Student/Athletes or Athletes with Benefits

Let's set the scene for you. It's noon on Thursday, the opening day of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. I've just finished building the ultimate sandwich and as modest as I am, I have to admit, this thing is a masterpiece. I'm on a health kick right now so my sandwich is a variety of cured meats, thinly sliced provolone cheese, baby spinach leaves, bacon bits, and to finish it off, this monster is smothered in ranch dressing. OK, it might not be the healthiest sandwich ever, but it was that or a cheese steak, so I'm not going to split hairs. I've got a nice tall glass a V8 for even more nutrients and a bag of sunflowers seeds. The baseball purist in me can't fully give in to the domination basketball takes on this weekend.

I settle down on the couch, grab my laptop and shoot off a quick e-mail to my professor, letting her know the dreaded 24-hour Ebola virus has consumed me and I will be unable to attend class today. As I click 'send' it hits me, "I'm skipping class to watch these guys, when the hell do they go to class?!"

So often we hear the term student/athlete used to describe those participating in athletics at the collegiate level. But with conference tournaments tipping off at noon on a Wednesday and playing straight through the weekend, when do these kids find time to fulfill the student part of student athlete. Missing one class from my heavy workload puts me so far behind, I need to claw and dig my way out just to get a breath of fresh air. March Madness is what is occurring behind close doors at these Universities as students are drinking Red Bulls to assist the all-nighters so they can pass their midterms while those able to throw a leather ball through a cylinder are being pampered and given exemptions from class.

Now, am I only ranting because I'm jealous? Absolutely, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. I waste a significant amount of time that should be spent on my studies watching these games, imagine playing in them. It's impossible to participate in a top notch Division 1 basketball or football program and take on a normal schedule of classes (12-15 credits) without receiving unfair advantages that the average student does not benefit from. I'm not even considering the fact that these students are paying tuition inflated heavily to cover the athletes scholarships, most of whom will bail for the pros before every receiving a degree.

I love watching college sports. LOVE IT. But this system is flawed and the blind eye needs to be focused back on to doing what is right.