Do Academics Matter?

Almost directly on cue with my research over collegiate athletes getting paid, the Auburn football program has recently come under fire about violating NCAA policies. The most glaring violation was changing grades of players to maintain their eligibility. For a more detailed report on the allegations, follow this link. Once hearing this, I immediately related it to the research I have been conducting for my junior theme.

The term "student-athlete" is heard everywhere, but it's starting to seem to me that coaches, fans and universities alike care more about the "athlete" part of that term a whole lot more. Bruce K. Johnson, an economics of sports professor wisely stated, "If a player reads like a fifth-grader but leads his team to the Rose Bowl, neither coaches nor fans will object. But at most athletic-powerhouses, if a coach bragged that his losing squad enjoyed a 100% graduation rate, fans would call for -- and likely get -- his head" (Johnson). 

NCAA Ad-Campaign for a 2.3 GPA

I found this to be right on par with Auburn's ideals. Fans truly would care if Auburn "enjoyed a 100% graduation rate". They only care about winning championships. In order to win championships, the Auburn players needed to be eligible to compete, and NCAA rules call for a 2.3 Grade Point Average to be eligible to participate in athletics. Based on the Auburn allegations, grades were altered to comply with such NCAA requirements. 

Such actions really made me think about the ideals of large American universities such as Auburn. Does academic integrity really matter to them? Or is it all about pleasing their fans, illegally putting an ineligible team on the football field?

Do you think athletic-powerhouse universities really care about academic integrity if it's at the cost of the team they put on the field? Please share your thoughts!