Do you think college athletes should be paid?

[usd2bmd]

http://t.foxsports.msn.com/college-basketball/ncaa-council-approves-proposal-for-unlimited-meals-snacks-for-di-athletes-1

I am no expert on college sports...but these kids are all playing sports by choice, right? so they want to be paid to play while they are in college? how about they decide what is really important to them learning or making money playing sports.

As the parent of a senior who is attending a community college to limit the amount of debt she incurs I can't help but resent the sense of entitlement coming from the article,

so what do you all think?

 

[jrmasm]

http://t.foxsports.msn.com/college-basketball/ncaa-council-approves-proposal-for-unlimited-meals-snacks-for-di-athletes-1 I am no expert on college sports...but these kids are all playing sports by choice, right? so they want to be paid to play while they are in college? how about they decide what is really important to them learning or making money playing sports. As the parent of a senior who is attending a community college to limit the amount of debt she incurs I can't help but resent the sense of entitlement coming from the article, so what do you all think?

No

 

[powellrj]

Actually I think they should be able to receive a stipend to play. The schools make millions off these kids and while their education is paid for, the amount of time they put in for their sports leaves them no time for a part-time job to help pay for other expenses while they are in school.

My DD could play golf without a scholarship, but has been told there isn't time for both between her course of study and the time needed for her to play and golf isn't even a major time commitment like football or basketball so there is no college golf.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

No

 

[ICF]

They do get paid, assuming they are on scholarship.

There is a large $$ value with that scholarship vs a similar "student" at the school. They also get free meals, tutoring, travel costs, plenty of team sports apparel and the like.

The problem with paying them is how is it going to happen? Is it based on playing time, meaning the starting QB get $1000 / game while the back-up that doesnt play get $10?

Is it a flat amount for all players regardless of sport? So does the starting center and a back-up on the softball team both get the same?

Can schools pay what they want (as if some dont already)....so a player can go to school A, B or C depending on who pays the most?

Does this apply only to the main revenue generating sports -- or will every athlete regardless of sport get paid? Do the cheerleaders and mascot get paid too?

If schools start paying athletes, where do you think those $'s are likely going to come from? My guess would be the general student body or the ticket buyers. The NCAA isnt likely to impact their bottom line nor are the schools.....so any extra cost for something like that is going to either come from an increase in tuition fees or ticket price increases.

There are hundreds of things to go wrong in this situation and with the NCAA involved it's likely to go really bad.

 

[hallie]

Nope

 

[usd2bmd]

They do get paid, assuming they are on scholarship.

There is a large $$ value with that scholarship vs a similar "student" at the school. They also get free meals, tutoring, travel costs, plenty of team sports apparel and the like.

The problem with paying them is how is it going to happen? Is it based on playing time, meaning the starting QB get $1000 / game while the back-up that doesnt play get $10?

Is it a flat amount for all players regardless of sport? So does the starting center and a back-up on the softball team both get the same?

Can schools pay what they want (as if some dont already)....so a player can go to school A, B or C depending on who pays the most?

Does this apply only to the main revenue generating sports -- or will every athlete regardless of sport get paid? Do the cheerleaders and mascot get paid too?

If schools start paying athletes, where do you think those $'s are likely going to come from? My guess would be the general student body or the ticket buyers. The NCAA isnt likely to impact their bottom line nor are the schools.....so any extra cost for something like that is going to either come from an increase in tuition fees or ticket price increases.

There are hundreds of things to go wrong in this situation and with the NCAA involved it's likely to go really bad.

This is my issue. We know (in generalities only) that the NCAA is making a fortune on college sports, but if schools start paying athletes my fear is that money is going to come at the expense of some hard working genuinely deserving academic student. Because let's face it sports in bringing more money that smarts.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

No. Pros get paid, not students.

 

[jdb in AZ]

The kids see their head coach pulling in millions each year and would like some of that action. The athletes are risking life and limb, not the coaches. But wait -- the guys also get mega training, improve their skills, and if it weren't for the university, how would the pro-scouts know they exist?

As a PP mentioned, I'm concerned about how much each player would get paid and how much of it would be under the table (like it is today) from wealthy alum. Would there be a salary cap?

 

[joviroxx]

Very few college sports actually make money. Probably only football and basketball. I would imagine Universities depend on the income to be able to run other sports programs.

These athletes not only make tuition and room and board, but they get free nutritional training, physical training, strength training, physical therapy, tutoring and publicity for future employment.

They are also eligible for Pell grants and other special circumstance money that exist within their universities. They can also hold jobs during the off season.

If you begin to pay athletes, which ones do you pay? All of them? Just the ones that make money?

students are students, not employees

 

[sonnyjane]

They do get paid, assuming they are on scholarship.

There is a large $$ value with that scholarship vs a similar "student" at the school. They also get free meals, tutoring, travel costs, plenty of team sports apparel and the like.

The problem with paying them is how is it going to happen? Is it based on playing time, meaning the starting QB get $1000 / game while the back-up that doesnt play get $10?

Is it a flat amount for all players regardless of sport? So does the starting center and a back-up on the softball team both get the same?

Can schools pay what they want (as if some dont already)....so a player can go to school A, B or C depending on who pays the most?

Does this apply only to the main revenue generating sports -- or will every athlete regardless of sport get paid? Do the cheerleaders and mascot get paid too?

If schools start paying athletes, where do you think those $'s are likely going to come from? My guess would be the general student body or the ticket buyers. The NCAA isnt likely to impact their bottom line nor are the schools.....so any extra cost for something like that is going to either come from an increase in tuition fees or ticket price increases.

There are hundreds of things to go wrong in this situation and with the NCAA involved it's likely to go really bad.

All of this. I DID get paid to play sports in college - it's called an athletic scholarship. And if you're going to go dollar for dollar - I made more money swimming in college than I'm making right now! It's hard work but that's what the scholarships are for. Swimming isn't a big money-maker for the school but we still trained 30 hours a week (according to the NCAA some of those practices were 'voluntary' - yeah right). Nobody even came to our meets, so there's no revenue to be generated, but if you're going to pay the baseball/basketball/football guys then I'd expect kickback too lol. And do you only pay in the years that your team is winning? Because folks don't fill the stands the same way if you have a losing record. Talk about a can of worms....

To be honest, I was very, very close with a lot of the football players when I was there because the student athletes tend to stick together. The ones that are good - the ones that are pushing to have agents and be paid while still in college - are the ones that will probably be drafted anyway. How about just shut up and wait until you can get some millions. In the meantime just be happy that you're getting your tuition, housing, and food paid for (again, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS). K?

An exception is the Ivy Leagues who don't give athletic scholarships or the DIII schools that also do not, but when I was being recruited by colleges, including a couple of Ivies, it was made very clear to me that "academic monies could be made available to help out"....

 

[pigletgirl]

Nope, because then the academic institution would not have to give the athlete an education. That is the main reason they are there.

 

[Jeafl]

Very few college sports actually make money. Probably only football and basketball. I would imagine Universities depend on the income to be able to run other sports programs.

These athletes not only make tuition and room and board, but they get free nutritional training, physical training, strength training, physical therapy, tutoring and publicity for future employment.

They are also eligible for Pell grants and other special circumstance money that exist within their universities. They can also hold jobs during the off season.

If you begin to pay athletes, which ones do you pay? All of them? Just the ones that make money?

students are students, not employees

I totally agree, and I actually have a son who is a NCAA athlete right now.

 

[rwdavis2]

Absolutely they should get paid. March Madness is a $1 billion dollar business. Can anyone justify why an athlete is not allowed to sell their autograph, get paid for their name on a jersey, or take gifts from anyone. No other student in the school is under these restrictions. Just imagine if some computer science major was prevented from selling a new piece of software.

Does anyone who said no aware that scholarships are on a year to year basis? If a coach does not like your for any reason your scholarship canbe pulled? Schools are generally not responsible for the expense of injuries to athletes. The entire system is set up for everyone to make money except the athlete. An athlete must Signe a 20 page contract and obey 400 page rule book. Until last week colleges had limits on how much food they could feed athletes.

Value of a scholarship? It is not some huge amount of money. The marginal cost of another student is a fraction of the retail price. Many kids take the scholarship because that is the only path to professional football or basketball. Both leagues require a minimum number of year before you can be drafted to the pros. The NFL and NBA should pay for their own farm teams just lie baseball.

Personally I think all athletic scholarships should be abolished along with the NCAA and instead given as academic scholarships. If students want to play a sport then play intramurals.

 

[AndyLL]

The kids see their head coach pulling in millions each year and would like some of that action.

Coaches are professionals. The kids are not.

And there are 1000s of coaches in collage... very few make millions.

Very few college sports actually make money. Probably only football and basketball. I would imagine Universities depend on the income to be able to run other sports programs.

Most of the millions made go to fund other sports and the university in general. It's not like a company where there are stock holders receiving the profits.

In Colorado none of the schools make enough from sports to fund the entire athletic department.

 

[rwdavis2]

The kids see their head coach pulling in millions each year and would like some of that action. The athletes are risking life and limb, not the coaches. But wait -- the guys also get mega training, improve their skills, and if it weren't for the university, how would the pro-scouts know they exist?

As a PP mentioned, I'm concerned about how much each player would get paid and how much of it would be under the table (like it is today) from wealthy alum. Would there be a salary cap?

Why not pay them or let alumni give them cash. Why should you care what anyone is paid. This is nothing more than entertainment.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Coaches are professionals. The kids are not.

And there are 1000s of coaches in collage... very few make millions.



Most of the millions made go to fund other sports and the university in general. It's not like a company where there are stock holders receiving the profits.

In Colorado none of the schools make enough from sports to fund the entire athletic department.

. Sports are a form of advertisement used to recruit paying students.

 

[luvsJack]

I don't think they should get paid, but not all college players are on scholarship. Many are walk ons that get no scholarship for at least the first year and maybe not at all. Others may be getting scholarships for academics or alumni scholarships to help but not athletic scholarships and even then very few are full rides.

 

[sonnyjane]

Absolutely they should get paid. March Madness is a $1 billion dollar business. Can anyone justify why an athlete is not allowed to sell their autograph, get paid for their name on a jersey, or take gifts from anyone. No other student in the school is under these restrictions. Just imagine if some computer science major was prevented from selling a new piece of software.

Does anyone who said no aware that scholarships are on a year to year basis? If a coach does not like your for any reason your scholarship canbe pulled? Schools are generally not responsible for the expense of injuries to athletes. The entire system is set up for everyone to make money except the athlete. An athlete must Signe a 20 page contract and obey 400 page rule book. Until last week colleges had limits on how much food they could feed athletes.


Personally I think all athletic scholarships should be abolished along with the NCAA and instead given as academic scholarships. If students want to play a sport then play intramurals.

Were you an NCAA athlete? Because you're typing quite a bit of information that's inaccurate.

First of all, yes, scholarships can be pulled - but NOT if the coach "doesn't like you". It has to do with your performance on the field as well as your performance in the classroom as well as your conduct when not in school or on the field. In addition to being reduced, they can also be INCREASED each year if your performance improved. It's not as fragile as you make it seem.

Also, the school absolutely pays for medical costs. I was injured while competing and required months of rehab, expensive massage and training treatments, electric stim treatments, prescription medications, all of which were paid for by my school. I never paid a dime. And I was just a lowly swimmer! And to revisit your point before - even when injured, scholarships were not taken away. When a star football guy blew out 3 of his 4 knee ligaments and was told he might never play again, he still didn't lose his scholarship.

And regarding your final comment about abolishing athletic scholarships and having people only play sports via intramurals, are you therefore saying that you no longer want there to be NCAA athletic competition at all?

 

[jrmasm]

Does anyone who said no aware that scholarships are on a year to year basis? .

Yes I am aware of that and I still say no.