College Football Players to Sue for Employee Privileges

[Activated Alpha]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/college-players-sue-to-be-classified-as-school-employees/ar-AATD1UH?ocid=msedgntp

Saw this coming when they pushed and sued for the NIL deal out west. PAC-12 players are killing this sport and it won't stop there. College football is about to be a completely different beast than what it was a couple of decades ago....

[Dawgology]

Hahah. They don’t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board…but hey…they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there’s no federal aid. We can cut most women’s sports and save the university a ton of money.

[Commercecomet24]

Hahah. They don’t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board…but hey…they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there’s no federal aid. We can cut most women’s sports and save the university a ton of money.

This is about the only way this thing can work. What a mess they've created. Geez

[HoopsDawg]

What a disaster.

[parabrave]

Yep lets see how they like paying not only for Tuition and books but also got their room and board. Add in the food they eat, Steak, they should have to pay trainers for taping them, tutors for taking their test for them and all the extra crap they get that normal paying students don't. And as freshmen they should have to sign non competitive clauses.

[Maroonthirteen]

Do other university employees get scholarships for tuition and housing? No.

If they become university employees, then why do they have to enroll in school? They don't.

If they decide to enroll in school, they can attend class on their time. Pay out of their pocket just like every other employee at the school.

[Maroonthirteen]

If these college players are really worth so much money, Just start a minor league, for high school kids to skip college. If they can knock each other around at 18 at college, they can knock each other around at 18 for the Memphis Showboats, Birmingham Stallions... etc etc

If these players are really worth what they say they are.... the tv contract will come for this minor league and espn will dump the colleges. Hahahahahaha. Go for it nfl, players(D1 football and basketball only). Hahaha.

[FISHDAWG]

Yep lets see how they like paying not only for Tuition and books but also got their room and board. Add in the food they eat, Steak, they should have to pay trainers for taping them, tutors for taking their test for them and all the extra crap they get that normal paying students don't. And as freshmen they should have to sign non competitive clauses.

no transfer portal as a result ...... maybe those guys out on the left coast enjoy paying income taxes because that would only be fair

[Saltydog]

When you open some doors it's hard to ever completely shut them and that's exactly what's happened here! Where does it end?

[redstickdawg]

this may be the beginning of the end for widespread college sports, this could have major impacts upon women's sports especially. If athletes are employees you can hire or fire at will in some cases and also this is the possible beginning of a salary cap / structure as well. If they are employees and no longer students this eliminates the fa?ade of these athletes being students in many cases and moves everything to minor league status, the SEC is basically the minor league for the NFL right now.

If the US moves to the minor league model for college sports and stops calling the athletes students then they are nothing but employees and I can see minor league sports disassociating from colleges altogether. this is how most of the rest of the world does it, college is for education and minor leagues are for future professional sports stars development. College athletics in most other countries in club level and truly amateur.

[RiverCityDawg]

Do other university employees get scholarships for tuition and housing? No.

If they become university employees, then why do they have to enroll in school? They don't.

If they decide to enroll in school, they can attend class on their time. Pay out of their pocket just like every other employee at the school.

Yep. I've been saying that eventually players will just be employees on the school's football team. No obligation to be students, full on employees with a union, salary caps, etc.

[Maroonthirteen]

this may be the beginning of the end for widespread college sports, this could have major impacts upon women's sports especially. If athletes are employees you can hire or fire at will in some cases and also this is the possible beginning of a salary cap / structure as well. If they are employees and no longer students this eliminates the fa?ade of these athletes being students in many cases and moves everything to minor league status, the SEC is basically the minor league for the NFL right now.

If the US moves to the minor league model for college sports and stops calling the athletes students then they are nothing but employees and I can see minor league sports disassociating from colleges altogether. this is how most of the rest of the world does it, college is for education and minor leagues are for future professional sports stars development. College athletics in most other countries in club level and truly amateur.

Yeah, I can't believe this lawsuit will stand without including all sports. Regardless, with just two sports, I imagine the added expense of a payroll, employment taxes and health benefits with be a huge burden on the Universities and cause the Universities to cut out other minor net loss sports.

However, for the sake of conversation, I am trying to understand how anyone thinks this is possible. So, if you can make college players employees, and the sport minor leagues. I guess the thought is a school can operate a "department of athletics" just like a school operates a cafeteria???? It is a service the school is providing to feed the students. SO why not have a service to entertain the students and alumni?????? It would take years for alumni to accept this change. However, for a school to operate a payroll of 55-85 players and another 15 for basketball, the tv money, ticket prices would have to go up up and up. There would have to be some salary cap. Otherwise you get into a biding war for employees.

[Extendedcab]

When you open some doors it's hard to ever completely shut them and that's exactly what's happened here! Where does it end?

It ends with the complete destruction of college "amateur" sports!

[Commercecomet24]

When you open some doors it's hard to ever completely shut them and that's exactly what's happened here! Where does it end?

No end to it. Pandora's box.

[Maroonthirteen]

Also if players are employees, why would they be subjected to NCAA rules? They wouldn't.

For example, if Polk or a Fred Ross or Fitz wants to try the nfl, go ahead. Once they get cut, come on back to Starkville. We will hire you until you find another job or can't play.

Or former Alabama superstar is cut from the nfl at anytime or 26-28 yo. Hire them.

[OLJWales]

Why stop there? Yall seen the size and money involved with TX HS Football? They could throw in some child labor laws to boot.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Hahah. They don’t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board…but hey…they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there’s no federal aid. We can cut most women’s sports and save the university a ton of money.

Yeah, this is the work of radicals. There is no stopping this since there is so much money involved. Probably a lawyer feeding frenzy.

If they become contract, unionized employees with standardized benefits - universities will actually love it. More complexity, control, and it probably creates 20 new administrator jobs. Makes all the informal hucksters, bagmen, and con-men obsolete.

In fairness to the players, they are looking at the billions that the universities rake and their head coach living like a British Royal. Also, the players are not really students, the scholarship is a fake benefit cause most players have to major in stuff that enables football, not the other way around. It's like getting a free meal if you work at Pizza Hut, you get to eat what was going in the trash that night.

[HoopsDawg]

Yep lets see how they like paying not only for Tuition and books but also got their room and board. Add in the food they eat, Steak, they should have to pay trainers for taping them, tutors for taking their test for them and all the extra crap they get that normal paying students don't. And as freshmen they should have to sign non competitive clauses.

Let's not forget taxes for all of these extra benefits. And most employees have code of conduct clauses. And of course equal pay for women. So that would open up lawsuits if the women's equestrian teem is not getting equal pay to the football players. Would they get overtime for putting in extra work? deep rabbit hole.

[FISHDAWG]

would this make the schools liable for lawsuits if player X kicks a guy in the head after a bowl game ? ..... it has happened before

[Commercecomet24]

Imagine how much more bureacracy this will create. Taxes, lawyers, accountants, more government to make sure they get their share. This is a disaster of epic proportions.

[ImissCityBagel]

I'm getting to the point where I think that college football should be removed from universities and be formed into minor leagues. 18 year old athletes walking around campus as employees is a mockery.

[Commercecomet24]

I'm getting to the point where I think that college football should be removed from universities and be formed into minor leagues. 18 year old athletes walking around campus as employees is a mockery.

It really is the only solution. They're not student athletes and havent been for awhile. Let those that choose do the their minor league or just go straight to the nfl or nba and let the the kids who need athletic scholarships as a way to pay for school be the ones that benefit from the education. Our society has lost it's collective mind.

[Tbonewannabe]

It will be interesting to see what happens with taxes. All of the sudden does high tuition schools start losing recruits based on how much they would have to pay in on taxes. There is a cap on tax deductions so it isn't like MSU tuition at $5k per semester vs UGA at $20k per semester are equal. Of course the NIL money could make up for the difference in taxes but it does actually make MSU and other lower cost universities a little more desirable.

[Tbonewannabe]

It really is the only solution. They're not student athletes and havent been for awhile. Let those that choose do the their minor league or just go straight to the nfl or nba and let the the kids who need athletic scholarships as a way to pay for school be the ones that benefit from the education. Our society has lost it's collective mind.

Coaches have also basically required year round training now also. The demands put on the "student athlete" are a lot bigger than when they were thought of as students. The work load doesn't allow some majors to even be a consideration which shouldn't be the case if the "student" part of student athlete was true.

[Commercecomet24]

Coaches have also basically required year round training now also. The demands put on the "student athlete" are a lot bigger than when they were thought of as students. The work load doesn't allow some majors to even be a consideration which shouldn't be the case if the "student" part of student athlete was true.

No doubt about that part of it either, but they get perks and benefits that the regular students who are also working sometimes full time jobs and full course loads don't get either. Most students(outside of the extremely affluent) have to work their butts off to help pay for school as well as keeping up their course load and I guarantee most would trade with what the athletes get at anytime.

[viverlibre]

No matter what happens with this lawsuit, NIL has changed college football forever. 10 years from now it will be a totally different sport. Local Jxn sports hosts (like Matt Wyatt) were initially saying NIL wouldn't have a major negative impact on smaller programs (like MSU), but with every Texas lineman (3rd team backups included) set to get $50k annually, that's going to change the game. Can it get to a point that smaller P5 in state programs merge sports programs (like State/UM)? Something to think about. If either or both programs turn into an annual 3-4 win team, no one will be in the stands on either campus. Too many other options competing for one's time, money and attention. We have millionaire boosters, some programs have billionaire boosters.

[Percho]

The L O V E of money

[MedDawg]

Hahah. They don?t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board?but hey?they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there?s no federal aid. We can cut most women?s sports and save the university a ton of money.

And have them sign non-compete agreements. No transferring to another school.

[MedDawg]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/college-players-sue-to-be-classified-as-school-employees/ar-AATD1UH?ocid=msedgntp

Saw this coming when they pushed and sued for the NIL deal out west. PAC-12 players are killing this sport and it won't stop there. College football is about to be a completely different beast than what it was a couple of decades ago....

If athletes are employees, can a school even have women's-only teams? Gotta be some federal labor rules against it.

[MedDawg]

Also if players are employees, why would they be subjected to NCAA rules? They wouldn't.

For example, if Polk or a Fred Ross or Fitz wants to try the nfl, go ahead. Once they get cut, come on back to Starkville. We will hire you until you find another job or can't play.

Or former Alabama superstar is cut from the nfl at anytime or 26-28 yo. Hire them.

That actually would be pretty cool.

[Catfish]

This is an absolute mess guys.

[R2Dawg]

Hahah. They don?t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board?but hey?they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there?s no federal aid. We can cut most women?s sports and save the university a ton of money.

Ha, I like this option.

Pay them their cheesy salary and send them the bill from the University for the rest. They can feel what it is like to be a business owner of one and be equal with all other college students.

They want equity, they can have it. Thing is they don't really want equity.

[RougeDawg]

The people behind moves like this in sports or society will never stop until everyone is equal. Equally miserable. That?s their end goal and will not be satisfied until it happens.

No one ever asks them what they mean by equality. The only possible outcome of true equality is equal misery. Because in order to reach equality, you have to treat different groups unequally. That’s the only way it can happen.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Also if players are employees, why would they be subjected to NCAA rules? They wouldn't.

For example, if Polk or a Fred Ross or Fitz wants to try the nfl, go ahead. Once they get cut, come on back to Starkville. We will hire you until you find another job or can't play.

Or former Alabama superstar is cut from the nfl at anytime or 26-28 yo. Hire them.

This is a good, good point. All these petty tyrants with dumb rules make people mad. Especially with amateurism now officially dead.

There is zero good reason why a kid can't have an agent, tryout of the NFL, and keep their options open. Everybody else gets that right. If an engineering student, gets wind of a gig with SpaceX, they can apply and interview with SpaceX. Doing so does not forfeit an MSU scholarship or even prevent them from coming back later. The student can even request a "hiatus".

Or how about this: The Chicago Bears draft you, but tells you stay in Starkville to play and develop. You are their NIL player. Why can't the Bears do it, but T-Mobile can sign the player. I can already see this as huge for College Baseball.

The Braves draft the next Blaze Jordan. They tell him to stay with momma and Lemonis for 2 years and then report to AA ball. The Braves are just his NIL deal.

[Commercecomet24]

Ha, I like this option.

Pay them their cheesy salary and send them the bill from the University for the rest. They can feel what it is like to be a business owner of one and be equal with all other college students.

They want equity, they can have it. Thing is they don't really want equity.

Exactly. They don't want equity they want their cake and eat it too. I need that kind of gig.

[viverlibre]

This is a good, good point. All these petty tyrants with dumb rules make people mad. Especially with amateurism now officially dead.

There is zero good reason why a kid can't have an agent, tryout of the NFL, and keep their options open. Everybody else gets that right. If an engineering student, gets wind of a gig with SpaceX, they can apply and interview with SpaceX. Doing so does not forfeit an MSU scholarship or even prevent them from coming back later. The student can even request a "hiatus".

Or how about this: The Chicago Bears draft you, but tells you stay in Starkville to play and develop. You are their NIL player. Why can't the Bears do it, but T-Mobile can sign the player. I can already see this as huge for College Baseball.

The Braves draft the next Blaze Jordan. They tell him to stay with momma and Lemonis for 2 years and then report to AA ball. The Braves are just his NIL deal.

I can see the SEC and other P5 leagues signing deals to be development leagues for the NFL. A minor league type system, this may dilute some of the talent stockpiled at Bama, UGA, TOHSU, etc., obviously these schools hold most of the power related to decisions in College Football, so it may be a tough sell.

[parabrave]

Being a former city employee who was on PEERs I forget to add in a few things. Welcome to Crappy insurance which you now have to pay for and wait till they take out your union dues and also your retirement/

[starkvegasdawg]

If they become employees and no class mandate then I can guarantee you 90% will never see the inside of a classroom. They'll leave school with nothing to fall back on when they realize they're not good enough for the nfl. Then we have even more people with zero marketable skills and unemployed on the govt dole unless they do what was suggested earlier and just go back to the school team. But then what does that do to high school kids trying to play? If a coach can fill his roster of 120 good to elite college players that are 22-25 years old who is going to want an 18 year old straight out of high school? Unless he's a Jeffrey Simmons or Chris Jones level player he won't be able to compete with the equivalent of a 25 year old that's been in a college weight room and instruction for the last 8 years.

[Dawgology]

Do other university employees get scholarships for tuition and housing? No.

If they become university employees, then why do they have to enroll in school? They don't.

If they decide to enroll in school, they can attend class on their time. Pay out of their pocket just like every other employee at the school.

The NCAA would have to be disbanded as it requires players to be actively enrolled and passing classes thus the ?collegiate? part.

[Maroonthirteen]

The NCAA would have to be disbanded as it requires players to be actively enrolled and passing classes thus the ?collegiate? part.

The ncaa rules are you have to be an "amateur" to compete in ncaa sports. They define amateurism as someone not paid (among other things) for participation in sports. So....to ever make players paid employees, the ncaa has to go or they have to change their definition on amateurism.

[redstickdawg]

I can see the SEC and other P5 leagues signing deals to be development leagues for the NFL. A minor league type system, this may dilute some of the talent stockpiled at Bama, UGA, TOHSU, etc., obviously these schools hold most of the power related to decisions in College Football, so it may be a tough sell.

I agree with this thought. The NFL and other major sport franchises will formalize what is already happening, they will make certain major schools their minor league franchises, the sooner we understand this the better. This is more like the Euro system, I know of several guys that were promising soccer players in Europe that became semi-pro in HS. The teams were in no way aligned to their school. It was first a club sport and in some cases the better athletes were recruited onto semi-pro and lower level pro teams.

[coachnorm]

The ncaa rules are you have to be an "amateur" to compete in ncaa sports. They define amateurism as someone not paid (among other things) for participation in sports. So....to ever make players paid employees, the ncaa has to go or they have to change their definition on amateurism.

Because of the NCAAs misconduct and refusal to apply rules equitable and fairly, the courts have taken away the absolute authority it once had. What has been seen can not be unseen. Now amateurism is in the eyes of the courts?

[Cowbell]

If I were the SEC commission and this happened, I would get all SEC schools to ban together and charge each student athlete (as a debit to their NIL and employee status) for training and care while a member of the teams.

[coachnorm]

If I were the SEC commission and this happened, I would get all SEC schools to ban together and charge each student athlete (as a debit to their NIL and employee status) for training and care while a member of the teams.

If a bunch of SEC schools got together and attempted to do what you imply, the courts will act once students demand redress from their actions. Subordinate courts will have to accept jurisdiction of superior federal courts who have stated how this NIL will be interpreted by law. Trying to end run federal law by the SEC is a sanction able act.

[Dak Holliday]

This is quite the conundrum. Things are definitely changing, and not for the better. Making sports a free market is going to cause many sports to diminish or reduce funding. There will probably be a fee associated with playing a non-profitable sport instead of scholarship. So, for many sports, athletes will face paying more to attend school and participate. Those will be the travel teams of college.
College football will become an extension of the NFL, and if that happens, you can bet there will only be 1 team per state. The ins and outs of this will rewrite rivalries, and the quality of play at those still associated with schools.
As far as NBA, they should be able to be drafted after HS. There is no need for one and done in basketball.

[Catfish]

Sickening thing about this is whole thing is it's being pushed by a bunch of money hungry lawyers. Makes me wonder what's going to be next cuz they're already planning. Leeches.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Yep lets see how they like paying not only for Tuition and books but also got their room and board. Add in the food they eat, Steak, they should have to pay trainers for taping them, tutors for taking their test for them and all the extra crap they get that normal paying students don't. And as freshmen they should have to sign non competitive clauses.

All of those would have to be covered in additional to the salary and fringe benefits. Seriously guys, you act like the players do not hold all the cards here. They do, because colleges need these players, not the other way around. Sure the low ranked players need the colleges, but the guys we need to compete in the top of the SEC holds literally all the cards.

MSU should come out and put together a dynamite full package based on recruit ranking with some options for the coaching staff to offer above slot for key players.

Full package
Salary for starters
Salary for back ups
Signing bonuses based on recruit level
Full tuition
Full room and board off campus
Preferred parking and choice of new charger or challenger/mustang lease
Bonuses based on performance criteria
Signing bonuses each year on campus

Performance based unless replaced or cut.
Contracts can be made for a year or multiple years, and bonuses reflect the commitment.

[RocketDawg]

Hahah. They don?t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board?but hey?they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there?s no federal aid. We can cut most women?s sports and save the university a ton of money.

Remember that they only have a high school education coming in (and I'll bet that most didn't do too well at that), and that doesn't demand a very high salary. They'd have trouble paying tuition, books, room, and board so they might want to think about their demands. They had it a lot better than other students before the NIL nonsense started; now it's gotten ridiculous.

[Maroonthirteen]

Seriously guys, you act like the players do not hold all the cards here. They do, because colleges need these players, not the other way around. Sure the low ranked players need the colleges, .

The school is the dealer of the cards. The players have only one place to go to showcase their talent for the pros. The school provides the platform, training, and facilities ... and more to prepare athletes for the pros. One hand washes the other.

[FISHDAWG]

All of those would have to be covered in additional to the salary and fringe benefits. Seriously guys, you act like the players do not hold all the cards here. They do, because colleges need these players, not the other way around. Sure the low ranked players need the colleges, but the guys we need to compete in the top of the SEC holds literally all the cards.

MSU should come out and put together a dynamite full package based on recruit ranking with some options for the coaching staff to offer above slot for key players.

Full package
Salary for starters
Salary for back ups
Signing bonuses based on recruit level
Full tuition
Full room and board off campus
Preferred parking and choice of new charger or challenger/mustang lease
Bonuses based on performance criteria
Signing bonuses each year on campus

Performance based unless replaced or cut.
Contracts can be made for a year or multiple years, and bonuses reflect the commitment.

you can't be serious .... does this mean they don't have to take or pass the ACT now ?

[Extendedcab]

All of those would have to be covered in additional to the salary and fringe benefits. Seriously guys, you act like the players do not hold all the cards here. They do, because colleges need these players, not the other way around. Sure the low ranked players need the colleges, but the guys we need to compete in the top of the SEC holds literally all the cards.

MSU should come out and put together a dynamite full package based on recruit ranking with some options for the coaching staff to offer above slot for key players.

Full package
Salary for starters
Salary for back ups
Signing bonuses based on recruit level
Full tuition
Full room and board off campus
Preferred parking and choice of new charger or challenger/mustang lease
Bonuses based on performance criteria
Signing bonuses each year on campus

Performance based unless replaced or cut.
Contracts can be made for a year or multiple years, and bonuses reflect the commitment.



I guess I disagree here. There were colleges before there was any kind of extracurricular ports program. If players/sports leave the universities, then Maybe now they can focus on and improve the education product they deliver.

[MrCoachKlein]

Hahah. They don’t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board…but hey…they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there’s no federal aid. We can cut most women’s sports and save the university a ton of money.

If you're going that far why would you require them to attend/pay for classes? Some aren't interested in the classes at all and are just there because of the requirement.

[StateDawg44]

this may be the beginning of the end for widespread college sports, this could have major impacts upon women's sports especially.


I mean, they are already allowing dudes to play women's sports. The impact has already been made.

[Lord McBuckethead]

you can't be serious .... does this mean they don't have to take or pass the ACT now ?

Sure they have to take the ACT and pass their classes. That is part of being a student. Why would you ask such a thing?

[Lord McBuckethead]

I guess I disagree here. There were colleges before there was any kind of extracurricular ports program. If players/sports leave the universities, then Maybe now they can focus on and improve the education product they deliver.

Oh, you are correct. We could just disband our entire athletic program and continue to have just a university and return back to the time when a fat slow 240 lb fat white kid can walk on and be our starting DE. Is that what your are proposing?
This is the game now. We either play the game earlier, faster, and better than everyone else, or we just get the 17 out of the way so Bama can do this.

[Lord McBuckethead]

The school is the dealer of the cards. The players have only one place to go to showcase their talent for the pros. The school provides the platform, training, and facilities ... and more to prepare athletes for the pros. One hand washes the other.

The current system will change, unless it is less of an issue to keep the status quo.

[Extendedcab]

Oh, you are correct. We could just disband our entire athletic program and continue to have just a university and return back to the time when a fat slow 240 lb fat white kid can walk on and be our starting DE. Is that what your are proposing?
This is the game now. We either play the game earlier, faster, and better than everyone else, or we just get the 17 out of the way so Bama can do this.

I'm not advocating disbanding our sports program. I want and I think a fair percentage of people want college sports to remain amateur. Let the pro-minded or capable athletes go to a semi-pro league separate from the university. Let the university field students first, that are also athletes. Sports used to be called "extracurricular" like any other after school/classroom activities. It was not a "major".

That is what I miss. And yes, I would like all schools to adopt that model.

[parabrave]

I'm not advocating disbanding our sports program. I want and I think a fair percentage of people want college sports to remain amateur. Let the pro-minded or capable athletes go to a semi-pro league separate from the university. Let the university field students first, that are also athletes. Sports used to be called "extracurricular" like any other after school/classroom activities. It was not a "major".

That is what I miss. And yes, I would like all schools to adopt that model.

Like the system we currently have in BASEBALL

[Jack Lambert]

Hahah. They don?t realize they already get more than most employees.

ETA: I like the idea. Just pull scholarships. Have them sign a buyout contract. Give them a salary and a signing bonus and let them figure out the rest with NIL deals. Of course, they will have to figure out how to remain in class and pay for tuition, books, room and board?but hey?they get paid like all the other adults now!!! It ALLLLLL equal now. They will even get health insurance (for 4 years) and 4 years towards state retirement (though it takes 8 years to get vested). Smart. Then there is no Title IX to deal with because there?s no federal aid. We can cut most women?s sports and save the university a ton of money.

Tax free too. I am ready to see the tax bill on what they are given in tuition, room, board and stiffen. It will also be earned income. So SS Tax on the first 142K something like that

[Lord McBuckethead]

If I were the SEC commission and this happened, I would get all SEC schools to ban together and charge each student athlete (as a debit to their NIL and employee status) for training and care while a member of the teams.

What makes you think that this specific thing is not part of the benefits package offered to the student/employee/athlete? You think these players are going to go to a school that doesn't offer this are part of the package? You don't own a business I see.

[Lord McBuckethead]

I'm not advocating disbanding our sports program. I want and I think a fair percentage of people want college sports to remain amateur. Let the pro-minded or capable athletes go to a semi-pro league separate from the university. Let the university field students first, that are also athletes. Sports used to be called "extracurricular" like any other after school/classroom activities. It was not a "major".

That is what I miss. And yes, I would like all schools to adopt that model.

Well, Bama won't and UM won't. So...... we might as well let Southern Miss have our spot in the SEC, cause this sounds like a (body part between a woman's legs) perspective.

[Cowbell]

What makes you think that this specific thing is not part of the benefits package offered to the student/employee/athlete? You think these players are going to go to a school that doesn't offer this are part of the package? You don't own a business I see.

I actually do own a business / As part of owning a business, you learn where you have leverage and how to negotiate....

[FISHDAWG]

Well, Bama won't and UM won't. So...... we might as well let Southern Miss have our spot in the SEC, cause this sounds like a (body part between a woman's legs) perspective.

you're a horrible 17'n poster ... I hope you're a better Architect but I seriously doubt it

[Extendedcab]

Well, Bama won't and UM won't. So...... we might as well let Southern Miss have our spot in the SEC, cause this sounds like a (body part between a woman's legs) perspective.

I'm advocating an ALL or NOTHING model where all schools go "amateur" or none do and college sport remains in the cesspool that is currently in. Stay on topic will you. ***

[Johnson85]

All of those would have to be covered in additional to the salary and fringe benefits. Seriously guys, you act like the players do not hold all the cards here. They do, because colleges need these players, not the other way around. Sure the low ranked players need the colleges, but the guys we need to compete in the top of the SEC holds literally all the cards.

MSU should come out and put together a dynamite full package based on recruit ranking with some options for the coaching staff to offer above slot for key players.

Full package
Salary for starters
Salary for back ups
Signing bonuses based on recruit level
Full tuition
Full room and board off campus
Preferred parking and choice of new charger or challenger/mustang lease
Bonuses based on performance criteria
Signing bonuses each year on campus

Performance based unless replaced or cut.
Contracts can be made for a year or multiple years, and bonuses reflect the commitment.

The colleges do not need top tier athletes. Each individual college needs/wants better athletes than their competitors, but people watch college sports because of affinity with the universities, not because they want to watch the top athletes.