Well, one would be hard put to argue that they are all diligent students with a priority of earning a degree. Looks to me like some people use the university as a step to going pro, and some universities want them to do just that, because it is more fun and profitable to have a winning team, especially when you don’t have to make a serious attempt to educate the players.
I am torn about college athletics. You kind of need a football game, or there is no reason for a half-time show (my favorite part). But the whole thing is way far away from the goal of educating students, and a real student who also likes football is never going to get a chance to play for his school.
Tell truth, if you put more science labs and business (real business) courses and eliminated the athletics, prices for schools would go way down and there would be no new need for millions, with which to build football stadiums. Schools are supposed to be about studying, but now it’s all wrapped up in athletics.