pigskin, sheepskin and academic

[Laurence Horn]

>         A "pigskin" is an American football, while a "sheepskin" is
>a diploma, traditionally made from parchment (though modern diplomas
>generally are made of paper).
>
>John Baker
>

Or then again a pigs' kin could be a wild boar and a sheep's kin a goat...

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Prof. R. Sussex [mailto:r.sussex at MAILBOX.UQ.EDU.AU]
>Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 7:52 PM
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: pigskin, sheepskin and academic
>
>
>Can someone please explain the use of "pigskin" and "sheepskin"
>("cow's skin"?) in relation to scholarships and academia in the US?
>Does "pigskin" refer to students on sports scholarships? There is a
>reference at
>http://www.missouri.edu/~hdfswww/Graduate_Program/Graduate_Handbook/Honors___Awards/honors___awards.html
>
>Roly Sussex