Trevor Mbakwe has become a
familiar name around the state of Minnesota. He will be playing not his first,
or third, not even his fifth year as a golden gopher, BUT his sixth year! That’s right six consecutive years
playing for the same college basketball organization. All university expenses
paid for of course….Trevor grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has not left
the area since. Or as some might say a loyal Minnesota kid. Mbakwe is the
starting power forward for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball team.
Mbakwe’s last season was cut
short. A serious injury resulted in Mbakwe playing in only 9 games. He tore
his anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL). Therefore, the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) decided to grant the 6’8 starter
with another year of eligibility. Mbakwe has already received an undergraduate
degree in parks and recreation (not kidding) and he will no pursue his masters
at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Quite an achievement as most players
typically receive only an undergraduate degree. That’s if they don’t drop out
of school and follow NBA dreams first.
It gives me the opportunity to play another year of college basketball and hopefully contribute to a team that showed it can be dangerous. It also provides me with the opportunity to leave the university with a Master’s degree. That means a ton to me. Not many athletes have that chance to get multiple degrees during their stay, and unfortunately it took an injury for me to have this opportunity, but I am going to take full advantage of it. I am excited to get back on the court with my teammates.
Well Mbakwe’s educational
milestones are inspiring questions arise. If the NCCA makes and exception for
this injury, are there going to be more players trying to extend their
eligibility? Will Mbakwe be fully healed by the time the season starts? Will
the gophers actually have a good basketball season? Ok…ok…before I get too off
topic. The real questions are why do college athletes seem to get so many
chances and free passes? Let’s say someone was on an academic scholarship for a
set period of 4 years? Would that person get the same extension? Well I cannot
say for sure but it seems unlikely.
Mbakwe is not the first to get
athlete to get special treatment and he certainly will not be the last. There
have been reports of college athletes receiving cars, houses, and even getting
paid under the table. Although I love college sports and do think that these
athletes should be rewarded for the all time and energy that they put into
training, practicing, travelling and games. It can’t help but bring up the
question when is time to say enough is enough? A FREE college education should
be enough. Many people spend years paying off student loans. These men and
women are given the chance to improve their lives far into the future. Less
then 2% of college basketball players actually go pro. However, they are
rewarded with something at graduation. A free piece of paper. A college degree.
