Athletes are Students Too

NCAA Student- Athletes - The term student- athlete is a very familiar term to the sports fans. The word that usually gets overlooked though is student. While being an athlete is great, succeeding in the classroom can be even more important in the long run.

Athletes, are Students, too
By Daven Henderson
658 Words


FLORENCE — There are over 380,000. 49,000 more actually compete during the summer, fall, winter, and spring seasons. Most are described as big, strong, fast, agile, and powerful. There are those that can pass, dribble, shoot, and dunk. There are those that cheer. Some are flexible, can do back flips, cartwheels, and the splits. They start getting looked at by college coaches in high school(some even make verbal commitments in middle school). They start getting recruited by college coaches by the time they’re high school sophomores. When they get to college, some are instant college ‘’celebrities’‘ before they even take the field or the court. Some are looked at as the ones to ‘’save’‘ their program. Who are they? They are college athletes.
Being a college athlete can be a very good thing. Traveling to different arenas and stadiums. Forming a special bond with teammates and coaches. A lot of athletes even sign autographs. Athletes make families proud. Athletes win trophies, and they make fans cheer. The life of athletes seem very stress-free and easy going.
What was just described was only half of what athletes are. The term student- athlete is a term used to describe a college athlete. When athletes enroll in colleges and universities, they are given the label of student- athlete. So when talking about student- athletes, why is the latter part of that term usually the main focus? Athletes are students too, right? It is understandable how one can forget the student part of the term student- athlete, that is if that person isn’t the athlete. Just focusing on the athlete part of student - athlete, is the same as only looking at the cover of a book. Never opening it, and seeing what it’s really like on the inside. Athletes are students too. Their parents know it, their coaches know it, and more importantly, they know it. Athletes know that while it’s great to be a very successful athlete, it is more important to be even more successful in the classroom. One thing that happens a lot more today, is that professional athletes that left college early often go back to school to get their degree. A phrase often heard among athletes is, ‘’I want to be the first one in my family to graduate from college. ‘’
Athletes, and former athletes at The University of North Alabama feel that academics comes first always. ‘’ For me, being a student comes first, ‘’ said former UNA football player Jess Knight. Knight continued, ‘’I love football, but it won’t get me a degree.’‘ ’‘I can see how athletics could be favored though because if I didn’t know what I wanted to do after college, I’d want to play as long a possible. ‘’
Not only do athletes feel that being a student comes first, coaches also feel that academics are and should be a high priority on a student- athlete’s list. Terry Fowler, the head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of North Alabama said, ‘’The best feeling is knowing that athletes succeed in the classroom. ‘’ Fowler has been at UNA for three and a half years, and has coached 42 players. ‘’Out of the 42 I’ve coached, 39 have graduated.’‘(it will be 40 in December). Fowler went on to say that there are academic goals that they have. ‘’Always be in the top 3rd, have a 3.0 GPA, no absence policy among the athletes, and graduate 100 percent of athletes. ‘’
Not all athletes continue playing after college, that is why there needs to be a plan. Fowler also said, ‘’The first thing we ask the athlete is, are you interested in a college degree?’‘ Fowler doesn’t say much when trying to encourage his players, ‘’ I try to set more of an example.’‘(he graduated from Lane College, and has a masters degree from the United States Sports Academy).
Athletes are students too. Most people only see what goes when they are on the field or the court. Student - athlete. Athletes are students too.
Daven Henderson is a student at UNA majoring in English.