Do It The Right Way

I love college football.  The effort level and intensity of the play on the field is preferred to the "it doesn't matter until the playoffs" effort of the NFL.  I have been rough on the NCAA recently.  I am about to pile on.

An intelligent friend who does not follow sports pointed out the following article: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/18/2834915/honored-unc-employee-talks-of.html .  Not sure how reliable the source, but it brings up an intriguing point: are the schools and the NCAA failing their athletes in pursuit of dollars?

The main point of the article is that the University of North Carolina failed to academically support a number of their athletes.  The reason to bring in the athletes is to win.  It is no secret that winning athletic teams, especially football, motivate alumni to donate as much as 30% more money.  In general, all students benefit when the giving is to the school.  The elite athlete benefits when the giving is to the athletic program.

The article highlights a couple of young men who were not prepared academically for their dreams: one wanted to become a middle school football coach, another wanted to open a Y in a poor neighborhood.  Neither graduated with a degree and were unable to complete these worthwhile goals, the result of "show up" classes and lack of support from the university.  I cringe when I think of the number of lives that could be positively affected, future thrown away to win now.

I do not deny the athlete's responsibility in seeking an education.  College can change your life, but you have to learn, change and grow.  You sacrificed your teen years for the opportunity, use it.  If the school tells you need to take something, you take the class.  Be sure to ask "Why?"  Their motivation is not yours.

Their motivation is like a business owner that does not pay employees.  In the real world, they are thrown in jail.  In the NCAA, it is expected.  The argument is that their education is paid, and they are earning it with representing the school on the field.  Noble, if an education is actually provided.  Some young men and women have become the first in their family to earn a college degree because of their skill in athletic endeavors.  It has changed lives.

Winning on the field and the money generated has trumped this noble idea.  The idea of winning has lowered the standard of who actually plays at lower levels.  In years past, a great, but divisive individual would be left off to further the team.  Now, the division is fostered and encouraged, hoping the individual will eventually become a team player.  When a brat gets what they want, they have no motivation to become a team player.  They can always find somewhere to play, because someone will take the chance, hoping to win and enter the great and gloried land of dollars unlimited.

Stop feeding the monster.  Youth coaches, teach your players the right way to play and stop coddling the brat.  High Schools, maintain your academic standards, and stop sacrificing integrity to win on Friday night.  Colleges, remember your original purpose, and have the guts to cut off the monster.  Otherwise, have the integrity to at least pay the employees that are working to fill your coffers.

Arlo and Janis, a syndicated cartoon, highlights the point: http://www.uclick.com/client/kcc/aj/2013/09/01/

So...am I off base?