I 95% agree with this. The only comment I will make is the time commitment of football is staggering. So, say now you lost your scholarship, I can understand the perspective as now you are "volunteering" you time. (It is not like everything they have to do is fun; far from it.) Further, the challenges of attending classes and doing decent in school are still there.
So, is it heart? Or is it "brain" if he is serious about completing his education? Honestly, I don't know as if he had a chance to earn the scholie back, I would probably go completely to your point of view.