Do you think college athletes should be paid?

[ICF]

Is that the player's problem? They are only in school so they don't get rusty before the NBA allows them to be drafted or sign a contract. Schools like UK and UConn are simply exploiting these kids.

exploiting goes both way......the kids are using the schools to show off for the pros as much as the schools are using the kids for their athletic ability.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

exploiting goes both way......the kids are using the schools to show off for the pros as much as the schools are using the kids for their athletic ability.

I am not following now the school is exploited by the student. Short of signing a contract, what is the obligation of the student to stay for all 4 years?

 

[Art 1]

Heap, and with few exceptions, those participating in non-revenue sports at the collegiate level have a slim to none chance of making measurable money out of their sport if they stay around and graduate.



FAFSA? Seems to work OK for plain old students.

Do you think that the money should be paid according to need?

 

[sam_gordon]

A stipend is for living expenses.

Scholarship is different. There are loan programs for tuition assistance. There are not for living expenses beyond basic dorm/meal plan.

I would expect stipends to be determined by the NCAA. I would expect it to be the same regardless of location to cover what a full ride or partial plus loans or just loans doesn't cover. Something like $1000 or so a semester. Roughly what a basic part time job would provide. And by everyone -- I would include ALL student players who must follow NCAA requirements.

The player who is a 3rd string walk on is subject to the same time requirements of the first string star athlete. Thus, he (or she) would have the same issues with supplementing income.

Are managers and trainers students? Are these jobs part of a degree program as an internship? Do they not make money?

I know cheerleaders was mentioned. If They are subject to NCAA rules, them they would be included.

Just for the record, yes there are student managers & trainers. They may be overseen by an adult (actually paid), but they can be students. Instead of film study, they're washing uniforms, prepping equipment, wrapping ankles/wrists/etc.

 

[ICF]

I am not following now the school is exploited by the student. Short of signing a contract, what is the obligation of the student to stay for all 4 years?

To some extent yes (in basketball anyway)....if the UConn's and KY's of the world didnt give these guys a place to show off for the scouts they'd be sitting out and doing nothing until the NBA said they were old enough to get drafted.

They kids are by no means "student athletes" as 99% of the student population are...most of the "one and done" players dont even bother to go to class once their seasons are over as they know they are heading to the NBA once the June draft rolls around and they focus on getting ready for the draft camps.

As I said before though...there is plenty of upside for the schools to take these kids even though there isnt a chance in hell of them ever graduating.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just for the record, yes there are student managers & trainers. They may be overseen by an adult (actually paid), but they can be students. Instead of film study, they're washing uniforms, prepping equipment, wrapping ankles/wrists/etc.

Our of curiosity, is this degree related? Also what is the time commitment?

I ask because there are sports science majors, health majors etc--who coils jaw this on their resume like an internship.

Unless they are covered by NCAA, I would not include them under the umbrella for player compensation.

But I don't think they should necessarily work for free either. I could see how it is jsurified to not pay them though. I was a television production major and put in many hours at the television station for free. There were specific positions that were paid. But it was because they were essentially full time roles.

I was paid as a classical music announced (minimum wage) as were news show anchors. Reporters were not because it was part of their curriculum.

So I could see an argument either way for managers/trainees dependent upon their time involved and if it was a degree related position and this part of their education/training.

As we are speaking of NCAA regulated players, if managers and trainees are not part of this, then it is a separate discussion and irrelevant to whether players should be compensated IMO.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

To some extent yes (in basketball anyway)....if the UConn's and KY's of the world didnt give these guys a place to show off for the scouts they'd be sitting out and doing nothing until the NBA said they were old enough to get drafted.

They kids are by no means "student athletes" as 99% of the student population are...most of the "one and done" players dont even bother to go to class once their seasons are over as they know they are heading to the NBA once the June draft rolls around and they focus on getting ready for the draft camps.

As I said before though...there is plenty of upside for the schools to take these kids even though there isnt a chance in hell of them ever graduating.

There are non athlete students who also exploit the schools by dropping out or not going to class.

Whether the players are exploiting the schools or not has no impact on my opinion (of player compensation). Perhaps if the NBA kept more with juniors and seniors, it would not be as much of an issue. But I don't follow that at all to really have an opinion one way or the other (regarding exploitation).

 

[sonnyjane]

Our of curiosity, is this degree related? Also what is the time commitment?

I ask because there are sports science majors, health majors etc--who coils jaw this on their resume like an internship.

I can only speak for my school. We had professional (paid with degrees) trainers but we also had people that were still students that I believe did it for credit that helped out with the little stuff. The demographics of the student trainers consisted of: Roughly 2/3 guys and girls that were students legitimately pursuing careers in sports medicine and wanted sideline experience, and roughly 1/3 young ladies that we called "groupies" that pretty much just wanted to be close to and hook up with the football players - and the football players were happy to oblige, even though that was a hugeeee violation. If caught they (the trainers, NOT the football players) would be asked to leave the program.

For the ones pursuing real careers, it is a huge thing on their resume and not unlike helping out at a TV station for free as an intern, etc.

 

[sam_gordon]

Our of curiosity, is this degree related? Also what is the time commitment?

I ask because there are sports science majors, health majors etc--who coils jaw this on their resume like an internship.

Unless they are covered by NCAA, I would not include them under the umbrella for player compensation.

But I don't think they should necessarily work for free either. I could see how it is jsurified to not pay them though. I was a television production major and put in many hours at the television station for free. There were specific positions that were paid. But it was because they were essentially full time roles.

I was paid as a classical music announced (minimum wage) as were news show anchors. Reporters were not because it was part of their curriculum.

So I could see an argument either way for managers/trainees dependent upon their time involved and if it was a degree related position and this part of their education/training.

As we are speaking of NCAA regulated players, if managers and trainees are not part of this, then it is a separate discussion and irrelevant to whether players should be compensated IMO.

It might be degree related (possibly for the trainers). I'll give you my experience (football manager for a 1-AA school-- now it's FCS). It had nothing to do with my degree.

We came in a day or two before the players did in August in order to prep the equipment. We were at the locker room at least 30-60 minutes before the players to open up and make sure there were no equipment problems. During practice we shagged balls, repaired equipment, moved blocking dummies, video taped, basically whatever was needed. After practice we had to gather all the laundry, transport it to where the washer & dryer were and wash & dry everything. The next day we'd bring the laundry back to the locker room and distribute it.

Game days were similar. Everything available to the athletes were available to us (study halls, tutors, etc). We would even get scholarships. The head manager (an upper-class student, we didn't have an adult overseeing us) got a full scholarship. Another full scholarship was split between the remainder of us. One year I got my housing paid for, another year I got the meal plan. Tuition & books were two other scholarship categories.

This was 20+ years ago, so things may have changed.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I apologize for the iPhone typo I missed.

That all makes sense to me regarding the positions being resume builders (or partner catchers).

 

[TLSnell1981]

To some extent yes (in basketball anyway)....if the UConn's and KY's of the world didnt give these guys a place to show off for the scouts they'd be sitting out and doing nothing until the NBA said they were old enough to get drafted.

They kids are by no means "student athletes" as 99% of the student population are...most of the "one and done" players dont even bother to go to class once their seasons are over as they know they are heading to the NBA once the June draft rolls around and they focus on getting ready for the draft camps.

As I said before though...there is plenty of upside for the schools to take these kids even though there isnt a chance in hell of them ever graduating.

Not every coach is King of the One and Done. Most athletes will never go pro and need an education. College sports also offer a chance at a life, that many kids (yes, they're kids) never knew possible.

BTW, I do not like the One and Done rule. Are these kids ready for the fast lane? Nope, but they won't mature in one year. This is the only shot for many of these athletes. If, they are injured in that year? It's done...over. It's also bad for college sports. There's little ability to build a team with the temptation to rotate superstars.

 

[usd2bmd]

I still don't think they should be paid. I guess my biggest issue with it is that it all boils down to the fact that they have a choice. How many of the athletes are actually there on some form of scholarship? How are the others making ends meet? Loans? I just think that there are so many kids that are in school busting their buts studying and working and going into debt. But there are athletes that are complaining because they don't have spending money...Welcome to adulthood. How many people graduate to not find a job in their chosen field and not have spending money.

I think the system is screwed up...but paying college athletes is the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. It won't fix the problem it will just make it worse.

 

[nooneshome]

Don't you mean "Do you think college students should be paid MORE than what they are paid now?"

 

[rwdavis2]

I still don't think they should be paid. I guess my biggest issue with it is that it all boils down to the fact that they have a choice. How many of the athletes are actually there on some form of scholarship? How are the others making ends meet? Loans? I just think that there are so many kids that are in school busting their buts studying and working and going into debt. But there are athletes that are complaining because they don't have spending money...Welcome to adulthood. How many people graduate to not find a job in their chosen field and not have spending money.

I think the system is screwed up...but paying college athletes is the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. It won't fix the problem it will just make it worse.

You have a point. The first step should be to get rid of the NCAA and its ridiculous rules. Let the athletes make any amount of money they can by selling jersreys, autographs, whatever. They are the only students, scholarship or otherwise, with that restriction.

 

[sam_gordon]

You have a point. The first step should be to get rid of the NCAA and its ridiculous rules. Let the athletes make any amount of money they can by selling jersreys, autographs, whatever. They are the only students, scholarship or otherwise, with that restriction.

Actually, they CAN sell their likeness, just like any other student. HOWEVER, once they do that, they can no longer compete for the university.

And I think nooneshome has a good point. What if the scholarships are reduced, and they get the difference in cash? So if tuition for a semester is $20,000, books $5,000, meal plan $5,000, and housing $2,000, those on a full ride ($32,000) would get $31,000 toward their tuition, books, meals, and housing, and then $1,000 in cash?

Problem solved, right? The athletes now have spending money.

 

[usd2bmd]

Actually, they CAN sell their likeness, just like any other student. HOWEVER, once they do that, they can no longer compete for the university.

And I think nooneshome has a good point. What if the scholarships are reduced, and they get the difference in cash? So if tuition for a semester is $20,000, books $5,000, meal plan $5,000, and housing $2,000, those on a full ride ($32,000) would get $31,000 toward their tuition, books, meals, and housing, and then $1,000 in cash?

Problem solved, right? The athletes now have spending money.

That actually makes sense...if they want to get paid give them some of the scholarship....then they get money (which some of them apparently want) but the funds are not taken from somewhere else.

 

[declansdad]

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?

Risking life and limb?

 

[jrmasm]

Risking life and limb?

Well yes. You know the gladiator team.

 

[Burnedout]

Risking life and limb?

Unfortunately yes. Lifelong injuries from college play are fairly common. Still against paying them but they do sacrifice physically often.

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

Yes, but only enough to cover living expenses based on what a part-time job at minimum wage would pay them. Most of the people I know in collage work 5-7 days a week, so if the athlete is practicing 5 days a week, has 1 day off, and 1 game or meet a week, that should translate to 6 working days at 4 paid working hours a day at 24 hours a work week if the state minimum wage is $7.50 an hour would equal out to $180 a week. The university/collage would give them a paycheck like every employee that works there and the student athlete would be subject to having taxes taken out like everyone else. Every athlete regardless of wether they are on a scholarship, paying 50%-100% tuition, come from a well to do family and so on would all receive the same amount. This way they're essentially making roughly the same as their peers who are not athletes.