That's part of my point, that it does bother me personally when athletes get separate classes and then still manage to fail them. The university it basically handing out grades to these people and they still throw this opportunity away. I would still like to see student-athletes attend class like normal people, that means not having people check to make sure they show up to class, that means not hiring tutors that basically do their homework for them. I'm not saying that this applies to all athletes because I personally know of certain athletes that are in my major and doing better than I am, but it seems like these type of people are dwindling and the "paid athletes" are replacing them.
Well lets be realistic. Student athletes aren't normal students. They have a lot more responsibilities then the average student who attends class and parties on the weekends. Not to say that tutors should be doing their work, but I think they are entitled to take classes that cater to them. I'm sure it would be difficult if they took classes with everyone else and after they lost a game they have every other student asking them what happened while they're trying to complete their work.
However, I still don't believe that football programs generate money, at least the vast majority of them, I think that there are some programs that do generate money but those that though you're left wondering at what cost. The types of universities that generate money tend to be the type that aren't strong academic universities, and I would much rather have it the other way around. Ian asked the question that if football programs are losing money than why would they still fund them. In my opinion, the reason that football programs are still funded is because money is being made off of them, the only problem is that this money is not being made by the university. Companies like Nike, Reebok, Tostitos and local merchants are the ones that are making money off of these programs and often the people that are benefiting from these programs are on the Board of Directors of these universities, or are part of local or state government in the case of state universities. If individuals are making money off of something they would do everything in their power not to shut this down and in many cases these types of people have a lot of power.
So then you are agreeing? As I said above the program itself may not be making money, but with the amount of publicity and private support they get, they are. That private support may be from Nike, Reebok, or Tostitos, but regardless its still money coming into the school prompted by the athletics.
