scandals that continuously rock colleges from all three divi-
sions. To see the extent of prohibited activity, log on to the
NCAA website and access the violations link.) U.S.News & World
Report has done admirable reporting on NCAA violations as well
as other college financial aid issues. I encourage you to investi-
gate its website at http://www.usnews.com/college. It is continuously
updated with unusually pertinent information concerning
choosing colleges and strategies for enrolling and receiving
financial aid. That pressure may be better disguised than in the
past as the NCAA trumpets its laudable attempts to raise the
academic standards for college prospects. Recently, the NCAA
News has been running small strips declaring that winning isn’t
everything. Look at the facts. You decide.
To its credit, the NCAA is demanding academic integ-
rity from the nation’s colleges, along with raised academic
entrance standards in an effort to coerce them to pay greater
attention to their student athletes’ education. The NCAA
has successfully reduced the influence of supporters of ath-
letic programs from participating in the recruiting process
(although the recent Ohio State football scandal makes one
wonder). The penalties can be very severe. Just ask Indiana
University’s basketball program or Lewis University’s vol-
leyball and track & field programs. Yet most administrators
would agree that they are under some pressure from the sup-
porters of athletic interests (usually alumni and local busi-
nesses that benefit from game attendance) to develop and
maintain winning programs. While many administrators try
to resist overt pressure from boosters, it’s difficult to resist the
influence of donations (money) to the institution by boost-
ers. When sports programs don’t meet the expectation of
contributing boosters, something gives—usually the coach’s
8 The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide