Official NCAA store selling player jerseys by name

[Art01]

For those who are debating this issue, consider the following:

If the basic situation changes and college players are allowed to profit from and/or be paid for, their services, then the schools will be justified in having each player sign a binding Contract when he/she enrolls and begins to reap whatever benefits are to be made available.

This Contract will most likely resemble any other business services contract and will include clauses to address "Termination for Convenience" by either the player or the school, Force Majeure (which essentially provides for protection from consequential damages resulting from "Acts of God" and other unavoidable events, including injuries), and "Termination for Cause" resulting from player non-performance or detrimental acts committed by the player. The school will likely have far more control of the player's activities and lifestyle under such a Contract, than currently exists today.

Any player who might want to leave school early for a lucrative professional offer would probably have to make restitution to the school for lost services under the "Termination for Convenience" clause.

There is probably no reason to believe that all Contracts would have to be equal. Star players could very well demand and receive far more benefits than their less-talented peers.

The pampered athlete in today's college athletics programs would become a thing of the past. The current paternal relationship would be replaced by a strictly business relationship.

Competition for the top athletes would become a ruthless, winner take all contest, with the richest schools stockpiling the top talent. Think back to the pre-scholarship-limits days when the top athletic programs stockpiled talent.

In my opinion, athletes had best be very careful about asking for this kind of arrangement.

And, there is one more factor to be considered. Any such business relationship between a student-athlete and a school might be successfully challenged in court as discriminatory by a non-athlete student who is not receiving the same benefits.

[laxman490]

Quote: Originally Posted by makeithappen

Well we can no longer give out academic scholarships to smart in-state kids who don't play sports, because we have use that money to pay our players now. Let's change the whole dynamic without even thinking of the consequences. Alabama tickets are expensive enough as it is. The price will surely be put on the consumer.

wow, i cant believe someone is defending the ncaa. look we are not talking about taking money from others, but giving the players what they are rightly earning for their schools and the ncaa.

you think the millions in ticket sales are going to academic scholarships?

the point is that the ncaa is making money off the players, but the players arent getting just compensation.

[The JareBear]

There is so much money in college football, it's insane. Michigan has nicer facilities than some NFL teams.

[BigMoneyAllDay]

Quote: Originally Posted by alemic

I think we all understand that the NCAA is making a ton of money off of the players but the thing is the money goes to other places. Not all of it goes back into the CEO's pocket, a lot of it goes towards other sports, other scholarships, funding for research, and countless other things that the university NEEDS in order to succeed outside of football. Sure playing the players makes the football aspect of everything look "better" (though I disagree) you are going to be taking away a lot of things from the rest of the university. Many schools use their football programs to build up their academics and pay for other things. If Ohio State starts paying Miller 100k a year (just an example) they are going to have to pay every other player the same amount or else you are just turning the NCAA into the NFL with colleges. How would you like to see the players who try to go and build a program up no longer want to do that because Ohio State can pay them 300k a year and Eastern Michigan can't even afford to buy them lunch? If you start to pay the players sure the big time school might be ok but what about the small schools? They would be far worse than they are now. Do you like to see the Boise State's, Northern Illinois teams make runs into the BCS and play Cinderella? Well once you start paying these players I promise you that is over. The NCAA would become a complete joke with a few really good teams and the rest of the league falling further and further behind each year. Imagine if after college the players could CHOOSE what NFL team they wanted to go to. I promise you 90% of them are going to go to playoff caliber teams and the process continues. There is a reason we have the NFL draft the way it is, and there is a reason they do not pay the players. It is to keep a level playing field across all teams. Whether or not you believe ALL of the money made is going to good use (I don't think anybody does) At least SOME of it does. There are many things you have to think about and there are other schools than just Ohio State, Alabama, USC, and Texas. And if you try to argue that the player can use his name to make money off of autographs, jerseys, etc. its just like the guy a few posts back said why would he play at Minnesota when he can transfer to Ohio State or Alabama and make 10x the amount of money. Until you can find me a system where ALL teams are given a fair chance at paying the players and it will not have an impact on the way recruits choose their school I do not believe paying players is the right idea.

Um dude.. Eastern Michigan caan give them lunch.. they can give everybody on the team lunch.. in fact they have to...

[Ky3217]

Quote: Originally Posted by cuttingteeth

This argument is thin. Any kid who gets a scholarship receives room and board and free education. But...the athletes don't get to have paying jobs like any of the other kids on scholarships. Beyond that, let's be real and think about how many of the college athletes are actually "stars" coupled with how many of them actually have parents who can afford to keep sending them money for food, (provided by the scholarship) gas, (Not a necessity) pay their car notes,(Not a necessity) pay their car insurance,(Not a necessity) etc.

The fact is, everything a college athlete needs is provided by the scholarships. Housing, food, even clothes are provided by the scholarship and team. And on top of that, they get a free education. They dont need to be paid.

Compare them to the average college student who pays their way through school. When they're done, they'll be neck deep in debt. Paying it off for years to come, even with their degree.

A scholarship athlete has two possible scenarios when they finish school. They'll be playing their sport professionally, or they'll have graduated debt free, with a degree.

You can argue that the NCAA is exploiting athletes (despite the fact that the money from jersey sales, etc goes right back to the school and sports program), but you can not argue that the athletes should be paid.

[ghettogeeksta]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ky3217

The fact is, everything a college athlete needs is provided by the scholarships. Housing, food, even clothes are provided by the scholarship and team. And on top of that, they get a free education. They dont need to be paid. Compare them to the average college student who pays their way through school. When they're done, they'll be neck deep in debt. Paying it off for years to come, even with their degree. A scholarship athlete has two possible scenarios when they finish school. They'll be playing their sport professionally, or they'll have graduated debt free, with a degree. You can argue that the NCAA is exploiting athletes (despite the fact that the money from jersey sales, etc goes right back to the school and sports program), but you can not argue that the athletes should be paid.

What does this have to do with NCAA athletes not being able to sell their own stuff or sign their autograph for money?

[NoleFan]

Quote: Originally Posted by CT Pittbull

and im sure Alabama has a higher pay role than the jacksonville jaguars

Now THAT made me chuckle!!

[laxman490]

Quote: Originally Posted by ghettogeeksta

What does this have to do with NCAA athletes not being able to sell their own stuff or sign their autograph for money?

yeah, i think people are missing the point between exploiting players likenesses and scholarships. players get scholarships that include class, room, food, books, etc but so does that kid on an academic scholarship. the difference is that the player is providing millions of extra dollars to the school through revenue on game day, jerseys with their number, posters, etc.

what the ncaa needs to do is only sell #1 jerseys for every school in the whole nation.