West Lafayette, Indiana, a city of 45,000, is located about 2.5 hours from Chicago. The city’s population grows during the academic year thanks to Purdue University, a public institution founded in 1869 after local businessman John Purdue donated land and money to establish a college focused on science, technology and agriculture.

Today, Purdue is considered a leading engineering school and has 27 astronauts among its graduates – including Neil Armstrong.

I attended Purdue University for a year as part of an exchange program with my alma mater, the University of Galway, and later completed my Masters at the University of Notre Dame.

The contrast between student life in Ireland and the USA was striking. In the USA, students usually live in halls of residence and eat in the dorms, with most staying on campus on weekends.

The biggest difference I noticed, however, was the immense pride students have in their universities – a concept that is almost non-existent in Ireland.

The main reason for this pride? University sports.

West Lafayette is a small city (by American standards), but Ross-Ade Stadium, home of the Purdue Boilermakers American football team, has a capacity of more than 61,000 spectators.

Although the team has had limited success since its golden years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the stadium sells out every fall as thousands of locals and alumni return to support the newest generation of Boilermakers. This passion for college sports isn’t just entertainment – it brings in significant revenue through ticket sales, merchandising and media rights.

More importantly, it increases the university’s national profile and attracts more students. For example, Villanova University, a small Catholic college outside Philadelphia, saw a 22.3 percent increase in applications after its basketball team won the national title.

Student athletes receive scholarships rather than salaries. In return, they receive world-class coaching, nutrition, and a competitive environment in which they can hone their skills and develop a strong sense of community and pride.

When I arrived on campus in 2017, I was initially skeptical, but soon became a passionate Purdue basketball fan.

Fast forward a few years and I was just as excited about Notre Dame football. This pride goes beyond sports – alumni networks are strong and supportive, and members often help each other professionally. For example, a Notre Dame alumnus put me in touch with the company I work for today.

When you watch the Olympics and see the United States consistently at the top of the medal table, remember that the collegiate sports system plays an important role. An impressive 75 percent of U.S. Olympic athletes competed in the collegiate environment. While football and basketball take the spotlight, student-athletes in all sports can leverage their education and training to build successful careers.

Golf is a prime example.

When Scottie Scheffler won the gold medal at Golf National, it capped an extraordinary year for American golfers, who won all four major tournaments for the first time since 1982.

All of the major winners of this era honed their skills in college golf programs. They had free access to some of the most competitive amateur tournaments in the world. In contrast, talented amateurs in Europe often have to compete at the expense of other countries before reaching the highest level. In the US, college golf offers a direct path to the PGA Tour, allowing top talent to advance without financial burden.

As competition for talent between universities becomes more intense, recruiters are increasingly focusing on overseas.

Swedish golfer Ludvig Åberg, who graduated from Texas Tech last year, competed in the Ryder Cup just months later. French swimmer Léon Marchand won four gold medals in Paris after finishing his college career at Arizona State University. Our own Rhasidat Adeleke became national champion in the 400-meter dash at the University of Texas before making waves at the European Championships and the Olympic Games.

International recruitment by U.S. universities is a testament to the global appeal of the American college sports system, which offers athletes not only an education but also a well-supported path to professional success. This mix of academic rigor and athletic opportunity fosters a deep sense of loyalty and pride among students and alumni.

( Getting a table at the Marqette at Dublin Airport in July is a challenge that would test even top athletesOpens in new window. )

For many, this experience extends far beyond the classroom, creating lifelong connections and opening doors to careers in and outside of sports. As the world becomes more interconnected, the influence of this system is likely to continue to grow, attracting talent from around the world and cementing the U.S. as a powerhouse in both academics and sports.

When Florida State and Georgia Tech face off at Aviva Stadium later this month, Irish spectators may be surprised by the intensity with which Americans support their college teams. In fact, these passionate fans are helping to fund the next generation of U.S. Olympians and big-time winners.

• Evan Cannon is from Carrabane, Athenry, Co Galway. He moved to the US in 2019 to study at the University of Notre Dame. He lives in Philadelphia where he works as an investment analyst at a venture capital fund. He also writes a weekly newsletter called Blue Eagle Golf Club.
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