The Hidden Cost of Winning: How Increased Travel Impacts College Athletes

College sports have always demanded dedication and sacrifice from student-athletes. But in the era of conference realignment and lucrative TV deals, a new burden has emerged: relentless travel. As universities chase bigger paydays by joining geographically distant conferences, athletes are paying the price in lost class time, disrupted sleep schedules, and diminished opportunities – including a significant financial hit to their burgeoning NIL potential.

Miles for Dollars: The New Reality of College Sports

Driven by the pursuit of lucrative television contracts, universities are scrambling to join powerful conferences, often at the expense of geographic sensibility. This has led to grueling travel schedules for athletes in nearly every sport.

Take the UCLA football team, who will crisscross the country this season, logging nearly 22,226 miles – enough to circle the globe. Or the UCLA women's basketball team, whose schedule includes a season opener in Paris and multiple trips to the East Coast. These are not isolated cases. Stanford, USC, and Washington all face similarly demanding itineraries.

While administrators tout the benefits of increased exposure and competition, the reality for athletes is far less glamorous. Long flights, missed classes, and the constant struggle with jet lag are taking a toll.

Beyond the Playing Field: The Ripple Effects of Excessive Travel

The impact of this constant travel extends far beyond the playing field, affecting athletes' academic performance, mental health, and even their ability to capitalize on new NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities.

• Academics Under Pressure: Missed classes and assignments are an inevitable consequence of extended travel. While schools offer support services like tutoring and online classes, the disruption can still hinder academic progress and increase stress levels.
• Mental and Physical Well-being: Sleep deprivation and disrupted circadian rhythms, common side effects of frequent travel, can lead to higher injury rates, diminished academic performance, and increased mental health challenges.
• The NIL Penalty: Perhaps most significantly, the demands of travel are directly impacting athletes' ability to maximize their earning potential under the new NIL rules. Building a personal brand, engaging with fans, and securing sponsorships all require time and effort – commodities in short supply for athletes constantly on the move.

These lost opportunities translate to real financial losses for athletes who are already balancing demanding schedules and limited resources.

A Call for Change

Universities have a responsibility to mitigate the negative impacts of increased travel on their athletes. This includes:

• Prioritizing Athlete Well-being: Investing in mental health resources, sleep education, and flexible academic arrangements are crucial.
• Transparency and Communication: Openly discussing travel schedules with athletes and involving them in decision-making processes can help alleviate stress and foster a sense of partnership.
• Fair Compensation and NIL Support: While the debate over athlete compensation continues, it's undeniable that the increased demands of travel warrant consideration. Universities should explore ways to compensate athletes for the time and opportunities lost due to travel, and provide dedicated support for navigating NIL opportunities in this challenging landscape.

The current model of college athletics, with its emphasis on revenue generation and conference expansion, is placing an unsustainable burden on student-athletes. It's time for universities to prioritize the well-being of their athletes and ensure that the pursuit of victory doesn't come at the cost of their academic, mental, physical, and financial well-being.

Anyone that reads my articles knows I am a big proponent of college athletics keeping in mind that 98 percent of student-athletes will graduate and have to look for their first professional job, but it is becoming apparent college athletics is willing to do anything, literally to stay competitive at the risk of the health, wealth, and well being of student-athletes.

Wait till they become employees and unionize!

What do you think?