i am a university athlete and let me just say this should not even be a debate. For starters a college is a academic institution. You go there for education and to get a piece of paper at the end that says youve been educated enough in an academic field. What you do outside of your academics is extra-curricular activities, and your own business. That is all on the side of whatever academic program you are in. It doesnt matter if you are on a full scholarship for sports and have piss poor marks. Yes the university is using you for their profit, because they believe that with you on their team, the team will be better and fans will come to watch you play. But still their job is an academic institution, they must provide that at least on an even basis as calling themselves a business. Also if they were giving out scholarships for athletes and didnt make them go to class their sole focus would be an athlete and not a student. That would make them a professional. College players... for most sports... not mine though... have to be amateurs, and by doing that there would be no difference between the NCAA or CIS and professional leagues around the world. Another point is that, for all those athletes on university or college teams in general 99% do not turn pro. very similar stat also to those who are given full sports scholarships. Most of them come in thinking they have a shot at the pros too. If they werent forced to stick with academics, a lot of these students would drop off the face of the earth after their eligibility limits expire. Colleges must prepare there students for a successful life and career upon graduating, therefore if academics werent required they would fail miserably. This is really a non-debate, shouldnt even be argued as far im concerned.