This study explored memorable messages that former football student-athletes recalled regarding academics and athletics. Respondents were asked via interviews and a survey questionnaire to recall memorable messages and to describe the source, context, and importance of the message. Student-athletes were asked what memorable messages were evoked when making decisions with respect to academics and athletics while they were participating in intercollegiate athletics. Sociological theories were used to analyze the graduation gap difference between Black and White football student-athletes. These theoretical perspectives were used to explore the messages student-athletes received during socialization from parents, coaches, teachers, friends, teammates and others. The socialization agents of student-athletes, and the memorable messages they sent, were analyzed to comprehend why Black football student-athletes graduate at a significantly lower rate than their White counterparts. The findings examined positive and negative memorable messages and how they contributed to academic and athletic achievement. The research explored the association of memorable messages to the time commitment and significance of academics and athletics and the connection to graduation rates for Black and White football student-athletes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]