Written by Jacob Maslow, founder and editor of Legal Scoops

Question: Our college is a force in NCAA sports, with many great athletes here. What happens to all the students who do not turn pro?

This question is not popular with sports teams or their players. Since very few players actually go pro, the majority should concentrate on grades and graduation. Of course, the reality is the exact opposite, with most players believing they are destined to be recruited by professional sports.

Around 400,000 students take part in college athletic games every year, and thousands of them receive athletic scholarships. However, most do not and those are the ones that we rarely read about. Taking the sports route at college is rarely a golden ticket to fame.

Injuries are another factor that can quickly sideline a student’s career prospects. Football alone accounts for over 30% of all college athletic injuries for young men.

Full athletic scholarships are only issued one year at a time and are renewed at the coach’s discretion. There is a good chance that your scholarship will not cover the cost of tuition, with the average athletic scholarship around $10K.

However, a recent NCAA lawsuit focused on the difference between scholarship benefits and the true cost of attending college. The NCAA has agreed to settle out-of-court, paying past and current student athletes and average of $6,800.

Chances of going pro are slim, while 43% of young black athletes believe they will be chosen, only one in 25 actually are. This invariably puts more emphasis on grades and academic studies.

Even if you do excel at your sport, the NCAA still has a set of requirements for acceptance of a graduating high school senior. Strict academic requirements can still apply and student athletes are advised to consult the eligibility center before making decisions.

The average college athlete will spend around 30 hours at class and 20 hours on sports per week. There is little time for anything else, including internships related to their degree. This can result in missed opportunities that could have helped them with future employment.

Many college athletes do not even consider a life outside of sports. They consider themselves as athletes before students, this can pose problems for the majority who will not make pro status. Statistics have revealed that graduation rates for athletes are in decline. Many teams would not even qualify to play if their graduation rate requirement were 50%.

Student athletes regularly take majors that do not equip them to succeed in life. Easy subjects are favored to allow more time to focus on sports, with many simply taking general studies majors. The NCAA ignores the fact that not all degrees are equal, with the focus on eligibility rather than education. The success is mistakenly placed on attaining a degree rather than receiving the education necessary to succeed in the working world.

However, the skills learnt on the playing field do translate into business skills, for a few players. A survey shows that ex-athletes typically find themselves in these areas: small business owners, sales, fitness and financial services. Companies point out that former players understand the importance of teamwork, have determination, possess the will to win and can honor a commitment.

A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever… Mary Lou Retton.