The NCAA had limited success, as individual universities and regional conferences often ignored the guidelines or simply voted to change rules that interfered with their plans to build winning programs, including limitations on scholarships and minimal academic standards. More than 331,000 men and women participated in NCAA sports during 1996-97, an increase of 19 percent in only six years. College athletics aren t popular because the NCAA issued a memo or authorized scholarships. The simple fact is that people like to watch sports, and sports have become a major part of the culture as a whole. But college athletics hold a special place in American culture.
Observers suggest a number of reasons.
One has to do with identity. But that doesn t explain why Americans get excited about other schools, colleges they didn t attend or don t send money to or have any personal connections with. Those reasons cut deeper, to legends of college sports that worked their way into popular culture the stories of sacrifice and heroism, the litany of great plays and the inspiring stories of great players. You may not be a Notre Dame fan, but you ve probably heard about Knute Rockne and the Gipper. What makes these stories compelling is that players were motivated just by their love of the game.