the standards. But the athletes are NOT WAVERED to go below those standards. They may get an LOA from the athletic department, that gets them an appointment with ANY nomination. They can even get some nominations. But those athletes most definitely meet the minimum standards the air force academy has set up.
Now, Blue chip, which is similar to most colleges, is the same at the academy with a couple of twists. In normal recruiting, you have Blue chip and walk-ons. Blue chips are ON THE TEAM. They probably have a scholarship. Walk on's MIGHT be on the team. And they MIGHT get a scholarship. Maybe it's a combination where they are on the team with no scholarship for the first couple years.
Now, with the academy, there are no scholarships. But, the academy does allow walkons. They do this immediately following Basic Training. (Unless it's a Spring sport, and they have it later). Those who are BLUE CHIP are ON THE TEAM. Those who aren't blue chip, and want to try out for the team, can go and try and be a walk-on.
Now, one difference with the academy compared to the regular colleges. Lets use football as an example. An average college team will recruit approximately 18 athletes per year on scholarship. Sometimes it's a combination of MORE than 18 with PARTIAL scholarships. Point is, they are paying these kids to go to their school and play ball. They definitely are going to play them. Because as long as the kid doesn't get in trouble, they can't take away his scholarship. So why give a scholarship to someone you're going to keep on the bench. The academy, doesn't have scholarships. SO, they recruit approximately 50-60 BLUE CHIP PLAYERS for football. Walk-on are slim to not at all. Now, by the time the first season is over, (Because there is not such thing as a red-shirt year), the coach will have eliminated about 15-20 of those 50-60. They still are at the academy, go to school, graduate, become commissioned officers, etc... Just not on the team any longer. By the time spring training is over, that freshman class of 60 is down to about 30-35. By the time the sophomore year is over, that class will be down to about 20-22, which is about what a normal school would have with scholarship athletes. But, because the academy can't get the 350 lb lineman or the 2.2gpa running back who run a 40 in 4sec flat, they have to blue chip QUANTITY and work out the rest in the first season.
So, that's the difference between blue chip and walk ons and how air force and the academies do it. They do NOT Waiver the standards for athletes. Not going to happen. It just APPEARS that way, be cause the aver gpa of the freshman class is 3.86 while the standard is lower. And the average ACT is 29-30, while the standard is 25-26, etc... Later... mike....
P.S. My son was a blue chip recruited athlete, but AFTER he already accepted an EARLY November Presidential Appointment. It just meant that he didn't have to "Walk-On" and "TRY-OUT" for the team.