Do I Stay or Do I Go?

We all came to college for a simple reason. To secure a successful job after we graduate and be able to support ourselves afterwards. But what if there was a way to streamline that process? What if you only had to spend two or three years studying and have a job waiting for you? Would you take it? Here’s the catch- that job is one of the most least secure in the market, yet the paychecks you receive will be substantial.
This decision is what haunts many high school and collegiate athletes. At first, for most people, it seems like a fairly easy one to make. The chance to finally fulfill your childhood dream and actually get payed for it? How could anyone turn it down? However, there are several options to consider before reaching such a conclusion. First, take on the mindset of a collegiate athlete. The season is coming to an end and with draft season approaching, you must make the choice to “turn pro” or stay another year at PennState and refine your skills to be possibly taken at a higher position. We will look at the pros first. The most prominent advantage is that this what every athlete has dreamed since they first started playing a sport. Making it to the big leagues is the ultimate summit of any ahtlete’s journey. Also, no matter what professional league you go into, it is more than likely than you will be paid very nicely for your work. In 2013 (so these numbers have only increased thanks to advertisements and television deals), the average NBA player made $5.15 million in salary and the average NFL player saw $1.9 million in earnings. Plus, if you are a top performer there is room for sponsorships and another ways to receive more on top of your yearly check. Finally, most people do not realize that some athletes enter drafts early as a sort of insurance for their own bodies. When a player suffers a bad injury it severely drops their chances of getting picked by a professional team. By leaving college early they prevent themselves from suffering a devastating injury by securing a contract if picked.
Now, while they are plenty of arguments for leaving, many athletes have stayed a full four years. Why would they? Well, a job in professional sports is not one that you can trust you can keep. Just one year of a decrease in productivity can lead to being cut from a team and the loss of your salary. Also, the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL all hold players with average careers under 6 years. So, that means most athletes from these leagues are unemployed by the age of 28 if you come after four years of college. Therefore, some would say it makes most sense to stay, graduate, and receive a degree. This way you have more on your resume and businesses will potentially hire you. Staying in college gives you job security in the future in the very likely chance you do not become an all-time legend, such as Brett Favre (who played professional football for 20 years) or Nolan Ryan (who played professional baseball for 27 seasons). So, what do you think? If you were a student-athlete with the chance of being drafted to the “big leagues” what would you decide?

-http://bleacherreport.com/articles/307746-college-vs-pros-should-athletes-be-allowed-to-leave-school-early
-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/visualnewscom/visualizing-the-yearly-sa_b_4184716.html
-http://www.rsvlts.com/2013/07/22/longest-sports-careers/

1 Comment on "Do I Stay or Do I Go?"

  1. I can definitely see the appeal in living the dream of playing spots professionally, but I definitely think it’s important to get a solid education and obtain a degree too. I read somewhere that a majority of professional players poorly handle their money and as a result, many of them go bankrupt after leaving professional sports, and this is pretty scary, i think. Another downside to playing professionally I think is that some injuries you obtain will follow you in life no matter where you go. I remember watching the movie Concussion and how much it must suck to deal with debilitating mental illnesses after years of pro sports. I think an athlete should build up their skills as much as they can before going pro, so that they still remain competitive in the job market just in case something happens to their athletic career.

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