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Huh? My math must be off...334 according to my calculator is NOT 5 times 118.

But that aside, let's go with the numbers you've got here. It seems you're forgetting that basketball at those 334 schools only offers THIRTEEN full-scholarships while Football at those 118 schools offers EIGHTY-FIVE full-scholarships. The math follows:

BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
334 schools x 13 scholarships = 4,342 full-rides

DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
118 schools x 85 scholarships = 10,030 FULL RIDES!!!!!!!!!!!

So the odds ARE against you...

...BUT WAIT!!!

You're also leaving out DIVISION 1AA FOOTBALL (which gives SIXTY-FIVE full-scholarships per school)...there are 119 of those!!!!

DIVISION 1AA FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE:
119 schools x 65 scholarships = 7,735 full rides

THAT MEANS THAT BETWEEN DIVISION 1 AND DIVISION 1AA FOOTBALL, THERE ARE
17,765 FULL RIDES IN THE U.S. FOR FOOTBALL!!!! (compared to only 4,342 in basketball).



(Remember, it was FULL-SCHOLARSHIPS, that the initial post was about. But I'll address this point too).

D-II and NAIA: Those schools have maybe THREE "full-scholarships" in basketball to offer per school (would find exact number, but the NCAA website is down). Many of those same schools have football too, and while there are more of those schools that play basketball, those football schools again are given more full-rides to use.

Again, the multiplier would get you...smaller number of football schools times the number of full-rides given and I think you'll see that there is even more money given out at those lower levels.

Plus, factor in that MOST of these D-II and NAIA schools are small, PRIVATE colleges. If they give ANY athletic scholarship, it is a DROP IN THE BUCKET compared to the overall cost of the school. That's why I limited my discussion to how many more FULL scholarships there are out there for 6'1 or taller athletes.

(And, by the way, Division III doesn't give ANY athletic money...so it doesn't matter how many more bball than football schools there are at that level).



This line proves you COMPLETELY missed the point and are answering in a DEFENSIVE tone.

The original post was to point out that's there more to life than BASKETBALL to kids who are getting bad advice that "there ISN'T more to life than BASKETBALL."

Football coaches (maybe not where YOU are, but DEFEINTELY where I have been associated) WANT their players to play other sports because it EXPANDS THEIR OPTIONS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL -- not to mention, it allows them to be a KID and PLAY other things (and not a "professional" concentrating on one -- which may actually end up HURTING their chances for a scholarship in the long run!).

If there are football coaches out there that DO discourage their kids from playing another sport, shame on them.

The only time I can see what you mentioned (recommending surgery during winter to get ready for football) would be if that kid had a GREAT SHOT at a football scholarship but needed a GREAT senior football season...AND he had NO SHOT at getting anything in basketball.

In the best interests of KIDS (not "my" sport),
Football24_7

PS...just because football is my FIRST passion, doesn't mean I favor it over what's best for kids (and, I played THREE sports per year while I was in high school...basketball was one of them).

There are 1491 basketball playing colleges/univ. at the NCAA, NAIA, NCCAA, USCAA, and CIS levels. Thats not counting the NJCAA.