A Western Kentucky University White Paper 1906 College Heights Blvd. Bowling Green, KY 42101 jill.zangari429@topper.wku.edu Go Pro or Stay in School By Jill Zangari 4 March 2011
Introduction Many student athletes do not take college as seriously as they need too. Athletes view college as a necessary evil since the regulation that athletes must attend a year of college before turning professional. While in that year they really are not learning anything because they feel that being there is unnecessary, so they do not do their work or just do the bare minimum to get by. College recruiters need to do a better job about letting their players know the truth about their chances of going to the next level. This could also help them because the players will work harder, for their coaches and if they have goals for their players academically that they have to reach of do not play, they will at least learn a little while in college. Problem Statement Student Athletes believe that college is a necessary evil now that it is a rule that they have to attend for a year. Making school seem unimportant and useless. Background The problem began for the NBA in 1962 when Reggie Harding went straight from high school to the professional league. Since then big names such as, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Amar e Stoudemire, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard, all went straight from high school into the pros; giving young talented players dreams of doing the same. Since 2006, drafting players right out of high school has been prohibited, due to the collective bargaining act stating players must be 19 years of age or one year removed from high school before being drafted. John Wall was a player that wanted to go professional straight from high school, and with his talent he probably could have but he was forced to go to the University of Kentucky and play for a year. He entered the draft in 2010 and has been doing very well with the Washington Wizards. The NFL does not draft players unless they have been removed from high school for two and a half years. Most first round draft picks have completed their junior or senior season. This gives players more of a chance to get a degree in something even if it is an associate degree. 4 March 2011
Previous Options There has never really been a huge campaign to get athletes to stay in school. The NBA forcing draftees to be at least a year out of high school before going professional has pushed these athletes to at least attend college for a year. The NFL requires being two and half years which gives them at least two year of college, most likely three. Other than theses regulations there has never been a push on why attending college is indeed important, and there should have been a long time ago. Recommended Solution Recruiters and coaches should give their extremely talented players the truth about their future when they are recruited so they know exactly what the percentages are and what they have to look forward too realistically. If they understand all the pros of staying longer in college, the may be more apt to stay. Such as, having a better job when their career is over, because you cannot play forever. Also, the more time spent playing at the collegiate level the more refined a players skills get, meaning they get better and would most likely move up in the draft equaling better contracts and money. Most young athletes see the big dollar signs, which push them towards the draft earlier, but if they understand that with more competition and better competition in college could improve their future salary they may choose to stay longer. I know I m going pro Realistically, less than three percent of all college athletes go professional in their sports. This means three out of 100 athletes will actually make money playing their sport at the next level. While some players are so talented that there is really no doubt that they will go pro and do extremely well, i.e. John Wall, most players need to play at the collegiate level to see how their skills compare to real competition. In high school not everyone is going to be a great player, playing in college most of your competition is going to be topnotch. If a player does choose to stay in school they will be coached by coaches who know what they are doing and can make you the best player you can be which in turn
would increase your chances of going professional and going high in the draft. I can get a job just by being a Pro It is found that in baseball only 3 percent of the players have college degrees, while the NFL has about 46%. And in the NBA, it is about 27%. With a college degree when you are done playing you have a much better chance of getting a job that is going to support the player and his or her family. "When I went to apply for my first job, they didn't ask me about my national championship; they wanted to know if I had my degree," said Roger Burkman, Spalding University's athletic director and a member of University of Louisville s 1980 national championship team. When its all said and done the people who will be doing the job interviews do not care who you are or were they care about what you can do for their company. If you will be able to do the job and do it well. If you have a degree in that field and actually know what you are doing you are more likely to have success after you leave the professional sport. I may get hurt if I stay Athletes are constantly worried about staying in college and playing and getting hurt. There is no denying that possibility. But the risk is just as high if not as high in professional sports. If an athlete postpones going into the draft and then gets hurt the following season, yes it does hurt his or her position in the draft. It may stay the same if it is a small injury but it could hurt the draft position. If the athlete enters the draft and the during their rookie season gets hurt, they still get paid and get benefits, but if they are not able to recover and continue playing they are stuck. Most companies want a degree and will not higher someone without a degree. The classes you take within the first year or two of college is mostly general education classes that will do little for your future career. Staying in school and getting a degree just ties the loose ends. It leaves you without the what if? factor. A player has the security of knowing if he or she gets injured they have a degree and a career to fall back on. Staying in college and getting a degree is the safest way to secure the future.
Playing a sport professionally is a tremendous accomplishment but afterwards if a player is not smart with the money he or she makes they could retire and have no money. But if upon retirement they have a degree, getting a job and continuing to make money is a reality. Implementation As long as coaches and recruiters use the research available and have their players best interest in mind, helping them make a good decision will get easier. Most of these players are young and only see the fame and the fortune but they need to understand that it will not always be the joy ride they expect. Educating them with the knowledge and statistics and guiding them the best way possible is all others can do. Ultimately it is their choice, people can just help them making a smart one. nothing if the research is there it is all about letting this information be known to these young people. Knowledge is power, and if they know the reality of playing professionally, that is all that be done unless the NCAA and professional sports come together and require all professionals to get a four-year degree. Until that day comes, all that can be done is showing them the truth. Summary Showing young athlete s the positive aspects of staying in school and securing their future is the best way possible to help. This would cost universities and programs