IN THE UNITED STATES, almost three hundred thousand young men and women participate in college sports of all types. College football and basketball, especially, entertain millions of fans each year, both in person and on television. Yet many people question whether sports belong on college campuses at all. They maintain that college studies and college athletics are both fulltime activities, and that no one can do both well. Supporters of college sports point to successful student-athletes, like Steve Young, who graduated from Brigham Young University and went on to law school while playing football. They point out schools like Indiana University and Notre Dame, which turn out top teams year after year while maintaining high academic standards for their athletes.

College athletic programs are a vital part of most American college campuses. They generate money and...