End Athletic Scholarships?

[bluefrog]

LINK

Nader, whose League of Fans is proposing that the scholarships be replaced with need-based financial aid. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposal Thursday, ahead of its official release.

Nader said that colleges should either integrate athletics into the educational mission by eliminating college scholarships, or, "openly acknowledge the professionalism in big-time college sports, remove the tax-exempt status currently given to athletic departments, and make universities operate them as unrelated businesses."

The longtime former head of the NCAA, Walter Byers, has called for paying college athletes.

I think the whole student athlete thing is scam for universities. This might make it easier for powerhouse schools to remain dominant though.

 

[Eastoff]

I can see arguing for cutting scholarships for public schools, but I don't see how you can legally tell private schools they can't give scholarships. Unless it's a fair play kind of thing.

 

[maxiep]

Major college athletics has become a situation of the tail wagging the dog.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

just keep the men's bball and football. no one else cares about the rest.

 

[maxiep]

just keep the men's bball and football. no one else cares about the rest.

Those are the two sports that distort the role of athletics in the university. For the record, Title IX is complete crap, but I really do believe that college sports should be more like baseball and hockey. If you're great, chances are you're passing on college and heading to the minor leagues.

Of course, college football and men's basketball are huge moneymakers and most alumni connect with their alma mater through athletics. In the end, it all comes down to money.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Those are the two sports that distort the role of athletics in the university. For the record, Title IX is complete crap, but I really do believe that college sports should be more like baseball and hockey. If you're great, chances are you're passing on college and heading to the minor leagues.

Of course, college football and men's basketball are huge moneymakers and most alumni connect with their alma mater through athletics. In the end, it all comes down to money.

no one wants to go to a "great hockey school" (unless you're candian or something). students love the football/bball experience.

 

[maxiep]

no one wants to go to a "great hockey school" (unless you're candian or something). students love the football/bball experience.

Yep. That's the experience for many, if not most, people. Some people actually care about academics, however.

 

[Eastoff]

Yep. That's the experience for many, if not most, people. Some people actually care about academics, however.

Yeah, listening to player interviews in the NBA, you can tell who went for four years and who did not.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I like the idea of 4-year scholarships. If you don't go for 4 years, you don't get the scholarship funded and you foot your education bill, but the school has to count you as a scholarship for sports team purposes. Afterall, the purpose of a scholarship is for e-d-u-c-a-t-i-o-n. Not as a training ground for pro sports.

 

[RR7]

Yeah, listening to player interviews in the NBA, you can tell who went for four years and who did not.

I've always found Martell Webster to give really good interviews. Kobe Bryant as well.

 

[RR7]

I like the idea of 4-year scholarships. If you don't go for 4 years, you don't get the scholarship funded and you foot your education bill, but the school has to count you as a scholarship for sports team purposes. Afterall, the purpose of a scholarship is for e-d-u-c-a-t-i-o-n. Not as a training ground for pro sports.

Wouldn't learning about the sport be getting an education in that sport? I mean, a science scholarship for a brilliant mind doing research at the school, let's face it, is just a training ground for their future career. If I get a journalism scholarship, school is a training ground for my journalism job after school, hopefully. Some, like me, stupidly, go to school and study political science, and don't actually use their education as training for a job. But a lot of individuals getting specialized scholarships do. Should we take theirs away as well?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Wouldn't learning about the sport be getting an education in that sport? I mean, a science scholarship for a brilliant mind doing research at the school, let's face it, is just a training ground for their future career. If I get a journalism scholarship, school is a training ground for my journalism job after school, hopefully. Some, like me, stupidly, go to school and study political science, and don't actually use their education as training for a job. But a lot of individuals getting specialized scholarships do. Should we take theirs away as well?

Your point is well taken, but I find one flaw in it. All too often college athletes are intentionally using a scholarship as just a means to bide their time before leaving early for the pros. The "one and done" types don't even have to attend classes. To me that is an unacceptable abuse. I was on a scholarship at PSU (academic) and when my father got ill I had to drop out and support him. I lost my scholarship and had to pay it back. Why is it athletes get a free pass?

 

[RR7]

If an athlete drops out mid way through the year, the might be required to pay it back as well, I dunno. If not, but they require students to, then they should I doubt pro athletes would care.

As for using the school, I think a lot of people do. I think many that know specifically what it is they are going for, if they could work instead of being in school, would. If a accounting major could be hired on to one of the big accounting firms,a nd that was their goal, would they leave school early to do it? Same with lawyers? I know that isn't possible, but if it were. It's students using school to help them get a job, which is what athletes are doing.

 

[Wheels]

I've always found Martell Webster to give really good interviews. Kobe Bryant as well.

yep.. and then there are interviews with Cliff Harris where I'm not sure what education he is getting lol. His interviews are funny though.

 

[Minstrel]

Why link major sports with the university system? The kids going on athletic scholarships aren't going for an education, they're going in order to showcase themselves for the pros. I think it would make more sense for the NFL and NBA to establish proper minor league systems and they can draft kids out of of high school into these systems. Then there's no pretense of being "student-athletes," they can have agents, they can be paid, there's no convoluted NCAA rules system.

Obviously universities can still have sports, but then it really would be the original concept of student-athletes...kids who are there primarily for academics who also want to play sports in their spare time. I'm sure this would never happen, as it would remove a major cash cow for big-time sports programs at the NCAA level, but I think it would make more sense.

 

[maxiep]

Why link major sports with the university system? The kids going on athletic scholarships aren't going for an education, they're going in order to showcase themselves for the pros. I think it would make more sense for the NFL and NBA to establish proper minor league systems and they can draft kids out of of high school into these systems. Then there's no pretense of being "student-athletes," they can have agents, they can be paid, there's no convoluted NCAA rules system.

Obviously universities can still have sports, but then it really would be the original concept of student-athletes...kids who are there primarily for academics who also want to play sports in their spare time. I'm sure this would never happen, as it would remove a major cash cow for big-time sports programs at the NCAA level, but I think it would make more sense.

We are almost perfectly aligned on our opinion of college sports.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Why link major sports with the university system? The kids going on athletic scholarships aren't going for an education, they're going in order to showcase themselves for the pros. I think it would make more sense for the NFL and NBA to establish proper minor league systems and they can draft kids out of of high school into these systems. Then there's no pretense of being "student-athletes," they can have agents, they can be paid, there's no convoluted NCAA rules system.

Obviously universities can still have sports, but then it really would be the original concept of student-athletes...kids who are there primarily for academics who also want to play sports in their spare time. I'm sure this would never happen, as it would remove a major cash cow for big-time sports programs at the NCAA level, but I think it would make more sense.

Excellent post.