I really feel like this is a regional thing. At the high school I went to, the football team played second fiddle to the soccer team, but in general, unless you

I really feel like this is a regional thing. At the high school I went to, the football team played second fiddle to the soccer team, but in general, unless you bought your own equipment, you were still playing with helmets, uniforms, and other equipment that was somewhat fecund. There were plenty of times that players sat because of grades or disciplinary actions, and the football players were no more prestigious than the Frisbee golf club. Sports were treated as "just another club," and while their budget was obviously larger than other clubs (some larger than others), I don't think they were anything near the stories we hear about the southern states who can't afford text books but have football stadiums that rival some colleges. Schools need a healthy balance between education and personal development, and I think that sports go a long way towards personal development, whether they be team sports or individual sports.