ABSTRACT
There are many popular discourses that describe the experiences of college athletes. From ‘getting a full ride’ to pursuing a ‘lifelong passion’ to ‘going pro,’ there are narratives for how athletes get to college, what they experience while in college, and what a college athletic opportunity means for professional and elite level aspirations. College athlete experiences are far more wide reaching than the narratives narrowly cast as the individual pursuit of a lifelong passion or helpless under corruptive circumstances. Even so, it is imperative to acknowledge real stories of harm and detriment to athletes, some of the worst possible consequences, with a particular sense of compassion and sensitivity. Being an athlete, a ‘soccer player’ or ‘golfer’ has a particular meaning for the sport that one plays and their identity as an athlete. Being a college athlete means that the hard work and effort that a college scholarship or roster spot rewards also influences their identity development.
