FanNation

Often, student-athletes, especially at the D-I level, are thought to be more "athlete" than "student." Schools and athletic programs are suspected and even accused of catering to these money-making young adults, letting them slide by after brushes with the law or making exceptions for sub-par academic performances. An ESPN magazine piece by Bruce Feldman, about former Auburn linebacker Patrick Trahan (http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3361190), shows that's not always the case and that, in the quest to raise standards, the NCAA and individual schools don't necessarily make the allowances or offer the support some students need.

Trahan was diagnosed with dysgraphia, meaning he has problems writing his thoughts, as an elementary schooler. He had a documented learning disability; he went to a special school as a fifth-grader, so he obviously wasn't one of the students who faked a condition to get special treatment. But he didn't get the help he needed at Auburn. The general assumption is that D-I athletes, especially those talented enough to start, as Trahan is, are pampered and given all the help necessary to keep them on the field. But Trahan's needs weren't met and, as a result, neither were the eligibility results. Because he struggled with the "student" part of student-athlete, albeit through absolutely no fault of his own, he wasn't allowed to fulfill the "athlete" part where he could excel. 

Trahan, fortunately, will get another chance when he joins the Ole Miss team this fall. But what about the other students who aren't so lucky? Surely there are other talented athletes, smart kids, who want to succeed but may not have the resources or supportive family that Trahan did. Hopefully his story will bring to light the problems with the student-athlete culture in NCAA sports.
 
As bad as it is that schools might let superb athletes get away with things that would be unacceptable for any other student, it's worse when students don't get the support they need. There needs to be a balance between "student" and "athlete," but if the players are to be held accountable for meeting certain academic requirements, their teams and universities need to be accountable for providing them with the infrastructure they need to be successful, both as students and as athletes.