Athletic scholarships are given to students who are physically gifted in and out of the classroom, however people like John Gerdy believe that athletic scholarships are ruining the purity of college sports. There are many different situations in which a student athlete can receive a scholarship for a sport. John Gerdy believes that this is equivalent to pay for play, considering them a professional athlete already. You are entitled to believe whether this is an accurate assumption or just an over the edge accusation. Athletic scholarships are looked at as pay for play in some people's eyes. Athletic scholarships are granted to those who are physically/athletically inclined, but according to John Gerdy it is as equivalent as pay for play. In this article John Gerdy explains how athletics are taking away from academics in many different aspects whether its pee wee football, through the colligate level and that athletic scholarships are taking money away from the academically inclined, not giving them a fair chance. .
The argument, whether being awarded money to play colligate sports, is the same as being paid to play a professional sport. I believe if you have worked hard enough to be awarded to study at a college or university then you well deserved it. John Gerdy says that athletes on scholarship are only on campus for one reason, and one reason only, to play the sport they were recruited for ( 248 Gerdy, John). I believe most student athletes are taking control of the situation they are in and using this money to play the sport they love as well pursue in the classroom. Gerdy makes a great point, and may be true for some of these student athletes, but in my opinion colligate athletes are there for academics and a degree as much as the sport. These athletes train all year round for their sport, just like a professional would. Gerdy argues that professionals sacrifice their body and put in many hours because it's their job.
