Oral History

I decided to conduct an interview with a gentleman who is a floor supervisor for a casino and is a former college athlete of a local university. His name is Brian and is 39 years old. He was raised and currently lives on the south side of Chicago. He is opinionated about college sports scholarships and boosters.

What sport(s) did you play in college?
-“I played football and basketball.”

Do you think you were pretty good at football and basketball?
-“I was ok with football. I was a walk-on playing wide out (wide receiver). I think I made the team because I could run fast. Didn’t play much. As for basketball, I was as great as Michael Jordan (laughing). Just kidding. I was good enough to get a 4 year scholarship.”

That’s pretty good you were able to get a scholarship playing basketball. Did you finish college?
-“Yeah. I have a degree in finance. I know you’re probably thinking how is someone with a degree in finance working on the floor of a casino? I lost my job because of the economy a year and a half ago. Have to make ends meet till something better comes along.”

If you don’t mind me asking, what do you think about college boosters?
-“I think boosters are ok. They serve a purpose.”

Do you really think they serve a purpose?
-“Yeah. There’s nothing wrong with helping someone or their family with a little extra pocket change (money) or anything else they need. I mean, these colleges are making money off of the athletes when they play in their stadiums and sell college apparel to the public so I feel if the players get offered something on the side it should be ok.”

Were you boosted in college?
-“No but I knew some guys on each team that were boosted.”

Do you keep in contact with any of them?
-“Not really. I was pretty cool with a guy on the football team but we lost contact some time ago.

Do you think college athletes should get a salary like professionals do?
-“No, even though they’re working a job outside of school. I just feel like it’s not fair for colleges to give someone a scholarship but not let them get any financial help. I benefitted from a 4 year scholarship with a degree but I could have used extra help financially. Plus, like I said, why should the colleges make all the money.

So you also feel playing college sports are like working a job?
-“Yes. The time and preparation you spend towards playing is like working an 8 hour job. You can find yourself spending most of your day practicing, training, or memorizing play books for the team and then having to travel around the country on the weekends. I haven’t even started talking about where someone finds time to study for class.

Finally, since you feel boosters are ok, do you think it would be ok for a booster to give college athletes money to throw a game (deliberate cheating)?
-“No way. That’s unacceptable. There has to be some sort of integrity. I relate a question like that to working at the casino. If I deliberately threw a card game when I first started, I would have been fired. So I believe if a player throws a game, he/she should face a similar outcome like losing a scholarship or thrown out of school. If a booster got caught, he should be thrown in jail. It’s just not right.”