ON COLLEGE CAMPUS

COLLEGE SPORTS: STUDENTS VS. STUDENTS

College sports give students entertainment and jobs

By Bill Cross

Some college students base their lives on sports, camping out for the best seats and tailgating. With so many sports seasons at most colleges, it would be easy to make a career out of it. If only you could get paid for cheering on your favorite team.

Even if you don’t go to any games, athletics will be an inescapable part of campus life. They take up half of the student newspapers. The homecoming parade will march right past your residence hall. Athletes will sit next to you in class, and you will probably become frustrated that they miss class almost every week when their sports are in season.

You will have plenty of opportunities to get involved with college athletics, even if you’ve never played a sport. At many colleges, students staff the ticket offices and souvenir stands. Most teams have student managers who help run practices and support the team during games. Large NCAA schools typically have groups of students who help with recruiting for major sports like football. Calling the college’s athletics department is the best way to find out what student jobs exist. It’s just one of hundreds of ways to get involved in campus life and beef up your resume while having a good time.

Maybe you prefer the more leisurely role of a fan. Students are admitted free or at huge discounts to varsity events, making it easy to pass a few free hours watching your classmates do what they do best.