Why Do Student Athletes Get Paid?

Are student athletes really interested in academic achievements? College athletics is an important aspect of student life – with nation-wide attention on teams and individual players. More money is being spent on college sports than ever before – both in terms of salaries to coaches and infrastructure. Because of the large amounts of money involved and the intense focus on college sports, there is now a view that student athletes are only dedicated to their sport and do not actually have much interest in academics, which makes them more athletes than students. But this is a perception that does not actually hold true for student athletes today. While sport is a major part of their lives, student athletes are definitely interested in doing

Sports offer a sure and effective way for students to cut across their specialties and connect with each other. Chen, Synder and Magner (2010) point out that with the creation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1910, colleges have seen a gradual and increasing integration of sports into student life. Students today expect to participate in college athletics at some level – not just as athletes (who make up only a small number of the student population) but as active spectators of their favorite sports activity. Athletics helps to unify the student body and creates a common identity that cuts across boundaries of sex, race and other differences. As Flynn (2011) notes in his article, sports has universal appeal. Not everyone can relate to the sciences or the arts, but nearly every student can watch, applaud and cheer for a sport that their college team is playing. Imagine the scene at a college match and you will agree that it is one place where you can see that the college spirit is alive and flourishing as students come together to motivate their team to win. The fun, excitement and passion of the day are remembered, long after the match is over. Pride in their college team and loyalty to their college draws students together. Student morale is high especially when their college team scores a win. College sports add the fun element to student life and any attempt

There is no reason why student athletes have to get anything less than the best grades they can achieve. Dierson (2005) notes that many researchers have found a correlation between athletic achievement and academic excellence. Outstanding students who are also exceptional athletes are now found in every college in the country. The relationship between doing well in athletics as well as in academics is not hard to establish. As athletes, students are trained to compete, and work rigorously to meet the standards set for them. It is more likely that they will carry this into their academics rather than choosing to do badly in any aspect of their student life. Bowen and Levin (2003) argue that athletes are given special treatment in the admission process, making them more likely to under-perform in academics because they are not as interested in academic performance as students who are not athletes (as cited in Umbach, Palmer, Kuh & Hannah, 2004, p. 3). However, other research, (notably by Umbach et al., 2004) notes that there is no difference between how student athletes engage with the academic experience as compared with students who are not athletes. As athletes, students learn important life skills such as focus, self-motivation, time management, mental toughness, handling pressure, the