Inside March 11, 2003's Issue

-Sports-

Rome Braves

Sports Commentary:
Athletes often squander chance at an education

By Bobby Moore
Staff Writer

The average high school student has to study hard and hope for scholarships and financial aid to achieve his or her goal of attending college. The exception to this is, of course, the high school athlete.

While most of us have to find a college, a star football player is sought by colleges many of us dream of attending.

All a gifted athlete has to do is practice, perform on the field or court and pass his or her classes to get a free ride for college. Yet some of these young men or women seem to take their opportunity for granted.

If all I had to do was make a decent grade on the ACT and stay out of legal trouble to attend a major university like Vanderbilt or the University of Georgia (UGA) for free, I promise you I would stay focused long enough to keep my scholarship.

The reason that athletes get such great opportunities is simple. A professor at the University of Tennessee could make a huge discovery and that would bring the university a lot of press for a few months at the most, but a star athlete like Peyton Manning can bring UT years and years of positive recognition. On top of that, a professor cannot put people in the over 100,000 seats of Neyland Stadium.

For those student athletes who make it into college, the temptations begin. There are wolves disguised as agents who want a piece of a young athlete's possible future, even if it destroys his or her college career. There are also those who try to give players money, shoes, clothing or a job for a family member.

The players know the rules. The only thing they are victims of is a lack of focus.

Fortunately, there are many athletes who take advantage of their opportunity and stay focused. Former UGA star Jon Stinchcomb, an academic All-American, is a perfect example.

There are even several professional sports superstars like Emmit Smith, Bo Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal who left college early but eventually earned a degree at the university that gave them the opportunity to learn and play their sport.

They waited for their millions long enough to get a start on their college education, and then several years after going pro they made their mamas proud by graduating.

Major Division 1A athletics is a great opportunity for a special group of athletes. Too bad players often do not realize what they have been granted.

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