USA Today: Value of a College Scholarship

[Water Pony]

Yesterday's USAToday had an interesting article on the value of a college basketball scholarship.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ ... four_N.htm

Impressive value.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

It really annoys me when they try to factor in the graduation rate when these kids have every opportunity in the world to get their degree with the extra tutoring, etc.

[smuuth]

The value of a college scholarship is dependant on the intelligence and ambition of the student. An athlete who takes the easy route and is lazy in the classroom and possibly skates by with a lesser degree is doomed for mediocrity unless one of the few who makes it to the pros and then what are the odds that person is able to invest wisely....Dez? On the other hand, a true student/athlete who takes advantage of the best a university offers and works equally hard in the classroom and on the field has the "world at their feet"! What price can you place on hard work and ambition? Check back in 10 or 20 years.

[Stallion]

Congrats to USA Today for telling the real story. Frontline and HBO just did hatchet jobs on College athletes by pointing to perspective of those rare, superstar pro prospects in 2 sports ONLY. But guess what superstar prospects can go sign early with the NFL, NBA, MLB, MSL, CFL, Indoor Leagues, Minor Leagues, European leagues etc not to mention JUCO, NAIA, minor leagues etc. Nobody forces a kid to attend College-they do it to benefit their careers. The NCAA is offering an opportunity to men and women-pro prospect or not. This is a growing argument by media that don't really like college sports and hope that it in fact the Top 40-60 schools create a Super Conference where there is no room for SMU and the other smaller schools. There needs to be a strong pushback on this argument. This is one area where the NCAA is justified but sometimes can't always articulate their justified position. On the other hand, I wouldn't be opposed to making sure that athletes are given the resources to pay for normal expenses. Also, the use of Players images after their eligibility for outside financial benefit like in video games is problematical