University of Pikeville Second School to Offer Athletic Scholarships for eSports

[CybrSlydr]

The University of Pikeville (UPIKE) recently joined the list of just two American colleges that recognize League of Legends as a varsity sport, the first being Robert Morris University in Chicago.

A private liberal arts university from Kentucky, UPIKE will also start offering eSports scholarships to qualifying League of Legends players and prospective students this fall, reports WYMT. There are 20 scholarships available.

Just like other athletic scholarships, students eligible for the eSports scholarship will need to maintain a specific GPA, and participate in practice sessions.

"It will be a regime a lot like athletics," said UPIKE's New Media director, Bruce Parsons. "What makes a good League of Legends player and eSports player also makes a good student."

UPIKE graduate Eric VanHoose plans to coach the school's League of Legends team, who will be competing in the Collegiate StarLeague starting this fall.

Source: IGN

[Urbanfox]

[CybrSlydr]

I really like the idea - no reason to see eSports as any different from Football.

Seriously, why do colleges have sports teams? They're not integral to the degrees they grant - so why not have scholarships for those who play eSports?

eSports are also growing in popularity with online viewing - I'm sure the Universities would love another revenue stream.

[Clone of 501]

I hate the eSports movement. I initially didn't care about it, but the people who follow that stuff get on my nerves. My room mate last year would sit at his computer brain dead just watching streams. It got to the point that in casual speech he'd quote something streamers. It drove me up the walls.

That being said, I think colleges having sports teams is already stupid enough. Athletes get priority over me in registering for classes. That's right... in an EDUCATIONal institution, someone who plays sports gets first priority over someone studying a serious degree.

[Urbanfox]

It's the same thing in the real world, though. People who bring in the money get the perks, right wrong or indifferent.