I agree with ya big daddy it is very difficult to get "real money or a full ride" in any one situation.
Which IMO is where the grades come into play! because if you are a "quality" soccer player and also a "quality" student you can receive some money from both which when added together equals real money.
You don't have to be a Lionel Messi or Albert Einstein to get real money.
You can be a Peter Crouch and a Shibumi combined and still get real money!
There is a lot more money available for the well rounded "quality" student athlete than there is for just the athlete or just the student.