Case

Essentially, I am arguing that athletes are being exploited for economic gain. Universities are heavily profiting from college athletics, while the athletes themselves never see even a penny of the revenue they bring in. Yes, many athletes gain a free or discounted education, but many do not get to freely declare their majors or have the time needed to devote to more demanding majors. The reality of the situation is that less than 2% of student-athletes go on to play in professional leagues. The college athletic system is setting up many athletes for lackluster future or even worse, failure.

            Stanley Doughty was a defensive tackle for the University of South Carolina. Doughty forfeited his senior year of college to enter the NFL draft, 12-credits shy of a degree. Fortunately, he was drafted to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. Doughty entered the draft, despite 2 major injuries during his college career, because he was cleared to play by the Gamecocks team doctors. After his first injury, he was left temporarily paralyzed and after undergoing an MRI was diagnosed with mild spinal stenosis. His second injury, that also left him temporarily paralyzed, did not even come with an MRI. Doughty rested in the locker room for five minutes and finished the game. Most importantly, South Carolina won. After being examined by the Kansas City Chief’s team doctors, he was told that his X-rays revealed a career ending spinal injury that could leave him paralyzed with just one wrong hit. Doughty was immediately dropped from the Chiefs. Doughty was left jobless without a college degree or insurance, needing surgery, sans support from the team that let his injury slide for a victory.

            Stanley Doughty’s story is a perfect example of how college athletic programs are doing their athletes a disservice. Not only did the team doctors allow Doughty to return to play in less than tip-top shape, but they even went as far to not give him a full examination after his second injury. According to doctors who reexamined his X-rays later on, they found that there had been substantial changes to his spine from the scans taken after his first injury, to the present. South Carolina did not stop at putting Doughty’s life in danger, but allowed him to enter the draft, thinking he was physically eligible to play in the NFL. He sacrificed his scholarships before he could earn a degree. After Doughty found out about his career-ending injury from the Chiefs doctors, South Carolina was not there to assist him in anyway. Sadly, there are many other stories like Stanley Doughty’s out there and they truly bring to light how universities put victories over players’ well-being and do not hold themselves accountable for any problems bad judgement clearly leads to.

Walsh, Meghan. “'I Trusted 'Em': When NCAA Schools Abandon Their Injured   Athletes.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 1 May 2013,   www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/05/i-trusted-em-when-ncaa-  schools-abandon-their-injured-athletes/275407/.