Since the beginning of collegiate athletics, there have been student-athletes whose actions are considered disproportionately deviant. College athletes have defied the rules and regulations set forth by the National Collegiate Association of America by such acts as accepting stipends, committing date rape, abusing drugs, and even committing homicide. For some reason, college athletes believe they are above the law and should not have to abide by the same set of rules as a normal student, because of their athletic talent. As a former NCAA Division II football player, I can attest to the feeling athletes have that they deserve special treatment because of their status. There are some people who believe that college athletics is above reproach, but the purpose of this essay is to assert the statement that college athletics is corrupt.

Year after year, college athletes make the headlines of newspapers and magazines across the country, not only for their accomplishments on the field, but more for their antics off the field. College athletes sacrifice their bodies, integrity, and character to gain an advantage over their opponent. Athletes

In conclusion, college athletes have been defiant of the rules of the NCAA as long as sports and the regulating body have existed. Colleges and universities need to look at the policies and beliefs of their institution regarding athletics, and if needed make amends. The question that should essentially be asked is this: What is our mission? Why do we exist? Are we here to teach and learn or are we here to house big-time college sport? (203).

gambling scandals, criminal agents, and Olympic boycotts. Such failings show that sports civilizing, freeing effort on us in incomplete. Not everyone is following the rules. Not everyone is trying," (58).

Big-time college sport contradicts itself in many ways, it provides achievement, excitement, and exuberation for athletes. As former athlete Kenny Moore states: "To celebrate sport is to celebrate sheer abandon, to savor moments when athletes surrender themselves to effort and are genuinely transformed. This is when sport takes loneliness, fear, hate, and ego and transmutes them into achievement, records, art, and powerful example," (Thelin 55). Moore also admits college sport has a dark side as he states: "Sports presents us with cocaine deaths, steroid cover-ups, collegiate hypocrisies,

At a very young age, aspiring college athletes are taught the principles of sport and how much winning really means. Young athletes are told to sell out every play, every day, and every way. One such instance involves a football team composed of fifth-graders, that were shunned upon after losing the championship game. At a banquet following the season, each player received a plaque on which was inscribed a quote by Vince Lombardi, the infamous coach of the Green Bay Packers: "There is no room for second place. I

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Approximate Word count = 1197
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)