College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

[buckeyedawgtribe]

I am with OBannon they should get a percentage of profits since we all know they " are in the game". College athletes should not get paid. Free education, Free Room, Free meals is enough. Once they graduate and are in a video game they should get a small stipend from the sale of that game.

[mestevo]

I am with OBannon they should get a percentage of profits since we all know they " are in the game". College athletes should not get paid. Free education, Free Room, Free meals is enough. Once they graduate and are in a video game they should get a small stipend from the sale of that game.

Thing is, does every single athlete get all of that? (Free room, meals, etc)

Wasn't aware food was part of their scholarships either...

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[JerseySuave4]

Thing is, does every single athlete get all of that? (Free room, meals, etc)

Wasn't aware food was part of their scholarships either...

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They get free tuition, free place to live, free books and they get a few bucks either weekly or monthly for meals and such. When my brother played college football on a full ride, he still took out a loan. He said just about every player on scholarship did and they just used that loan for personal use such as a car or something else they may need. Plus these guys at big schools get money under the table. I've seen it firsthand. I won't say who or with what school but i've personally seen a player after a game get money.

Even with all that though, with the amount of money some of these programs generate, its hard for the kids to see that and not think they deserve a piece of the pie. However, a lot of these schools football/basketball programs really drive the rest of the school's sports and help support them financially.

I do think college kids should get a small portion, here's my only issue. How do you decide how much? Should the punter get the same amount as the Star QB? Do you pay based on performance? Is it a flat rate? Should the swimmer make the same money as the football player? Do athletes who's sports don't generate the football/basketball money deserve to get paid?

It's very easy to simply say these guys should get paid, coming up with a real solution isn't that easy.

[wallofhate]

Players (especially star players) get special treatment. Is the dirty little secret that players don't talk about. From drunk driving swept under the rug to rape and violence on other students that also receive the same fate. Not showing up for classes and showing up but being sleep and disruptive. Test being taken for players hell I went to school with a star basketball player that could bally read. Im not saying all players do this or it happens everywhere but it does occur more frequent than many of us want to believe. So they get special treatment it may not be financial but it almost means the same in the long run especially when you add the free ride. Try that sid as a regular student and see how fast you get charges and kicked off campus

[soxnut1018]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

I do think college kids should get a small portion, here's my only issue. How do you decide how much? Should the punter get the same amount as the Star QB? Do you pay based on performance? Is it a flat rate? Should the swimmer make the same money as the football player? Do athletes who's sports don't generate the football/basketball money deserve to get paid?

It's very easy to simply say these guys should get paid, coming up with a real solution isn't that easy.

Allow college athletes to hire agents and to unionize. The market will determine how much players get paid, just like other professional sports.

[Sundown2600]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

I just have to laugh at some of these answers. I love how ppl blame the players in the lawsuit just because they are afraid of losing their precious video games. Give the NCAA a pass and blame the players when the NCAA makes the ridiculous rules to start with? Think...

[K0ZZ]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

Introducing an agency system for college athletes would be awful for the parity of the sports as well as the attending students whom are only seeking education.

That being said, I'm not familiar with the NCAA business model but they should definitely be operating as a NFP, with any excess money over basic expenditures being reinvested into the colleges academic and athletic programs as well as scholarship programs. College tuition is rising above inflation as is. Bringing in another sizable expenditure is not the answer.

Things such as the school providing meal cards, covering books, room and board is totally fine. I'm not against increasing benefits for student athletes in the sense of giving them necessary amenities but an all out agent (or purchase) system would cause even further rises in tuition.

[soxnut1018]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

Introducing an agency system for college athletes would be awful for the parity of the sports as well as the attending students whom are only seeking education.

If coaches can earn salaries and hire agents, why shouldn't players be able to?

[K0ZZ]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

If coaches can earn salaries and hire agents, why shouldn't players be able to?

They are receiving scholarships.

High school coaches receive stipends/ additional salary for coaching their sports. The individual high schools receive ticket sales, so high school athletes should receive a weekly paycheck correct? There's a massive difference between making a career out of something and being semi-professional. College athletes much like college students with their sights on professional leagues are learning the skillsets and conditioning from these coaches to groom themselves for their future careers while those that don't have a future in professional athletics are making approximately 10K - 60K (typically in the middle) per year in scholarships. (60K is the high end, if I remember correctly Miami U is 55K? Number could be off)

As long as they want to hold onto the student-athlete label they need to operate as such, legitimately the NCAA has not been holding to that ethos. If they continue down the path they are going (encouraging trivial systems that collapse regional conferences in favor of increased budgeting for the schools therein) than it will come eventually. That shouldn't be the intent for college athletes. The NCAA is in the wrong at the moment, there is no denying that, but two wrongs don't solve a problem.

Not to mention while it works for the main revenue grossing programs (NCAAF, NCAAMB), what about the other sports that are already subsidized by budgets coming from the 'main two'.

Colleges at their forefront are an educational institute and they provide their service in exchange to the outstanding college athletes whom utilize their talents to further the interests of the schools. Now that is a little less shady (keyword: little) but it's obvious the NCAA is grossing revenue beyond what they are reinvesting back, and as long as they want to maintain the moniker's of student-athletes and continue stressing parity, the true solution is a re-evaulation of the governing body of the college as well as a more formalized and standardized distribution of incomes so that the schools as a whole are benefiting from athletic programs and don't stress their foundation.

The current system needs to be amended / laxed in some cases, that much is true. There is some ridiculous stories out there, but simply trying to apply a basic economic principle for an intricate system isn't an answer. (Implementing the agency system and allowing the supply and demand of student athletes settle an equilibrium price)

[birdie1973]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

They get a free education that is worth thousands if not millions of dollars.... They are hardly "unpaid"

[thelasthurtknee]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

First off blame title nine not the ncaa for players not getting payed if u actually believe they should get more than they do. As long as title nine is in place forget players getting money.

But lets say the do. Ill take tebow on this since there was already a study. His scholarship was worth about 250, 000 over the course of his career at florida. Housing, food, books and education. Lets not forget a top notch doctors and trainers, world class football and strengt coach for free. Most important, no loans to pay back. But still tons of uniforms with him number were sold. He would make over a dollar a jersey. His jersey was one of them the mostly sold to date in college football. Numbers on college jerseys is a new thing as random numbers were used up till 10 years ago. Tebow would of taken home about 20, 000 on his jerseys. Thats it. School gets half as does the maker. 99.9 percent would not sell enough to cover the set up costs to make jerseys.

Kevin ware would get a piece for those shirts but also the college. Ould recoup the money for any outside medical fees from injury and rehad. Prob anonther 30, 000 to 70, 000 dollars. If u start paying players then schools will start charging them. But of course none of this while title nine in effect.

As far as ea goes, they pay millions of dollars a year to the schools already. With top schools making as much as a quarter of a million a piece. Also the ncaa told ea a few years ago they could use real players but the choose not too.

Players getting payed is silly. The make a fortune from what they get if they take atvantage of it. Why change it when it would really effect about .5 % of football players as most will not make a profit but it is true they arent marketed for this purpose unless ur a top player.

Also not one player outside of football would of made money. Basketball could but players dont stay long enough to generate profit. Just some insight.

[UMhester04]

When you guys get a chance, read the piece about paying NCAA players by Joe Nocera of the NY Times. Real good article.


Edit. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/ma...anted=all&_r=0

[soxnut1018]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

They get a free education that is worth thousands if not millions of dollars.... They are hardly "unpaid"

There are several problems with this argument. The first of which is that this education is not worth close to the value they bring in to the school. That would be like arguing actors shouldn't get paid since they get health care. Also, most college athletes are persuading from taking "real" classes because they would be too time consuming. There's a reason you have division 1 "student" athletes who still struggle to read.

College athletes, football players in particular, are doing a job that is causing incredible harm to their bodies and they need to be compensated for it. I understand that a free market system might be overly simplistic, but frankly, any system would be more fair than the one currently in place.

[JSU SWAC Champs07]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

Playing College Sports is a choice not a right, kids are receiving a free education that can certainly last longer than their playing career...The problem is the kids arent taking advantage of their education point blank....These athletes today are receiving so much in Scholarships, Financial Aid, Work Study payments and not to mention under the table perks....As a student athlete I knew that I didnt have a shot to make it to the league so I took advantage of my partially free education.

And for those who complain about coaches salaries I could've sworn that they are professionals in their field, and then not to mention how could anyone really regulate payment, will the football player get the same amount as the kid on the womens soccer team? Title 9 will not let that happen....Not too mention most schools athletic dept break even at the end of the year so really all of this money is being used to run the dept and other sports.

Next up u guys are gonna say High School kids should get paid just cuz they play 1 game on ESPN...

All schools arent making money like the BCS schools..Once athletes start getting paid that will be the end of college athletics at alot of schools!

[JSU SWAC Champs07]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

There are several problems with this argument. The first of which is that this education is not worth close to the value they bring in to the school. That would be like arguing actors shouldn't get paid since they get health care. Also, most college athletes are persuading from taking "real" classes because they would be too time consuming. There's a reason you have division 1 "student" athletes who still struggle to read.

College athletes, football players in particular, are doing a job that is causing incredible harm to their bodies and they need to be compensated for it. I understand that a free market system might be overly simplistic, but frankly, any system would be more fair than the one currently in place.

Whos fault is it that they decided that would rather play football than get an education that is presented to them in terms of a scholarship....I guess we should feel sorry for them when they are out the league and working AT Walmart at 25 yrs of age because they chose not to take advantage of their FREE EDUCATION....

Some of the kids have better rides clothes and cars and jewelry than most of us.. No I do not feel for a college athlete have fun and enjoy the ride because after college is the real world. Everyone doesnt make it to the league!