Do you think college athletes should be paid?

[Gumbo4x4]

While athletics are wonderful, I truly do not understand why it is necessary for universities to have sports programs that require millions of dollars of support. College should be about academics, not athletics. I realize that there are many students who get to college because of athletic scholarships, but in the long term I would love to see a cultural shift to stressing academics over sports at schools, so that more students get to college on academic and not athletic scholarship.

It's no different than any other form of advertising. Look, most states have multiple campuses. Where do most of the in-state kids want to go? To the one with successful sports programs. Where do wealthy alumni want to spend their money? At the schools with successful sports programs. Campus life is a LOT more fun when you have 10's of thousands of people tailgating on Saturday afternoon than it is when nobody shows up to watch your team lose 72-0. Without the sports programs, the rest of the school would in many cases either and die. There are plenty of niche schools that are known for their academics and nothing else. That doesn't work for every campus.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I don't really see how we could implement both parts of your statement. If we guarantee all scholarships for 4 years (I completely disagree it should be 5 since the player can only play 4 years anyway), and then cut the number of scholarships, it will REALLY change the face of college sports. My specific university had a number of injuries last year. Many of our back ups could only attend my former school due to the scholarships. The only reason we were able to go to the bowl game we did was because of how deep some positions were. Also, if we had walk-ons in those positions, there's a good chance that more players would have gotten hurt.



Personally, no, I don't think that the university should be paying the players. However, I also disagree with the rule that a player can make no money off of his likeness when the NCAA is making money hand over fist off of these kids. I think that if they want to sell their autograph, fine. If jerseys are made with a certain players name and number, that player should get a cut. That sort of thing.



Oh, and don't get me started on whether or not they should unionize. I'd like to stay points-free.

On the surface, letting them sell their likeness makes sense. Unfortunately, it would give schools an unfair recruiting tool if a top player were able to say get $30,000 for his autograph from a rich alumni.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I feel for him, but he should have known what his scholarship included before he started. Those on a full ride, the meal plans would be included as part of the dorm costs but not all of them get a full ride.

I will say this, and I can only speak for football and baseball, some of these kids are recruited and have no parent figure that can go with them to meetings with the coaches. Many of them probably hear "scholarship" and assume its a full ride when, in fact, its not. They are recruited using partial scholarships, academic scholarships or whatever the coach can get for them. For those without a parent or guardian to go with them to get the details of what they have to pay or without a good, caring high school coach that does this for them; I can certainly see this happening.

I have talked college fees, scholarships and all the rest with high school kids since my sons were in high school. When my eldest was visiting college coaches sometimes we would take other players with us and I realized that some of them had no idea about the costs and what those $ amounts the coaches were throwing out meant. And these same kids may or may not be aware of grants and loans or have the information they need from their family to get these things.

I don't think they should be paid, I think that it would throw way too much money at kids that have no idea how to handle it. But I do understand how some can be on scholarship and still be in need.

He was on a full ride (tuition, books, housing, training table, health insurance, academic tutoring, clothing, shoes) at UCONN. If he was going to bed hungry it was his fault.

 

[luvsJack]

Let me just say Luv, you are absolutely right but those things can be like freakin mortgages. LOL.

My kid is 3rd string. he is fully aware that he is not pro material and he's totally fine with that but man o man. The amount of paperwork and releases they shove at you. My dh and I are fairly intelligent folks (lol or at least we liked to pretend we are) and my BF is an attorney and it still took us a moment to unravel all the ins and outs. I can only imagine a kid who maybe comes from a lower income household that never saw a contract in their life how overwhelming the process is.

LOL, look at it this way, the paperwork I just got when I upgrade my phone was enough to make me go back to two tin cans and some string. Can you imagine if Jr was really good with a few schools after him.

Oh, yes, I know. Its crazy. And when you have a kid that goes alone and doesn't really understand all the information being thrown at him (all he knows is he wants to be on the team), it can be bad for them.

 

[luvsJack]

He was on a full ride (tuition, books, housing, training table, health insurance, academic tutoring, clothing, shoes) at UCONN. If he was going to bed hungry it was his fault.

Did his housing not include a meal plan?

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Did his housing not include a meal plan?

Yes. I listed training table.

 

[undertheradar]

No, college athletes should not receive cash payment. They are already receiving free or reduced education, housing, books, meals, training, travel allowance and monthly stipend. Not all, but a majority of them are. In the Midwest you have community colleges with dorms and players are recruited from all over the world. These programs are out of control and the general student population is paying for it. Look at UK and the increased student facility fees as an example.

 

[luvsJack]

Yes. I listed training table.

Sorry, never heard it called that. Around here they eat in the cafeteria and its called a meal plan and is usually included in the price of the dorm with a few options.

Regardless, he shouldn't have been hungry

 

[Hannathy]

I don't think they should be allowed to be paid per say, BUT I do think they should be allowed to give them a stipend equal to what a normal full time student could be making working a campus job for spending money.

Say like 15 hours a week at min. wage so they do have some spending money. Because there is no way they can work and be an athlete in a competitive sport.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Sorry, never heard it called that. Around here they eat in the cafeteria and its called a meal plan and is usually included in the price of the dorm with a few options.

Regardless, he shouldn't have been hungry

The Training Table is a dining plan designed to meet the unique nutritional demands of NCAA varsity athletes. Our campus chef and registered dietitian work together to develop each day's menu. Every meal is created to satisfy the athlete with a generous variety of delicious, healthy and balanced dishes to keep you in peak condition.

 

[luvsJack]

The Training Table is a dining plan designed to meet the unique nutritional demands of NCAA varsity athletes. Our campus chef and registered dietitian work together to develop each day's menu. Every meal is created to satisfy the athlete with a generous variety of delicious, healthy and balanced dishes to keep you in peak condition.

Ahhh, I see. Sounds better than what most students get.

 

[undertheradar]

I don't think they should be allowed to be paid per say, BUT I do think they should be allowed to give them a stipend equal to what a normal full time student could be making working a campus job for spending money.

Say like 15 hours a week at min. wage so they do have some spending money. Because there is no way they can work and be an athlete in a competitive sport.

Perhaps there should be a requirement that they maintain at least a 2.5 gpa and complete a degree or else all monies and expenses furnished are required to be paid back to the school. Tired of seeing these 1 or 2 year "rental" players who use the schools to get to the next level.

As for paying athletes 15 hours per week, it is just as tough for the non-athletes to work and go to school, should they be paid 15 hours per week as well?

 

[Hannathy]

As for paying athletes 15 hours per week, it is just as tough for the non-athletes to work and go to school, should they be paid 15 hours per week as well?

No it isn't! You are very wrong there. It is not as tough for a non athlete to work. These kids are putting in full time hours training on top of classes. There isn't enough hours in the day for them to train, practice go to class and then work! Do you have a way to add hours to 24?

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain how these kids survived 4 years of HS without "stipends" or "pay". IIRC, the athletes ARE allowed jobs during their "off season". I remember football players taking summer jobs to have spending cash during the year.

 

[luvsJack]

Perhaps there should be a requirement that they maintain at least a 2.5 gpa and complete a degree or else all monies and expenses furnished are required to be paid back to the school. Tired of seeing these 1 or 2 year "rental" players who use the schools to get to the next level.

As for paying athletes 15 hours per week, it is just as tough for the non-athletes to work and go to school, should they be paid 15 hours per week as well?

No it isn't! You are very wrong there. It is not as tough for a non athlete to work. These kids are putting in full time hours training on top of classes. There isn't enough hours in the day for them to train, practice go to class and then work! Do you have a way to add hours to 24?

I agree it is tougher for a student athlete than a student who is only in academics. But you also have music majors that have a tough time finding the hours in a day to have any kind of job--they practice as much as the athletes.
And the band and orchestra students, and the cheerleaders, and the dance teams, drama majors have many practices too. .

So, while there may be a few that has it easier, its most definitely not the case for all other students that are not athletes.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Ahhh, I see. Sounds better than what most students get.

Probably sounds better than it is

 

[eliza61]

Ahhh, I see. Sounds better than what most students get.

LOL, it usually is. When I was at Pitt, many, many moons ago, the big thing was to get a boyfriend who was either on the football or basketball team. You got to eat in the cafeteria when they were being fed (usually about 30mins after normal grazing hours). The food was waaay better.

I'm still waiting for someone to explain how these kids survived 4 years of HS without "stipends" or "pay". IIRC, the athletes ARE allowed jobs during their "off season". I remember football players taking summer jobs to have spending cash during the year.

LOL. that's easy Sam, we call them Parents.

My son could not work due to football. Football camp (many times mandatory) began in July until 1st or 2nd week in August. Official training began in the summer. We were lucky if he got approval to go on our family vacations.

My other son was a wrestler. same problem. wrestling camp all summer. wrestling matches on the weekend are easy 8-10 hours. practice after school until 7 or 8:30 pm.

In my development I have friends who have daughters on the cheerleading squad. Want to talk about time commitment. Competitive cheerleading is darn near all consuming. not only can the girls NOT work but the parents chuck up a boatload of money getting them to meets.

for many parents the payoff in college scholarships are way better than the money a kid would make part time at a minimum wage job.

 

[undertheradar]

No it isn't! You are very wrong there. It is not as tough for a non athlete to work. These kids are putting in full time hours training on top of classes. There isn't enough hours in the day for them to train, practice go to class and then work! Do you have a way to add hours to 24?

Sorry, grad students working full-time and continuing education have it very tough. Any student needing to work while attending school has it tough. Athletes are not any different.

 

[Hannathy]

Sorry, grad students working full-time and continuing education have it very tough. Any student needing to work while attending school has it tough. Athletes are not any different.

You are comparing Grad students? not the same thing. we are talking undergrads.

And please tell me when they are to work? They don't have any time! seriously these kids do not have the time. We aren't talking tough we are talking there physically isn't any time!!

 

[undertheradar]

The Training Table is a dining plan designed to meet the unique nutritional demands of NCAA varsity athletes. Our campus chef and registered dietitian work together to develop each day's menu. Every meal is created to satisfy the athlete with a generous variety of delicious, healthy and balanced dishes to keep you in peak condition.

I thought that this was restricted to during the season.