Post of the year candidate right here.
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Correct. They're not only getting free tuition, but they're getting free books, housing, and food, as well as in many cases, pretty outstanding workout facilities, complete with entertaining games. All that adds up in a hurry. Regular students get none of that, and even high-level academic scholarships don't include room and board, for the most part.
Athletic departments are taking a huge financial hit right now. If they want to get paid in the good times, do they also agree to pay the school in bad times?
This is the most common sense I have seen on this board in quite some time. We may play football after all....
Would they not be subjecting themselves to fines as well? Isn't that how pro and semipro athletic's disciplinary works? Seems like that would be a mess.
I didn't compare it to slavery. People need to read more clearly. I said the argument that "the players don't have any leverage so don't listen to them" is an oppressive perspective that was used in the past to protect the institution of slavery. That can't be denied. It's just a factual comment. I did not compare college football to the system of slavery, but I did compare it to wndentured servitude.
And yes, just because guys are rock stars and have it better than the normal student doesn't mean they shouldn't have a piece of the pie that they're risking their necks for. Coaches are making millions. Ath Dir's. Sponsors. ESPN. The conferences. The bowls. The cities. The universities. Everybody. Except the guys performing are ALLOWED to earn a piece of the pie. It's as UnAmerican of a concept as there's ever been. Give the guys a slice of the pie.
You are correct that it has been great. Not only from a professional athletics standpoint, but the breaking down of institutional barriers and opening up avenues to higher education. There's no arguing that. It's just strange to me that everyone can justify paying a coach $10 million a year and telling the players they get to go to class for free and be popular.
Again, wasn't comparing it to slaves. I was pointing out that the argument being used to justify not paying athletes is unjust and oppressive. See my response to Todd.
Also, Thick is right that you can't hand an 18 year old rock star $100,000 a year either. Put it in a fund and if they graduate, they get it. Incentive it and let them earn it as a STUDENT-athlete. It's not complicated. And it only matters for P5's. The rest of it is truly amateur football. But the P5 is commercialized out the ying yang and the players are not getting anywhere near the financial benefit they should, purely from an economic standpoint. I'm surprised you wouldn't promote that for your guys. I know you truly love all the kids that play for you. To me, I'd want them to have an opportunity to earn some of the money they bring in.
Oh GOD ... whatever do we do? Please dont take away the Pac 12 ... tell them to become the Big 16. Take away that conference ... Zero Fuks given. Stuff now days is just getting RIDICULOUS. Give me NFL, give me the 62 games of MLB, and give me all the SEC conference games .. the rest can go do what they wish. God forbid the West coast teams/players boycott.
I'm saying that as opposed to lining a 17/18 year olds pockets with endorsement deals and loads of cash throughout college....which is being heavily discussed by the NCAA. I think it's a terrible idea. A stipend upon graduation would lead more than a few to stick out their college career and get that degree as opposed to dropping out if they don't get playing time. It's great that it worked out for you and I commend you but for every one of our athletes that make it after college there is on average about 4 that don't. Suddenly, they aren't needed anymore. They don't make it as a pro, they go bust, or drop out. The system that was in place their first 20 years is gone and the family that had been supporting and hanging on is gone because they aren't bringing money in anymore.
It was just a thought to help drive up graduation rates and continue to support our athletes after the graduate.
Regardless...we have to take better care of our athletes health after they graduate. It's just the right and moral thing to do.