Two University of Nebraska, Lincoln, professors have conducted a study that seeks information similar to that revealed through the NCAA SCORE and GOALS projects.

In 2005, Josephine Potuto, FAR and constitutional law professor, and James O’Hanlon, education and human sciences professor, surveyed student-athletes at 18 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. The student-athletes had completed at least 85 credit hours.

Among other goals, the survey sought to identify the trade-offs student-athletes make to participate in athletics. About 921 survey responses were compiled. Generally, student-athletes recognized that they were making sacrifices to participate in athletics, but few regretted their decision. Overall, the students indicated they were having a positive college experience and would do little to change it.

"This is a zero-sum world we live in; nobody gets to do everything," Potuto said. "The student-athletes say they get a lot of value out of their college athletics experience."

Both O’Hanlon and Potuto were surprised by some of the comparisons, specifically that student-athletes who encountered less success in their sport were as satisfied with their college experience as those who achieved high levels of athletics success (defined as a starter, a full-athletics scholarship recipient or earning conference athletics recognition).

"That may say a little bit about the inherent value of the athletics experience, whether you’re a starter or not. And it may say something about the kind of support services that schools are able to provide student-athletes," Potuto said.

Overall, the comparisons done in the study showed little difference between subgroups’ satisfaction with their college experience.

"This presents a positive picture that needs to get out there," O’Hanlon said. "People often assume that because these student-athletes are working hard on their sport that they’re sacrificing the rest of their college life, and they’re not."

While Potuto said the survey might allow athletics administrators to pat themselves on the back, she hoped it also will lead them to examine some of the issues it uncovered. For example, she said, over-scheduling of student-athletes’ time should be considered as an area for improvement in athletics departments, with more flexibility allowed for other interests.

"This is a reason for feeling we’re on the right track, and the students see great value in being able to participate in athletics as well as academics," Potuto said. "We need to keep looking at ways to ensure that the balance is an appropriate one from the point of view of educators as well as students."