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There's nothing worse than a bad reputation. It sticks with you like a shadow and whatever you do, you can't get rid of it.

That's why when an upper level institution that prides itself on academics gets accused, or even worse, caught of giving athletes beneficial treatment, the scandal clouds the school's athletic program for eternity.

College athletes have every advantage at their fingertips to be as successful in the classroom as off. Whether it be personal tutors, academic advisors or study halls, all of the resources are there.

After this month's cheating scandal at Florida State University-a scandal in which an academic adviser and tutor typed athletes' papers and gave them answers to quizzes- you see why Daytona State is such a unique school when it comes to its student-athletes.

Prior to writing this month's front page story about the school possibly sacrificing W's in the win column for A's in the grade book, I was like any other sports fan wondering why my school's teams were struggling.

After talking to athletic director Will Dunne and each of the spring sports' head coaches I left with an ultimately different opinion on the school's academic-first approach with its student-athletes. Never at Daytona State will we see a scandal like the one rocking Florida State. Sure it's only a two-year program for our student-athletes, but it's true that 99 percent of them will be making a living doing something non-sports related.

Daytona State is a school for students to get their feet in the world of higher education before transferring to another college or staying right here in Daytona for a four-year degree. The same goes for its student-athletes…those who transfer to play sports at a four-year school, and even those that don't, can utilize the study skills they learned here to find success in the classroom later.

It's not about recruiting athletes with good grades, it's about recruiting kids who want to learn, and will learn from a teachers and coaches who truly put grades first. Winning seasons may come and go, players move on, but the one thing that will always remain here at Daytona State is its academic prestige.

Championships will come and heck, they may even come this year. The baseball team is right there in the thick of the Mid-Florida Conference race and the women's golf team will have home-course advantage in the national championships May 18-21 at LPGA International.

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