A new study examines characteristics of athletes across divisions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association who have the lowest grades. The study found that these athletes:
- Viewed themselves as athletes more than students
- Thought about their sport more than academics
- Expected a professional or Olympic career (excluding Division III student-athletes)
The authors of the study argue that their findings point to the importance of educating athletes about the long odds of professional athletic success (or even participation).
The study -- by Kurt Beron and Alex Piquero of the University of Texas at Dallas -- appears in Social Science Quarterly.