Excellence is not an option, it’s an expectation.”

This quote is emblazoned on the front of the student-athlete handbook and sets the tone for what CU requires of its athletes. A little intimidating right? You bet it is. But the fact remains that as athletes, we are held to a higher standard.

Academically speaking, athletes have to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible to play. If an athlete’s GPA falls below a 2.5, he or she must attend study table for two hours a week. The requirements are even stricter for freshmen and transfers.

If their high school or previous college GPA is below a 3.5, then they have to attend study table. If it is above a 3.5, they must submit a written study plan for the semester that has to be approved by the study table chair. There is a deadline for this plan and if the athlete fails to meet it, then he or she must attend study table.

And speaking of deadlines, turning assignments in on time when you miss a class can be tricky especially if you leave a day early. It seems that athletes always have to be one step ahead, remembering to schedule make-up times for missed tests and quizzes as well as getting work in.

Balancing classes and sports is not easy. There is always a contest that conflicts with a class. And there is always that one professor who can’t seem to understand why you have to miss the important class.

Then there’s the stigma of simply being an athlete in the classroom. In many people’s minds, academics and athletics don’t mix. You’re either good at one or the other.

At CU, athletes don’t receive any kind of special treatment in the classroom. They are expected to finish assignments on time whether they miss class or not, and they live with the pressure of being scrutinized by students and faculty simply because they play sports.

Another standard that athletes here must adhere to is the drinking policy. According to the athletic handbook, no athlete, even those over 21, may consume alcohol during the calendar year. This includes both Christmas and spring break.

Since teams can make their own rules, some coaches decide that their players are not allowed to drink during the summer either.

Are these rules fair? Why are athletes viewed differently than other students and held to higher standards?

A big part of the reason that athletes have such high expectations placed on them is because they are put on display in front of people. Let’s face it, people watch us. Professors, other students, fans from opposing schools, even the media see our actions and judge accordingly.

When we put on that uniform, we are living representations of that name on the front of it. How we act during a game reflects our school, whether we realize it or not. And people remember you after seeing you play, so the burden of responsibility goes beyond how you act in a game because they will see you outside of the athletic arena.

We are examples. Excellence is expected of us because we choose to be placed in the public eye by playing sports. Being an athlete is challenging. Not many people rise to meet that challenge.

View the extra expectations as an honor. We are trusted to represent our school and our team, and as Christian athletes, we have the added responsibility of representing Jesus.

Knowing this, shouldn’t we be willing to go the extra mile to achieve excellence?