There have always been misconceptions floating around about student athletes. We owe that to a few student athletes that have made bad decisions and the media for blowing it up for everyone across the nation to see. While there are a few misconceptions that have held true over the years for some student athletes that does not hold true for most.

1. They Always Miss Class

The biggest misconception I hear about college athletes is that they always miss class for our sport. Actually most sports have their games on the weekends which means students are playing on their "off" days from school. Plus, most college coaches require their players to always attend class and they will periodically check into the classroom to see if the player is present. If the student is not in class there is usually a punishment issued. There are some sports that do have games during the week but coaches require the students to give the professors significant notice so they do not fall behind in the course.

2. They Have A Low GPA

Another misconception about college athletes is that they have low GPAs. That is the worse misconception because most coaches look for a well balance student athlete before recruiting them. They want a student that preform on and off the field. In some cases, a large percentage of the scholarships that student athletes receive come from academics then the rest comes from the actually athlete scholarships.

3. They Have Special Privileges

Everyone always believes that student athletes receive special privileges from teachers or other faculty and staff on campus. However, that could not be more far from the truth. Most professors and faculty do not even know which students play sports and which ones do not. So the behavior of the professors and faculty does not change because someones "student athlete status".

4. They Get Free Stuff

As far a free stuff, every college and sports program is different. Therefore, I can not speak for everyone but besides the free clothing and items that come with playing the sport, I do not believe student athletes go around getting free things from people. Athletes usually get free clothing in order to match the team or to represent their program outside of the sport.

5. They Have A Cocky Attitude

Every student athlete is different, so again, I can not speak for everyone, but in my experience, most athletes are friendly and kind. Most student athletes just want to play the sport they love and get a education so they can have a bright future. No reason to have a cocky attitude especially when they are fortunate enough to get college paid for while playing their sport.