A local college professor is facing some backlash on social media after telling students their academics are more important than playing Division III college athletics.

In an email now circulating the internet, Anna Maria College professor James Duggan said as a former D-III athlete himself, he disagrees with sports at this level interfering with academics. Some student-athletes are set to travel to Florida, which Duggan said in his email will interfere with midterm exam schedules.

Former major league baseball player Seth McClung posted the email on social media after he says a student athlete reached out to him. He said participating in college athletics is not just about becoming a professional athlete.

"There's so many values, that's why we have athletics in school,” McClung said. “We learn so much from that side of it that carries on into real world applications. So, D-III, D-1, D-II, whatever it is, to sit there and say you're not going to have a career in athletics further, it's not even close to applicable.

“I had a guy on that Twitter feed who said, ‘guess what, I was a D-III golfer, now I run a golf course.’ So, there's other avenues that they can gain value from athletics other than playing in the big leagues."

In a statement, Anna Maria College said in part it completely supports its D-III student-athletes as they pursue their academic and athletic goals. The school added academics always come first, and they've had measurable success creating a balance between the two.