I enjoy watching and following college sports and
consider it a privilege when I can speak to college athletes on overcoming
challenges.
One disturbing trend I sense in college sports and the
college community is the de-emphasis of earning a college degree. How that all enfolds remains a complicated
issue.
I am writing this to take no sides. Many say athletes
should not have to attend college before chasing professional dreams. Others
say college athletes should be paid because the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) and member institutions are making billions of dollars off
these athletes.
But lost in these arguments is the true pursuit and value
of a college education and obtaining a degree while playing a sport in a
non-professional manner.
These are 18-22 year old young people. College is a time
of development, learning new things, being exposed to new ideas. Simply, it’s
life development before going on to a full-time career. Advancing and obtaining
a college degree becomes important steps in that journey.
The old saying, “You can work the rest of your life,” rings
for the college student and the college student-athlete.
College administrators and coaches should be addressing
the importance of the college experience and earning a degree. In recruiting,
coaches need to assure student athletes and their parents that they will do all
they can to help the student earn a college degree. Administrators and coaches
should remember that student-athletes are students first and give them breaks
from the demands of playing their particular sport so they can experience
student life.
Ultimately, it’s the student athletes’ responsibility to
work toward a degree and earn it. And whether they chose a professional sports
path or not, the discipline of the college experience will become invaluable.
