Okay, so you probably read the title and it irked you enough to want to continue reading about how entitled and arrogant I must be as a college student-athlete right? Bear with me, because I don't mean it in an arrogant way whatsoever, but here's the thing; not everyone can run 7 miles straight, not everyone can squat 300lbs or wake up at 5:30 a.m. every morning and exert an intense amount of physical energy. And that's okay, we do it because it's the life we know.

It's what makes us feel special and a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Yes, maybe to the average student, we're treated like "royalty." But all you see is the perks we get, not the late nights doing homework on a bus, or missed class after missed class cause of conference games. You don't see the concussions, muscle tweaks, and surgeries. And that's also okay, we're not asking you too, we're just admitting to a little extra special treatment because we do that little bit extra.

However, with that extra treatment comes extra responsibility and with that extra responsibility comes extra accountability.

And this is where a lot of college athletes get hung up. They want the extra treatment but without the responsibility and accountability. You can't have one without the other in college athletics. So now I'm speaking to the athletes - take your position seriously and with pride. You made it in a very small percentile of people gifted and blessed enough with the ability to play college athletics. The experience you gain from it is only what you make of it but I can guarantee you it will be like nothing else.

So yes, you're special.

Believe it and know it. But also know that because you're special, special characteristics and standards are demanded of you.