<p>I can understand the huge recruiting obsession done with incredibly recognizable schools like Ohio State and Duke, but what’s the point of admitting people for athletics in smaller schools? Like, who in the world cares that a small LAC like Pomona has a great track team or whatever? Does it help attract students or what? Do the non-athlete students even care about the athletic successes of their school?</p>
<p>I know for my son, academics are the key. He will bypass a D1 average academic school for a D3 school like MIT or NYU. Sports will only take you so far, education is for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>I think the OP means from the standpoint of the D3 school.</p>
<p>Because like high schools, no one likes to lose in anything. Alumni love to brag about the success of their alma mater. I know at D I schools alumni contributions go up when their athletic teams do well. Don’t know if the same holds true at DIII schools.</p>
<p>Because you gotta love your team, even if it is D-3! And the coaches need to have players and they want the best players they can get so they recruit.</p>
<p>Because no school wants an athletic reputation like Caltech’s.</p>
<p>What’s the point of fielding a team if it won’t be competitive? Also, it’s a lot more enjoyable to be on a competitive team than a non-competitive one.</p>
<p>Every coach and every player thinks they ARE competitive. Competitive teams have their problems as well. I know more than a few players who transferred down from Division I, where playing time is hard to come by and the schedule is intense, to Division III schools that aren’t that great but the kids are having a great time trying to win games. To each his own.</p>