> conscientiousness + willpower -> athletic ability -> $ ?

It's funny that people think this is a meritocracy. Nope, those student athletes get special treatment because they are student athletes. Or else, maybe those student athletes had NO athletic ability, but got athletic scholarships via fraud. https://abcnews.go.com/US/mastermind-varsity-blues-college-c... “Among those prosecuted were ... Ivy League coaches who opened sham spots on their rosters for Singer's clients in exchange for bribes”