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, gas, pay their car notes, pay their car insurance, etc. It's a very low percentage. I would estimate it's likely 3% of kids overall on scholarships. All other athletes on scholarships are NOT getting crap, and again, they CANNOT get a job. They aren't allowed to. That's a RULE, too. If you want to back the rules so much, then you need to back them all instead of being selective about them. So, the reality is that the rules are stupid. Let's define "stupid" fully, too: lacking in common sense. Now, let's define another word - Exploitation: to take advantage of (a person, situation, etc), especially unethically or unjustly for one's own ends and/or profit.
If you don't believe the kids playing college athletics are being exploited, then do some simple math. I want you to figure out what exactly the scholarship worth is that any/every player is worth - I mean, find out what the college has been "out" for only the exact length of time said kid was there. In fact, here...I'll do one for you...
If you are a non-resident of Texas, and you decide to attend Texas A&M on full scholarship, you are basically getting $38,701 dollars worth of free services, room and board per year. Okay, now, let's say you are such a great player right off the bat that you start year one and only play two years before going into the NFL draft. That's $77,402 worth of free services rendered to you. But...your jersey is worth no less than $50 a pop, and so is just a mock jersey or poly t-shirt with your same jersey number on it. Don't forget the ones for the ladies or the little kids stuff, too. Let's say a family of five buys gear with your jersey number on it. That's an easy $250. That means that in the course of just the first year you are a favorite player, only 1,549 people have to buy a jersey with your number (a jersey bearing your likeness because let's be real...it's you being awesome why they want it) just to make $77,402 dollars profit.....therefore making back the money spent on said player to be there for free. Now, use more common sense, please. You should easily understand that the kids are exploited because they are raking in far, far more profit than this little example.