[Goose]

Additionally am curious on whether you all care if the football players, once enrolled, engage at all in the classroom or just mail it in. If they're barely scraping by ("I didn't come here to play school") is that okay? Interested to hear thoughts.

I may be in the minority here, but yes, I care that the athletes are actually students that are indeed trying to get an education. After all, that is what universities are for. If a player that has no intention of being a "student" occupies a slot that could be occupied by somebody who is a student then the university is deviating from its values and primary mission. One could say these aren't "real" slots for students so nobody is actually being denied an opportunity by having such individuals admitted. If that is the case, the university has no business having them at all. They by design would not be there to be educated. There presence is therefore totally outside of the University's goals. I am unimpressed with the argument that the university has other entities that are not designed to educate students. I don't identify with those entities either and if their contribution to student education can't be adequately explained, they too should be deleted.
 
IMO college athletics is  (or rather was) interesting mostly because the athletes were also students and therefore we had something in common. I could identify with them. If they are just a bunch of talented athletes hired to entertain the masses I have nothing in common with them. They aren't "our lads", they are a pro team. I do watch and follow some pro teams, but I have no emotional attachment to these teams. It is just another form of entertainment.

[Goose]

Additionally am curious on whether you all care if the football players, once enrolled, engage at all in the classroom or just mail it in. If they're barely scraping by ("I didn't come here to play school") is that okay? Interested to hear thoughts.

I may be in the minority here, but yes, I care that the athletes are actually students that are indeed trying to get an education. After all, that is what universities are for. If a player that has no intention of being a "student" occupies a slot that could be occupied by somebody who is a student then the university is deviating from its values and primary mission. One could say these aren't "real" slots for students so nobody is actually being denied an opportunity by having such individuals admitted. If that is the case, the university has no business having them at all. They by design would not be there to be educated. There presence is therefore totally outside of the University's goals. I am unimpressed with the argument that the university has other entities that are not designed to educate students. I don't identify with those entities either and if their contribution to student education can't be adequately explained, they too should be deleted.
 
IMO college athletics is  (or rather was) interesting mostly because the athletes were also students and therefore we had something in common. I could identify with them. If they are just a bunch of talented athletes hired to entertain the masses I have nothing in common with them. They aren't "our lads", they are a pro team. I do watch and follow some pro teams, but I have no emotional attachment to these teams. It is just another form of entertainment.