Terry, I agree that the number of athletes is small compared to the overall student body. I add that I have seen reports that the U of A receives greater donations when the athletic programs are doing well, and further note that the athletic department has over the years made substantial contributions to the general fund.
My concern is that when dishonest things are done, under the excuse of athletic eligibility, it attracts a lot of unfavorable attention to he school involved. In the last ten years or so we have seen scandals involving PE courses at Tennessee, the Sociology department at Auburn, and the Psychology department at Michigan, which were all done in the name of eligibility. In a future world where athletes are paid to play, the urge to cheat in ways like this will grow stronger. Personally if the link between being a student and being an athlete is removed, I will lose a lot o my present interest.
My concern is that when dishonest things are done, under the excuse of athletic eligibility, it attracts a lot of unfavorable attention to he school involved. In the last ten years or so we have seen scandals involving PE courses at Tennessee, the Sociology department at Auburn, and the Psychology department at Michigan, which were all done in the name of eligibility. In a future world where athletes are paid to play, the urge to cheat in ways like this will grow stronger. Personally if the link between being a student and being an athlete is removed, I will lose a lot o my present interest.
