I don't think this one is so bad, at least not till the last 10 minutes or so. It certainly is more of a first-season "high school is hell" metaphor than a lot of episodes are this season.
It covers all the bases about how school athletes are treated as special, getting to cut class, given grades they don't deserve to maintain eligibility, and how girls are treated as arm candy for them. Also we see how being on a team confers instant coolness, as with Xander. (I don't deny he was hot in the Speedos, though!😉) But it also highlights how the athletes themselves are often treated like commodities, just valued for their abilities and sometimes mistreated by coaches.
A lot of commenters were mad about the men saying Buffy "led him on" with her clothing, but I felt that's making a point about how athletes can get away with abuse and rape, and people will always blame the victim so as not to risk losing their star player.
The last part did get cringey. First, the after-school special discussion of, "Why would anyone use steroids?" Then the nurse being thrown to the fish boys, and finally attempted gang rape of Buffy. Yick. And last, I did think the implication of "They really love their coach" implied he was being gang-raped.
When Snyder threatened Willow over the one boy's grade, I thought, "Or what? You'll fire her? Cut her pay? She's working for free, buddy!"
A side note: I enjoy how the school hallways are plastered with earnest teen-warning posters about not smoking and such, as if those are the biggest things these kids have to worry about.
"Skins the best part. Any demons with high cholesterol?"
