Billion Dollar Ball 2/3

So yesterday, me and my fellow classmates met with author Gilbert Gaul. While meeting with him, we discussed his book "Billion Dollar Ball". He went in depth about just why he made this book, and the interesting things he encountered while writing and researching the topic. He told us about the hardships he had to go through just for one interview, also what he's seen at some of the big football schools  he's been to. For example, he went on about a story of when he visited Oregon as we all know Oregon is one of the biggest football schools in the nation. When he arrived he told us, its hard to miss seeing a Nike swoosh on the campus. From the pavement, buildings, trash cans Nike is branded nearly everywhere on the campus. Next, what I found interesting was the matter of what these  big name programs do to keep their Student-Athletes academically eligible. If you are a student you have to pass your classes in order to remain in school. With that being said all of the universities athletes are also students. Many may know the workload in college is tremendous, so just how are all these athletes remaining eligible? Well for one, if you are a top football player, or  basketball player your most likely majoring in something less demanding like Sociology, or Agricultural Leadership.
Now the average person has no idea what Agricultural Leadership even is or what you can do with a degree in that. But the reason behind these athletes choices of their majors is because these majors are far less demanding. There are minimal math and English requirements for these majors and far less course work to maintain. To provide even more aid for the athletes already easy course work, a lot of these big schools have Academic Support Centers. These are multi million dollar buildings to help the athletes learn and complete their work. If you ask me it sounds like a big study hall. These buildings contain every learning tool anyone can imagine, high end computers, tutors, lounges. But here's the catch. Only student-athletes are allowed to use these facilities if you are not an athlete you are prohibited. Oregon paid 72 million dollars for their Academic Support Center, other schools are more than willing to pay high prices as well. So this little article is just a few things I was able to take away from Mr. Gaul and his book.