It's nucking futs around here. The papers give it front page attention for two or three days, like it's the most important thing in the world.

News flash: It's a GAME. They're going to college for sports; what about all the kids going for an education? When was the last time you heard a business leader saying we had a shortage of trained football players, that the nation was losing its competitive edge to Asia because we didn't have enough quarterbacks.

Enough, already!

Speaker2Animals: It's nucking futs around here. The papers give it front page attention for two or three days, like it's the most important thing in the world.

News flash: It's a GAME. They're going to college for sports; what about all the kids going for an education? When was the last time you heard a business leader saying we had a shortage of trained football players, that the nation was losing its competitive edge to Asia because we didn't have enough quarterbacks.

Enough, already!

And when was the last time 30,000 people packed a stadium to watch and cheer the debate team. Why the fark shouldn't some kids go to college just for sports? There's a LOT of people out there that will never be smart enough to do chemistry or rocket science or medicine, no matter how much they study. Sports are simple enough that many people can understand that would never figure out advanced trig or physics otherwise. Just because smarts come naturally to some people doesn't mean everyone has them. If sports are what they're good at, then good for them and who are we to say otherwise.

alwaysjaded: If sports are what they're good at, then good for them and who are we to say otherwise.

Otherwise. Colleges and Universities exist to educate, not to function as farm teams for pro sports.

simplicimus: Otherwise. Colleges and Universities exist to educate, not to function as farm teams for pro sports.

Actually, they're both.

Mentat: simplicimus: Otherwise. Colleges and Universities exist to educate, not to function as farm teams for pro sports.

Actually, they're both.

That's an accurate description of the current situation. I don't find it ideal. As long as the student-athletes are not allowed to get paid for their efforts, it's exploitation.

simplicimus: alwaysjaded: If sports are what they're good at, then good for them and who are we to say otherwise.

Otherwise. Colleges and Universities exist to educate, not to function as farm teams for pro sports.

People go to college to better themselves and further their careers. Some people choose a career in sports.

alwaysjaded: simplicimus: alwaysjaded: If sports are what they're good at, then good for them and who are we to say otherwise.

Otherwise. Colleges and Universities exist to educate, not to function as farm teams for pro sports.

People go to college to better themselves and further their careers. Some people choose a career in sports.

If you graduate with an academic degree, the odds are much greater for securing a job than getting on a pro team.

lajotu: simplicimus: If you graduate with an academic degree, the odds are much greater for securing a job than getting on a pro team.

I don't think anyone tells athletes that this isn't the case.

Do they??

Explicitly, probably not.

If there was a writer who got it right, why did you link to this jerk?

lajotu: simplicimus: lajotu: simplicimus: If you graduate with an academic degree, the odds are much greater for securing a job than getting on a pro team.

I don't think anyone tells athletes that this isn't the case.

Do they??

Explicitly, probably not.

Oh, well, then, they probably should shut down all college athletics programs, effective immediately. Let's start a movement, you and me.

No, I'm just saying, considering the money these programs bring into the schools, and considering the risk of injury the athletes run, the NCAA should drop the pretense and pay the kids.

simplicimus: lajotu: simplicimus: lajotu: simplicimus: If you graduate with an academic degree, the odds are much greater for securing a job than getting on a pro team.

I don't think anyone tells athletes that this isn't the case.

Do they??

Explicitly, probably not.

Oh, well, then, they probably should shut down all college athletics programs, effective immediately. Let's start a movement, you and me.

No, I'm just saying, considering the money these programs bring into the schools, and considering the risk of injury the athletes run, the NCAA should drop the pretense and pay the kids.

This. Especially D-I schools in football and basketball. No one can say that those programs are anything but minor leagues for the NFL and NBA. Everyone else involved in those programs is getting paid, and paid well. The kids doing the work should get the same.

TuteTibiImperes: devildog123:
This. Especially D-I schools in football and basketball. No one can say that those programs are anything but minor leagues for the NFL and NBA. Everyone else involved in those programs is getting paid, and paid well. The kids doing the work should get the same.

I wouldn't paint all Div 1 schools with the same brush. The Ivy League, CAA, Patriot League, US Service Academies, and plenty of other schools recruit student-athletes with the student factor being most important, and still play in Division 1. For every BCS school that gives a scholly to someone who they know will likely never put in much of an effort in class with plans on leaving before graduation for the draft there are several other schools who strive to make sure every member of every team excels in the classroom just as much as on the field or court.

TuteTibiImperes: devildog123:
This. Especially D-I schools in football and basketball. No one can say that those programs are anything but minor leagues for the NFL and NBA. Everyone else involved in those programs is getting paid, and paid well. The kids doing the work should get the same.

I wouldn't paint all Div 1 schools with the same brush. The Ivy League, CAA, Patriot League, US Service Academies, and plenty of other schools recruit student-athletes with the student factor being most important, and still play in Division 1. For every BCS school that gives a scholly to someone who they know will likely never put in much of an effort in class with plans on leaving before graduation for the draft there are several other schools who strive to make sure every member of every team excels in the classroom just as much as on the field or court.

Totally off topic, when I lived in NYC, our PBS channel would broadcast the Ivy League games. The stats they gave on the players were major and GPA, not height, weight or whatever.

TuteTibiImperes: devildog123:
This. Especially D-I schools in football and basketball. No one can say that those programs are anything but minor leagues for the NFL and NBA. Everyone else involved in those programs is getting paid, and paid well. The kids doing the work should get the same.

I wouldn't paint all Div 1 schools with the same brush. The Ivy League, CAA, Patriot League, US Service Academies, and plenty of other schools recruit student-athletes with the student factor being most important, and still play in Division 1. For every BCS school that gives a scholly to someone who they know will likely never put in much of an effort in class with plans on leaving before graduation for the draft there are several other schools who strive to make sure every member of every team excels in the classroom just as much as on the field or court.



This additionally I think a lot of people should pay more attention to the NCAA commercials that are on during all college sports. "The majority of us are going pro in something other than sports." The same holds true for the majority of players on D1 football and basketball teams. The majority of those D1 student athletes will be doing something besides playing professional football or basketball. Sure a lot of them may find jobs related to that sport (coaching announcing), but a lot of them will go on to other fields of work as well.

All of the student athletes that fall into the category of the above paragraph, receive the same thing that every other college bound student receives.

If a student athlete excels on the field or court, then their college is paid for from the start, or their last 2-3 years are paid for. They receive four years where they can develop and progress in their sport where they will be going professional, where they can transition from high school to a higher level and be prepared for the NFL, under the guidance of some of the best coaches available. A student athlete going pro in their sport is far from being exploited, they receive a fairly sizable amount of compensation for their time in college.

alwaysjaded: And when was the last time 30,000 people packed a stadium to watch and cheer the debate team. Why the fark shouldn't some kids go to college just for sports? There's a LOT of people out there that will never be smart enough to do chemistry or rocket science or medicine, no matter how much they study. Sports are simple enough that many people can understand that would never figure out advanced trig or physics otherwise. Just because smarts come naturally to some people doesn't mean everyone has them. If sports are what they're good at, then good for them and who are we to say otherwise.

And for the 99.9% of people that do not go on to a pro career, what's left for them? They have no skills, they've never learned self-reliance, and they've been babied for their entire lives because they could play football. What then? The purpose of college, theoretically, is to get an education, a largely theoretical and often fraudulent assertion under the best of circumstances, but nevertheless it is NOT about football. I guess it doesn't matter that these guys get used and discarded like so much trash as long as they can provide entertainment for millions on the taxpayer dime (LSU being a public school). Hell, the public has carried them their whole lives so far, it can handle another 70 years or so.

Schools should not be in the business of manufacturing potential pro athletes on the public tip. It's a done deal and I'm pissing in the wind, I know, but all the same it's patently absurd. Oh, they're getting an education all right. They're learning first-hand what happens to people when society is done with them. That's not the education they should be getting.

LMAO at all the retarded meatheads in this topic trying to justify their precious little NFL farm team's corrupt and anti-educational practices.

HMS_Blinkin: And say whatever else you will about the actual value added to society, there is something positive to be gained from people's participation or enjoyment of sports.

Eraic: simplicimus: alwaysjaded: If sports are what they're good at, then good for them and who are we to say otherwise.

Otherwise. Colleges and Universities exist to educate, not to function as farm teams for pro sports.

Actually, they are just farm teams for your major corporations. NFL, NBA, IBM, FedEx, Google, etc. Some just pay better then others.

Some of these employers have less hazardous working conditions and potentially longer careers.