The Calvin Knights football team has been undefeated since 1879. How is this spectacular feat possible? It has to do with the fact that Calvin does not actually have a football team. And I for one, believe it should stay that way. Despite the many sports fans at Calvin who crave one of America’s favorite past times, the school has yet to assemble a team. Both the Calvin board and others, including me, worry that creating a football team is not in the school’s best interest. The main reason Calvin should not create a football team is because it is expensive, it can harm the reputation of the school, and it steals focus away from academics.
Each person has their own position that they take on the matter of whether to create a football team or …show more content…
Large state universities may get enough funds to have a football team, but Calvin is a rather small private college. To take on the project of building a football stadium would be rather pricey. Even a low-end college football stadium could cost a quarter of a million to a million dollars to construct(Stack.com). Not only would the school have to build a place for the team to play, but it would also have to pay annually for upkeep of both the team’s equipment and their facilities. This does not include the money that would be needed to pay the coach and supporting staff(calvin.edu). In the end it would be very costly to start up a college football …show more content…
Now, many people argue that sports increase students grades; and they would be right. In fact, many schools have higher retention rates because students want to stick it out with their team. However, studies have shown that men’s grades drop when their school's football team is doing well. Students become so caught up in the excitement of their football team that grades are put on the back burner(theatlantic.com). And while football may increase grades, so do the many other sports and activities that Calvin offers. Calvin has more than enough intramurals and clubs to compensate for the active aspect that football brings. Besides, the main focus of college is not supposed to be playing sports or the entertainment of watching them anyways; college is meant for learning and educational growth(Forbes.com-Steven). By trying to push sports for so much, it is hard to create that balance between academics and athletics. It would take extra effort from the school to cater to football athletes in order to help them get their degrees as well. And at the moment, there is not a specific need for the team or that kind or program. In total, college is better off academically, if it focuses on education
Each person has their own position that they take on the matter of whether to create a football team or …show more content…
Large state universities may get enough funds to have a football team, but Calvin is a rather small private college. To take on the project of building a football stadium would be rather pricey. Even a low-end college football stadium could cost a quarter of a million to a million dollars to construct(Stack.com). Not only would the school have to build a place for the team to play, but it would also have to pay annually for upkeep of both the team’s equipment and their facilities. This does not include the money that would be needed to pay the coach and supporting staff(calvin.edu). In the end it would be very costly to start up a college football …show more content…
Now, many people argue that sports increase students grades; and they would be right. In fact, many schools have higher retention rates because students want to stick it out with their team. However, studies have shown that men’s grades drop when their school's football team is doing well. Students become so caught up in the excitement of their football team that grades are put on the back burner(theatlantic.com). And while football may increase grades, so do the many other sports and activities that Calvin offers. Calvin has more than enough intramurals and clubs to compensate for the active aspect that football brings. Besides, the main focus of college is not supposed to be playing sports or the entertainment of watching them anyways; college is meant for learning and educational growth(Forbes.com-Steven). By trying to push sports for so much, it is hard to create that balance between academics and athletics. It would take extra effort from the school to cater to football athletes in order to help them get their degrees as well. And at the moment, there is not a specific need for the team or that kind or program. In total, college is better off academically, if it focuses on education