Comments on: It’s Time for a Major in Professional Sports

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:43:46 +0000

Or maybe even winning the second game in the NCAA and knocking off a Big Ten team in the process.

By: Larry Lodico

Larry Lodico — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:14:09 +0000

Even the Ivy League teams might aspire to more than just winning the first game in the NAAC. And it could still work in the non-revenue sports, given flexibility in the minors. I see parallels in curricula like Musical Theater and the other performance arts — Music and Dance for example.

Jim, I think that’s a hell of a good idea.

By: Joshua Minton

Joshua Minton — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:31:25 +0000

I’m with you on this. Imagine the recruiting boon Ohio State and the Big Ten would gain over other conferences by instructing these “fallback” skills, allowing those B-level players to use the experience they gain on the field in broadcasting, journalism, coaching or assistant coaching. It’s a great idea whose time has come.

Excellent insight!

By: Annapolisbuckeye

Annapolisbuckeye — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:31:08 +0000

So Mali, not sure if I’m reading you…sarcastic?

Either way, the players get a free degree (if they choose to finish) as it is. Why not let them major in a degree they are interested in pursuing and one that leads them to their chosen career.

Yeah, it only works for the revenue sports but then again, there’s not a lot of professionalism outside of the revenue sports. Although it could work in other sports also. Ohio State has trained a number of Olympians in sports such as swimming, wrestling, etc. It is very difficult to make a living at the Olympic “amature” sports. How about a curriculum that helps students make a career out of these pursuits also.

I especially agree with your bottom 3 points. Especially when the concept of paying student athletes arises.

By: MaliBuckeye

MaliBuckeye — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:44:47 +0000

Agreed- and I would even add the following:

Ensure that they get free degrees (even after they’ve left to go pro, the get to come and finish on the University’s dime). I’d even go as far as to say if they graduate while playing their sport, they should be eligible for another (another BA, a Masters, whatever).

Again, this would only work for the “revenue” sports- Football, Men’s/Women’s basketball, but it would go a long way toward 1) creating equity regarding the money athletics brings in, 2) creating a vibrant alumni base, and 3) empowering athletes with opportunities to impact society beyond what they can do on the field/court.

By: Annapolisbuckeye

Annapolisbuckeye — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:59:42 +0000

No. Not at all. There are plenty of off field careers in professional sports. The idea is that along with training for an on field career, the program also trains for alternative careers in the realm of professional sports. (ie. broadcasting, marketing, management, coaching, etc).

The student chooses a track such as “football/broadcasting,” “Hockey/management”

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:52:28 +0000

Seems as though 4-6 players each year have a shot at pro sports. If another 10 get a degree in pro sports then they made a bad decision that leaves them no second option.