As someone who played sports in college, for >99% of people it really was just about having fun: you're hanging out with your friends, getting some exercise, and doing something enjoyable. I exercised side-by-side with people who went on to represent my country on the international stage and their dedication was definitely the exception.

No silly scholarships involved here, though: I live in the EU, so education is reasonably affordable to everyone without it, and the colleges don't feel the need to pretend to be professional sports teams.