Last Wednesday was an historic day in college athletics. Regardless of future appeals and court decisions, the Chicago division of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled in favor of recognizing Northwestern University football players’ right to try to unionize.

The NLRB ruled that, because NCAA Division I student-athletes’ pay (in the form of scholarships) is dependent on athletics, not academic performance, those athletes are employees of their respective schools. The ruling highlights the power many schools exert over their student athletes, who often spend 50 or more hours per week devoted to their teams. Often, that dedication means time away from the classroom and academic pursuits.

Why the push to unionize? One aspect centers on pay as University employees. If NCAA Division I schools rake in millions in sports revenue and television deals, some players argue, shouldn’t the athletes who make it all possible share in the profits? (Then again, only a handful of these programs actually turn a profit. In fact, only 23 of 228 athletic programs at Division I schools were able to completely cover their expenses in 2012.)

Former Northwestern Quarterback Cain Kolter, however, notes that academic support needs to be prioritized more heavily.

“We love our game, but you can’t say that playing football and putting 40 to 50 hours per week is going to help your academic experience; it’s probably going to hurt it,” said Kolter. “A lot of times we do a great job of balancing sports and academics, but we need some support and some basic protections.”

Certainly a high level of dedication is necessary to excel in any activity, and success in athletics does require long hours in training and competition. However, we know that most student-athletes do not go pro in sports. To be competitive beyond college and off the court, we cannot ignore the responsibility of academic institutions to prepare student-athletes’ minds for the future in the same rigorous way they train for their sports. This is especially true if, as Northwestern University argues, its student-athletes are classified foremost as students.

But we do also need to put some of the onus on student-athletes. For many Division I athletes, college education and athletic costs are covered in their entirety. Over four years, the cost per student-athlete can exceed $200,000. Yes, they are earning their scholarships through a deep commitment to their sports, but athletes must be cognizant of their gift to perform and develop both academically and athletically.

For those Division I student-athletes whose costs are not entirely covered, a reality is that many athletic departments rely on tier one programs of football and men’s basketball to support other sports and contribute to academic progress at the institution. For example, the University of Florida was able to pump $7.2 million of football revenue into academic programming from the 2012-2013 season, while Alabama’s football program contributed $6.5 million to scholarships. This means revenue-generating sports are not isolating their funds but, when possible, distributing them for the good of other teams and students.

Still, the big issue is that more can be done to create a positive environment in the midst of this recent tension. This is a conversation that applies to all collegiate programs, regardless of Division. Where can student-athletes, coaches, athletic programs and the NCAA meet in the middle?

On all sides, we must keep in mind the idea of gratitude. Athletes at all levels of competition can continue to perfect their craft and get an education through collegiate athletics. For many, both the academic and athletic sides of the student equation open doors during and after college. For the NCAA and athletic departments now feeling the pressure of athletes looking to share in sports-related profits, this is also a strong call to find ways to demonstrate gratitude to athletes who indeed contribute to school recognition and prestige.