Joe Culotta: College athletes should be grateful for their scholarships

 There’s been a lot of chatter lately about the attempt by some Northwestern University athletes to unionize.

I’m a diehard football fan. I’m a football season-ticket holder and I attend any events that show support for the University of Central Florida program.

Critics say the NCAA is greedy. They cite the association’s lucrative TV deals, sponsorships and ticket sales. They cite the hefty salaries many coaches receive, often much higher than the president of university. Meanwhile, parents of students who play for a college team often have to send the kid money each month even though he or she is on scholarship.

Students who play college sports – particularly big-school football and basketball – are basically working full time for the team. Of course, they’re supposed to attend school too. They certainly don’t have the time to work a part-time job.

It’s sad when I hear a students say they’re not being rewarded enough for the work they put in to keep fans like me entertained. I’m OK with students being rewarded for their hard work and the risks they take.

But I’m not OK with the idea of “pay to play” for college athletes. Instead, the NCAA should promote “play to learn.”

About 2 percent of high school students get college athletic scholarships, according to the NCAA. Full scholarships cover tuition and fees, room, board and required course-related books. Many students receive athletics scholarships covering only part of these costs. The average value of a full scholarship at an in-state, public school is $15,000 a year. For an out-of-state student at a public school, the average value is $25,000 a year. Full scholarships at private schools average $35,000 a year.

So, if you get a college athletic scholarship, you’re among the 2 percent of high school students who avoid $15,000 to $35,000 in costs while playing a sport you enjoy for a school of you chose.

Most students go to college to get an education at whatever cost. Most rack up thousands of dollars in debt even while working part time at a job they despise just so they can pay for some pizza and beer.

Meanwhile, a few college stars parlay their college experience into a professional sports career. For them, the hard work and risk that goes with college sports is well worth it.

Of the 400,000 students who play college sports, 1.7 percent of football players, 1.2 percent of men’s basketball players, and 11.6 percent of baseball players go on to play professional sports, according to the NCAA.

Too many times I believe that getting the opportunity to play professional sports is the primary focus for most athletes rather than getting a free education.

The NCAA should do a better job reminding athletes that playing sports is a hobby, not a career. They need to understand that they are there to get an education.

Playing sports teaches people skills that will prepare them for the workforce, such as setting goals, teamwork, and discipline. If the NCAA would put more emphasis on these benefits, I think we will see more students who play college sports succeeding on the field and in the boardroom.

Joe Culotta is a marketing and communications consultant based in Orlando. Column courtesy of Context Florida.