This is what a student should look like: How popular media portrays the ideal of the student athlete

Abstract

Looking at a small selection of different outlets of popular media, should give the reader an insight in how influential media has been in the shaping and maintaining of the amateur ethos of student athletes among the American public and why it is unlikely that, even though there is a lot of criticism, the current system will change. These books, film and news reports will show that there is no single one sided answer to the controversies surrounding America’s academic athletics and that there is a large, interesting, grey area between the schools strive for academic accomplishments and the goal of athletic excellence.