The individual athletes who make up collegiate athletic teams have been given the responsibility of carrying his or her college's economic well-being. For an athlete to be deemed eligible by the NCAA, he or she must be an amateur, a student admitted in accordance with the regular published entrance requirements, in good academic standing as determined by the standards for all other students, and whose progress to a degree is satisfactory according to the acceptable standards of the institution. Also, these "competitive athletic programs of the colleges are designed to be a vital part of the educational system" and the athlete "may accept scholarships... from his institution" (Cross 68-69).

"If participation in athletics is a worthwhile educational experience... then fostering these opportunities by finan

The outcome of simple games played by these athletes can affect the financial security and general feeling of worth of a college. "College athletics, richly endowed in the heritage of amateur competition, has engaged in a piece-meal surrender of its basic and inviolable principles." Many colleges' "struggle for power and glory" has encompassed almost every aspect of the college. Scores posted on a scoreboard have become the "master of men and institutions." The scoreboard flashes simple numbers that have become as meaningful on college campuses as figures on the national stock exchange. "Joy and sorrow, hope and despair, wealth and bankruptcy, [all] hang in the balance with every number posted. The college campus is enslaved in a race for victory with the scoreboard as its master" (Christenson 19).

Next, restoring amateurism would constitute to a higher priority being placed on academics. The athlete would not only be recruited because of his or her athletic skills, but also because he or she can meet established academic standards. Corporate athleticism would still be present, but would exert "subtle pressures on the university's effort to sustain traditional academic values." University officials would keep a balance between the institution's primary commitment, academics, and its lesser commitment to athletics. Even with this plan, an emphasis on winning will still be important: "a losing coach will still be fired, and student and alumni pressures [would] be satisfied at least in some measure." The athletic system would be placed "solidly within the university's broad educational mission" (Hart-Nibbrig & Cottingham 109).

At one time, all athletic scholarships applied for four years and, once awarded, they could not be withdrawn. "Under pressure from coaches who wanted greater control over their players and the ability to 'fire' them for poor athletic performances," in 1973, the NCAA established one-year scholarships which are renewed every year at the coach's request. "This turned athletic scholarships into one-year contracts, and many coaches treat them as such," terminating scholarships

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1431
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)