College Athletes...

Myles Brand’s article on the value of sport was very thought provoking.  I had never thought to compare the athletics program at colleges and universities with their respective music programs.  This comparison really makes sense on a lot of levels.  However for some reason, studying music seems to be held in higher esteem in academic circles.  As Brand pointed out, “classical” areas of study generally take precedence over other areas, specifically physical.  The belief that classical areas of study are somehow more admirable things to study has caused problems for those in the field of kinesiology for years.  As we learned at the beginning of the year, it was not until recently that the field of kinesiology was recognized as a valid field and one that was worth spending time and research dollars on.  This struggle took place through the better part of a century and still goes on in some areas today.  In my personal life, when I tell older people that I’m majoring in kinesiology, they generally assume that I’m just taking PE classes and that I have it pretty easy.  So even though kinesiology is now held in relatively higher esteem in academic circles, the general public has not yet adjusted to this line of reasoning. While great strides have been made toward academic acceptence of kinesiology, or study of the physical, Brand points out that we still have a long way to go.  While study of the phyiscial is deemed “proper” learning material, actually performing it is still not.  Even though university musicians can major in their field, athletes cannot.  I personally think that this is not fair.  Even if athletes can’t “major” in football, they should at least be able to get some sort of academic credit for their participation on the university sports teams.  As with musicians, athletes do so much beyond what is strictly academically required of them in the form of countless hours of practice, film/performance study, conditioning.  Keeping in mind that talented musicians are often on scholarship as well, it hardly seems right that the musicians are able to use this time to also further their degree while athletes can’t.  Unfortunately, I think that the path to academic acceptance of collegiate sport will take at least as long as it took the field of kinesiology.  However, if men and women who share Brand’s vision take charge, real change just might happen, first among academic circles and then in the general public.