no ride is ever free
...l not be a conflict between class and practice schedules. MU athletes usually have games and practices between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.; therefore they can not have classes at those times. Non athlete students have more flexible options when they schedule classes (Riccardi). Besides, waking up for an 8:30 and being in class all morning before practicing for at least two hours seems more grueling than beneficial. The benefits of scholarships provide relief to the financial burden college can create, more importantly they are a testament to athletic ability. According to the Monmouth University Office of Admissions, “The Department of Athletics offers a limited number of athletic scholarships to student-athletes who have shown a commitment to achieve academically and possess the desire and ability to compete in sports” (Monmouth). Dan Unkle, a graduate of Monmouth University, attended the school for 4 years. During that time he was a wide receiver on the football team and a hurderler and a sprinter on the track team. For three of his four years he played without scholarship. In an interview with Dan he stated, “I earned my scholarship after 3 years. I proved myself a leader on the field my senior year. My coaches recognized that and worked something out between football and track. They gave me a partial scholarship.” Dan also mentioned that not all MU athletes are on scholarship. He said, “Maybe fifty percent of the guys on the football team were on scholarship, and it made the guys without scholarships worked harder.” Thus proving that a scholarship is not simply given, rather it is earned. There are other direct benefits like having the personal attention of a coach. For many athletes, a coach is like a security feature. Dan Unkle knew that if he ever needed anything he always had his coach to go to. He said, “You never had to feel alone. There was always some place to get help and the coaches made it known” (Unkle). This personal attention is comforting because it helps the student athlete feel as if he or she is being treated as a person rather than a number. Problems in an athlete’s personal life can affect his or her performance on the field; therefore it is important that there is an easily accessible line of communication between athlete and coach. The single most contributing benefit the college athlete receives is not so much direct as it is obvious, and that is funding. Unlike scholarships that are awarded directly to the athlete, funds are monies allocated to certain team budgets. The athletic department in general receives the largest sum of money. Walk on to any college campus and one of the most noticeable attractions are the athletic facilities, stadiums, fields and gymnasiums. The individual teams are each allotted a certain amount of money to make provisions for athletes. All Monmouth University athletic teams provide games uniforms to athletes that must be returned to the college at the end of the season. In addition to game uniforms, the football team provides practice uniforms and cleats to members at no cost, whereas members of the track team must purchase their own shoes and practice gear. However, the track team is offered what is referred to as a “shoe deal,” where a representative of a particular company will offer different types of shoes at discounted rates (Unkle). But the most substantial amount of funds prearranged to a team’s budget is travel. Traveling is perhaps the greatest most rewarding benefit the student athlete receives while at college. It is a bonding experience, and offers teammates a chance to get to know one another better. The Monmouth University Baseball team is flown to Florida every year for spring training and the football team was flown to Jacksonville for a game last season (Unkle). The team learns and gains life experience through travel while benefiting from healthy competition at a higher level. The competition factor alone adds to a student’s academic progress as well by broadening his life experiences. Through travel, the athlete develops a sense of pride in making a name for himself and for his school. The MU baseball team scrimmaging nationally ranked, I-A San Diego State, is a perfect example of this (Unkle). Monmouth is a smaller school in comparison and does not have a baseball program that is as strong and developed as San Diego. But it gave Monmouth the opportunity to let the rest of the world find out who they are athletically. Traveling to compete against better programs reflects highly on the school, and draws more attention to it. Yet none of the acclaim university’s receive from travel would be possible without the hard work and dedication put fort by the student athlete. They make the program what it is. By ...