Courtney Paris, Larry Eustachy and Tony Fudoli share something in common.

Giving back.

Paris, a senior center on the Oklahoma University women's basketball team, says she will pay back her four-year scholarship if the Sooners don't win the NCAA championship this year.

There's a certain powerhouse team in Connecticut that might force Paris to write that hefty check, but she's serious about doing it.

For her, it's not all about winning. It's what comes with winning.

As Paris puts it, each victory now gives her that much more time to spend with her teammates.

The camaraderie of a team is priceless in her eyes.

Eustachy is the men's basketball coach at Southern Mississippi University. He recently gave back a $25,000 bonus to the school because of the current economic climate and the Golden Eagles' disappointing season.

Southern Mississippi, a Conference USAprogram, finished 15-17. The team won 20 games two years ago and 19 last year.

While his bonus was tied to attendance, Eustachy said he didn't feel right about accepting it because his team's record regressed.

"Why would I take a bonus when we went backwards?"Eustacy asked in an Associated Press story.

Giving back money is one thing. Giving back a dream to serve your country is another.

Butler High senior Tony Fudoli, a starting running back-linebacker for the Golden Tornado football team last fall, always wanted to play college football.

He received an offer to play at Bethany College, a Division IIIprogram near Wheeling, W.Va.

"The offensive and defensive coaches there were fighting over me,"Fudoli said with a chuckle. "They wanted me on both sides of the ball."

Neither is getting him.

Fudoli decided to enlist in the Marine Corps. Instead of reporting to summer football camp, he's reporting to Parris Island, S.C., boot camp Sept. 8.

"Since I was a little kid, I had a goal of becoming a Marine,"Fudoli said. "For all that's been given to me by this country, I want to give something back.

"I'm not concerned about combat. I'm joining because of combat. I want to defend my country."

Fudoli admitted the decision to spurn college football was a difficult one. He had hoped to play college ball, then go into the Marines, but found himself having to choose.

"There is a program where you can go into the service while in college, but you have to give up one Saturday per month. Playing football, that wouldn't have worked.

"My sergeant told me I had to choose one or the other. I chose to serve."

Athletics aren't just about playing games and excelling in them. It's about learning how to be quality people and doing the right thing.

For Paris and Eustachy, it's giving up money for performances not up to their standards.

For Fudoli, it's giving up a chance to perform for the privilege of serving his country.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.