Appeal of Big-Time College Athletics

Parent Cafe
1

This may seem silly or perhaps even offensive, but our S18 has drawn a line in the sand about only being interested in schools that are in high D1 sports, and we are struggling to get on the same page with him.

The reason we don’t know how to evaluate this is because our families have always been in the Ivy and LAC realm, and when public universities have been involved they’ve been SUNY or CUNY. So it’s just not a language we speak.

The schools don’t’ necessarily have to be winners, in his mind, but they need to have big programs, fan interest, rah rah, SEC, ACC, Big 10, etc. Obviously he is a huge sports fan, but I think there’s more to it than that. He is quite soft-spoken and shy and not big on social life, and I think he thinks this will help get him out of his room, give some structure to his time in college, give him something in common with other kids and other intangibles.

We have no problem with that but are concerned he may be over-valuing this aspect of college life (leaving aside our feelings about the downsides of big-time athletics) and that it may be a short-sighted way to pick a school.

Anyone have any insights for us?

2

I live in Texas and that is a common requirement for many students. My DDs were actually not interested in that but they were the outliers. It does increase the social aspects of the university, especially in the fall here and most of the student body does get involved. They will wear the shirts, go to yell practices, go to game or have parties watching the game. It gives the students something to do on the weekends. Personally, I don’t like the drinking culture that comes from this but again, I am an outlier.

D1 schools do come in all sizes and academic qualities. We have the very large UT and A&M, to the small TCU and SMU. All are respected academically. My personal favorite would probably be Rice with their cheer “We scored first” and their band always gives the audience something to talk about.

I think your son could have a great academic school as well as D1 sports.

3

My S started out having this as a criteria (he’s a huge sports fan). Interestingly, after looking at some of the schools that offered great sports, along with some smaller LACs, he realized academically he wanted to attend a small LAC. He ended up at one that was smaller than his high school! He was invited to be a blogger by his favorite college basketball team, even though he did not attend there.

But I totally understand this as a criteria.

4

I see both points. Sports are very important to some people and offer a built-in social structure for someone who might not be as socially confident in a less structured environment. But, you don’t want to pick a school based just on sports for obvious reasons. Fortunately, as I’m sure you know, it is entirely possible to get a good education outside of the Ivy League / LAC realm, and there are schools that have very good academics and big D1 sports programs. Maybe those kind of schools would make all of you happy. Just a few – University of Michigan, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Duke, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Northwestern, Notre Dame. Some of those are prestigious if that is your concern. And if your concern is about size, the list of small to medium size schools with big sports programs might be a little harder to build, but I’m sure you can find them. Around here, University of Dayton and Xavier, are medium sized schools with D1 sports programs and loyal fan bases, especially where basketball is concerned. I don’t know Villanova, Wake Forest, Davidson or Richmond as well, but I think the same is true of them and I’m sure you can find others. Good luck!

5

My D18 wants to go to a school with decent football since we’re college football fans. She’s like you describe your son: not social and fairly quiet. As others mentioned, it’s a good way to have something in common with other students, is fun, and a regular non-academic activity in the Fall. I don’t think it limits your son’s choices that much. If he wants to be in engineering there’s Georgia Tech, Stanford, Michigan, USC, etc.

6

My S attended an Ivy, while his younger sister attended an Ivy peer with a very strong Div. 1 sports program. We all, including S, feel very attached to D’s school because of the sports scene and not at all to S’s, and we were not football fans before. In fact, S said that if he could he do it all over again, he’d have chosen a school with a bigger sports scene. I should note that D’s university football team was excellent in the time she was there (won their conference, made it to a big bowl game, had a player in the running for the Heisman etc.), so that really added so much to the college experience. I don’t know if we would have felt the same if the team were less successful. But D still goes to a few games several years after graduation. We also still follow some of their other teams, like the cross country and track teams and women’s basketball.

I say your son is not wrong to consider the sports scene because it certainly can help him feel more connected to his college. A strong sports program also keeps the alumni connected, which has benefits in endowment and involvement in offering internships to current students.

7

He’s right it will get him out of his room. At the big unis, while of course, not everyone goes to the game, freshman fall it’s not uncommon for someone on the floor to round everyone up and head to the football game.Fortunately most of those “big sports” unis also have huge and deep majors and curriculum so not so bad a place to start for a college selector. As he starts thinking more about colleges it’s possible he would gravitate to somewhere smaller.

8

Totally natural. The student wants to part of something larger than life. Big D1 sports will give that. He will forever be able to hold onto that in life. This is very common.

9

@TheGFG, I do think the success of the program has a large effect on how involved the students are. UT, this year, could not fill the student sections. They will next year with the new coach. I have a DD at Pitt and they only fill the student section during rival games, ND and PSU. I graduated from a D1 school and won’t watch their games because they rarely win and it is very frustrating. I fill more attached to my younger DD’s school that is a D3 because they place more emphasis on club sports which my DD participates in. She also attends more games of different sports because she knows the players.

Alot of students love the big sports scene, others could care less. Show your son both and see what fits.

10

Pantha – I’m going to go out on a leg and guess you are from NYC. : )

If so, it seems like you are the college version of the New Yorker magazine cover on a typical NY-ers view of the world – Hudson River, NJ, California and Japan. Nothing out there but Ivy, LAC and SUNY. LOL.

FYI, there’s a big wide college world out there. There’s thousands of colleges and you have to sort the database somehow. Big time sports is a perfectly legit way to winnow the field.

Most folks would be thrilled if their kid was picking from Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Rice, ND, Vandy, Cal, USC, UCLA, UVA, Michigan, Wake, UNC, BC, Ga Tech, Tulane, Illinois, Miami, Wisconsin, Penn State, Florida. Top 50 USNWR schools with full on D1 football.

Then there’s a ton of additional schools you can add if you count big time hoops (but not big time football) – Georgetown, Villanova, Gonzaga, etc.

But if your kid picks one of those schools, you will have another more serious problem. It may be tough for you to get good bagels when you visit your kid away at school. But rest assured, you will be able to get the Sunday NY Times no matter what school your kid picks. It is available just about everywhere in flyover country.

11

I live in big 10 country so this is completely normal around here.

I didn’t actively think about sports when deciding on a college but in retrospect, I’m so glad I have a team to cheer for.

There’s just something about being connected to your fellow students and alums through sports that I can’t put my finger on but is awesome.

12

I think that within the realm of what is affordable, anything that is important to your S should be a factor (not the only factor) in the college search. It is important to listen to your kids. My H and S went to Notre Dame which one of the many schools that can combine top level athletics (not only football, but also basketball, hockey etc.) with a great academic experience. Sports can provide a bonding experience for students in the school.

13

OP, I echo what @northwesty said.

Northwestern, Stanford, Rice, Vanderbilt all sprung to my mind (all different athletic conferences) and there are dozens more. I am sure you know, but having the big time college athletics available does not exclude a top notch education, nor does it require that you buy in to the “sports game” yourself.

I think adding this specific social avenue to a criteria list is no different than adding things like the of density of campus trees, or number of floors in the dorm buildings. Either it matters to the individual or it doesn’t. It’s unlikely to directly change the education one gets - but it just might change the experience… and THAT might change the education one gets…

14

I agree that many schools combine D1 sports with strong academics. It bonds the school/community and helps provide much needed balance.

15

@romanigypsyeyes "There’s just something about being connected to your fellow students and alums through sports that I can’t put my finger on but is awesome. "

well said. that just about sums it up.

16

“But if your kid picks one of those schools, you will have another more serious problem. It may be tough for you to get good bagels when you visit your kid away at school.”

Um I promise you that at Michigan and Northwesten great bagels are close by!

17

You should be thankful that half your family isn’t declaring “It’s FSU or nothing” and the other half “Florida or DIE.” (or Michigan/Mich State, or Duke/UNC, or USC/UCLA).

If you agree to consider his choices of Big D1, and he agrees to look at your choices of Ivy/LAC/SUNY, you might have a really great college search, especially if you go to some game day college tours.

18

Can confirm Michigan has freaking fantastic bagels.

19

Also note that some of the LACs and Ivies are college hockey powers while JHU is a lacrosse powerhouse.

20

I went to Syracuse and had zero interest in sports when I applied. And I still don’t. But I will say that the common experiences around basketball (and to a lesser extent football) are some of my best college memories. There a “vibe” on campus that seems to carry through beyond the field to other activities, call it school spirit, if you will, that definitely creates a sense of belonging.