Mike, I'm in agreement with you and especially the part about education! I'm writing a dissertation about the graduation rates of student-athletes, and notice I put the "student" first, as they are students and then secondly athletes! Unfortunately, with the emphasis placed on having winning programs, some educators have lost sight of the true aim of education and amateurism in sports.
On the other hand, without the income from football and basketball, many colleges and universities would not be able to support Title IX or many other sports for men or women. Personally, I never liked losing whether I played football, basketball, baseball or ran track, so I understand the desire for winning, but I also just liked competing and still do. I play to win even if I'm playing Tiddlywinks! I was just stating a rhetorical and TRUE fact about the "Big Business" portion of sports in Division I colleges and universities. Lots of changes are needed at the colleges and universities as well as at the NCAA. Gerald
