A quarter for every “A.” Nothing for a “B.” Fifty cents off for every “C.”
That was the deal my parents struck with my sister and me as a way to encourage us to make good grades on our report cards. My sister probably made enough money on that agreement to put a down payment on her first house. Or at least a three-speed bicycle.
As for me, let’s just say the interest alone on what I still owe my mom could probably pay for my daughters’ college tuition.
But according to an ESPN.com story last week, financial incentives for good grades for major college athletes have risen like gasoline prices since I was in school, thanks to an NCAA program put in place in August of 2020.
Only trouble is, of the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools such as those in the Southeastern Conference – which also tend to be the schools with the most money – only 22 total are currently paying these academic achievement bonuses.