Still, the problem isn't universal--Patterson says his two roommates, both on the team, are still pre-med. Eitzmann says many players combine pre-med requirements with their concentration.

"A lot of the guys who want to go to medical school concentrate in ESPP because it offers them a chance to fulfill premed requirements and still fits into practice schedules," Eitzmann says.

Football Coach Tim L. Murphy says that, of the 13 seniors whose academic plans he's familiar with, three are pre-med.

In fact, since Murphy says the football season is shorter than most sports' seasons, their academic lives could be easier than other athletes' in this regard.

Team member William B. Acker '02, who as an engineering sciences concentrator is an exception to the social sciences rule, points out that Murphy makes players' priorities clear.

"I don't think majors are chosen for flexibility," Acker says. "The coaches make it clear to us that school comes first, and if you have a class or lab, you leave practice or come late to attend that class or lab."

Shawn C. Harriman, undergraduate program administrator in the psychology department--which claims about 25 percent of the football team--says the informal advising network of the football team probably plays a large role in their concentration choices.