Today, as spring break unofficially begins,the majority of Cornellians will find themselves in a common situation. As I drive home, with the thought of prelims, essays and Ithaca clouds out of my mind, I will look forward to a week of relaxing, catching up with family and wishing I had the cash to join some friends on a tropical island vacation. In consolation, I will spend the first night of break watching the Cornell men’s basketball team take on Temple, praying my dad was able to successfully operate our TiVo. When I kick back and crack open a lovely beer that is not a Keystone, however, I will realize that there are a select few Cornell students with whom I likely will never be able to empathize. No matter how many times my brother reminds me, it’s still hard to believe that those guys on national television are some of the same guys who sit with me in lecture.

This phenomenon is not new and actually happens every year when I watch college sports. I have yet to grasp the reality that the students on television are the same age as me, in addition to the fact that some attend school with me. The first strikingly obvious difference I feel compared with college athletes is physical. Standing tall at 5’10” and 150 pounds, I quiver at the thought of being bull rushed by a 6’5”, 250 pound linebacker. Watching someone nearly three times my size jump two feet into the air and dunk a basketball with one hand, I remember struggling to jump into my lofted bed on a daily basis. I have never been the biggest or strongest kid, but rarely do I feel as puny and scrawny as when I stand side by side with some college athletes around campus.

The second enormous distinction between these college athletes and me is the spotlight they regularly play under. Especially as of recently, the Cornell men’s basketball team has been talked about by ESPN, The New York Times, Bloomberg, MSN, Yahoo and many others. Today, millions of viewers across the country will be fixated on the every move of the five Cornell students on the court. I cannot recall the last time I had more than 10 people observing me, and the largest crowd I have ever presented in front of was 3,000 people, which is still larger than most students. Whether or not the Cornell men’s basketball team should be considered “famous” is up for discussion, but there is no doubt that they receive more attention and public scrutiny than the majority of us.

Probably the most significant difference, and likely the most difficult for any student to comprehend, is the career potential and future decisions that some college athletes face. Though only a small percentage, some college athletes will become professional athletes — and many who do will not receive their diploma. According to an annual study released Monday by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida, of the 64 teams competing in this year’s tournament, twelve have graduation rates below 40 percent.

My main point, however, is not to debate whether student athletes deal with the same academic issues as the rest of us students. For the most part, especially at Cornell, I do believe that the student athletes stress over prelims and assignments. While I worry about the LSAT, however, some student athletes contemplate performing in front of NBA scouts, a few of whom will definitely be at the game this afternoon. The chance at having a professional sports career with the prestige, wealth and glamour that often accompanies it is unimaginable to most people. The percentage of all Americans who become professional athletes is miniscule, which makes it that much astonishing when I see fellow classmates of mine with that potential opportunity.

The success of the men’s basketball team this season, and in the past two seasons, has brought enormous positive publicity to Cornell and its athletics program. While most college athletes do not compete on such a large stage, I am envious of them all. The competitiveness, physical prowess and publicity surely separate the college athlete from most students in some ways. As I watch Cornell upset Temple today, I know that we are all students and do share many common challenges and experiences, though it is still extremely hard to believe. Nevertheless, it’s a cool and mystically awesome feeling knowing that those guys on TV are your classmates. Go Big Red!

Shaun Werbelow is a junior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He may be contacted at swerbelow@cornellsun.com. Second Opinion appears alternate Fridays.