Schooled: The Price of College Sports (2013) User Reviews

Interesting documentary showing the dark side of college sports

[eurograd · 7/10 · 17 February 2014]

Varsity sports have become one of the major, if not the major, cultural references people keep in relate to universities. It has evolved into a major business, racking billions of dollars in revenue every year and exerting huge influence over the schools and communities that host major college sport teams, especially football and basketball.

Schooled presents and discuss the often ignored downsides of the oversize importance of college sports. It brings to the viewer some candid interviews and exposes on actions taken by NCAA and athletic departments of some famous universities.

It devotes a good part of screen time discussing the contradictions and hypocrisy of a system, centered around the "student-athlete" concept that fails such student-athletes in many possible ways: by not giving them a meaningful education in case they don't go pro (as most won't), by leaving students without basic support they need, by merciless cutting athletes out when they get injured and especially by making the student-athletes the only part of the system that doesn't get paid for the millions they games they play earn for everybody else (coaching staff, universities, broadcasters, sports' companies).

'Schooled' explores well the contradictions of the so-called amateurism, presenting a less than flattering story on the historical origins of the idea of a pure system where athletes play for the love of the game only.

Makes you a believer

[shane_woolum · 8/10 · 24 February 2015]

Wow! What a great argument that student-athletes today have based on this documentary. Today there are several hundred thousand so called student-athletes who attend universities all across the United States. In the documentary titled"Schooled:The Price Of College Sports" they discuss in great detail the effect of participating in collegiate sports on athletes and the many discussions about how student-athletes are much more than just "student-athletes". Their ability to show that today there is a widespread idea across the the entire collegiate atmosphere that college athletes should receive compensation for their duties was great. The documentary focuses on the idea that the NCAA, which is the governing body of collegiate competition, grosses millions of dollars each year off of the backs of athletes which they classify as amateurs. The argument since the founding of the National Collegiate Athletic Association has been that these athletes are student-athletes with the distinction that they are students first and athletes second. The documentary portrays what many today see as the mass commercialization of college sports as the main goal of the NCAA. The NCAA uses the statement that nearly ninety eight percent of student-athletes will not move on to a professional career in sports so their main goal is for students to learn life lessons as well as degrees all at no cost in return for their athletic contributions. "Schooled" uses the appeal to emotion when former student athletes Arian Foster, as well as current student athletes Jonathan Franklin and Devon Ramsay describe what it truly feels like to be a student and an athlete while constantly living in fear of the rules and regulations handed down by the NCAA. By giving true statements from actual athletes, academic advisers, athletic directors and sports commentators they truly give the listener insight into their argument that the NCAA really does have a grip on them and that they should receive more compensation than just tuition and room and board. In all this is a great documentary based on the argument that the NCAA is using student-athletes to fund their campaign.

Very highly recommend watching if interested in argument of athlete compensation

Team on their back

[ap810313 · 9/10 · 26 February 2015]

In the documentary, Schooled: The Price of College Sports, the main idea that it is trying to get across is that college athletes are the source of many schools profits and incomes. These college athletes are not being paid with a paycheck, but however they are getting a free education. The NCAA has a huge effect on athletes because they sign a contract that deems them as "amateurs" so they should not receive a physical paycheck like professional athletes do. Another term besides amateur is "student athlete" and because they are a student first and athlete second they are not receiving pay. Now most cases could be fought saying they are an athlete first because the amount of time put into athletics compared to their school work. This is a really hard subject to be talked about because the NCAA is in complete control of these students and in many cases, if a student gets cut from a team they lose their scholarship as well. College athletes have a really rough time while they are in school and it really isn't fair for their schools to prosper while they receive nothing. Sometimes, this is the only way that these kids are going to get a higher level education because a lot of them could not afford it if it were not for their scholarship. This movie really shows how the NCAA can be looked at as a monopoly where the highest individuals make all the money and the "employees" earn nothing but a free education, which the total money of scholarships nationwide comes no where near the total revenue from fans and people buying merchandise and food.

It's like they were reading my mind...

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 17 January 2015]

I am not a sports fan yet oddly I really enjoy sports documentaries and have seen dozens over the last few months. So, it's not surprising that I would watch "Schooled: The Price of College Sports". But, I was even more eager to watch it because it attacks a problem that needs attention--and it's THE reason I hate college sports. And, it's the reason I strongly recommend you see this documentary.

The main idea behind this film is that universities (and particularly the head coaches) make billions because of their football teams. Yet, inexplicably, students often make nothing or next to nothing. Folks usually think that it's not a bad system-- after all, the student athletes do get a free education. BUT, the film abounds with example after example of students who really were taken advantage of by this system--a system with no real way to appeal. The most egregious is one case where a student was paralyzed on the football field--and who promptly lost his scholarship because the school made it contingent on his being able to play. What's worse---they also refused to pay for his medical bills. Does this sound fair? Well, in addition to this one, the film does a great job in pushing for student athletes to actually get paid--which is especially important as most of these folks (98.5%) never make it to pro ball.

I could go on and on with all the reasonable examples they gave that the system should be changed, but the bottom line is that you should see the film yourself and see what you think. Even if it doesn't completely convince you, it will get you to think--and I love a well made documentary that makes you think.

time to check yourself NCAA!

[scott-stevens-989-978911 · 10/10 · 1 May 2014]

this documentary really bothered me, i am a Michigan State grad - so i am on both sides of this issue. I love my Spartans and our basketball and football teams are perennial favorites to advance at March Madness as well as participate in top bowl games. Something needs to give, these kids give up too much and there are too many people making too much money off of these top programs. At the very least, kids need to have their health care cost covered FOR LIFE and they should also be able to profit from their names or start a football camp over the summer, sign endorsement deals on the side - whatever. I wanted to punch the Chancellor from Nebraska in the head, what a smug, pompous punk. The NCAA really has a lot of nerve to come off like they do, they limit what they can give their players - so,,,essentially, the rich only get richer since the only teams that can get the good players are the best teams since the only currency they really have to yield is exposure - which they exploit and exploit every chance they get, it is really shameless. They recruit these top coaches who are some of the most talented managers and communicators in their profession and then it is just a bidding war on these coaches and their disciples.

Just plain crazy

[sullivan28210 · 1/10 · 21 August 2014]

Lame.

This movie pretends that athletes receive no compensation other that a free education, completely ignoring the value of publicity, the best fitness equipment, psychologists, tutors, trainers, coaches, elite contacts, promotional campaigns, education, medical care, and other special privileges has on these athlete's future earnings potential.

That's payment, and it equals $100,000 plus per year, maybe millions for top athletes.

At my D1 school, athletes aren't even required to type their own papers. The tutors are essential prostitutes. They don't attend class, but their names show up on the attendance sheets. They're treated like celebrities.

This is the dumbest movie I've EVER seen.