[JRL]

This argument pops up every year about this time so I thought I would take the pulse of the forum members. Undecided? Read the attached articles,

General Thoughts

Pro

Con

Cast your vote and present your comments.

[Bette]

I cant cast a vote here because even though after reading everything, no I dont think they should get paid, I dont like the term free ride. There is nothing free about anything they are doing or getting.
The huge amounts of money that schools and coaches definitely bugs me. But, like the last article pointed out, administrators and coaches are professionals. Overpaid in my book, but professionals never the less. I cant see how it could be worked out fairly. Some kid in a smaller school works just as hard in a less popular sport and they would get nothing?
Something that really bothered me was the part about some kid's mother being evicted from her apartment while the school raked in the dough.
Then again, when that kid gets out of school, not only does he have his education to fall back on, if he is any good he can strike it rich in the pros. The kid coming out of school and going into say education, and has never played any sport in their life, isnt going to get paid so well.
I see both sides of the issue. There's just too much money involved though. Another sign of the times.

[JRL]

Bette I put the "Full Ride" part in to get the ball rolling. I think many people don't understand the limitations imposed on the student athlete when they sign what everyone calls a full ride scholarship. Many of the kids we enjoy watching come from very impoverished backgrounds. The Pell Grant is supposed to help but it is my understanding the schools actually get the money and distribute it as they see fit within the NCAA guidelines. Many of the less well off kids playing football are not allowed or don't have the time for part time jobs and can't afford to buy a pizza once a week.

We faced a similar decision when our son was making his college choice. He was offered various scholarship packages from multiple schools to play baseball. Baseball is far different than football or basketball in that the number of scholarships offered (11 +-) must be split among 20 - 25 players. He (we) decided to pass on the athletic scholarship offers from the D 1 schools and instead chose a small school that did not offer athletic scholarships. He did receive what was considered a full ride academic scholarship. Even with the "Full Ride" the additional cost were astronomical. Between his workouts / training and academics he had little time to work, had we not been in the position to offer financial supplement I don't know what he would have done.

This is a very complex issue and one that will likely not get resolved in the near future. From my point of view the atheletes are paying a tremendous price for a small return - the universities are coming out ahead.

[Lefty Noob]

I don't want to see them getting a paycheck, but I definitely wouldn't mind seeing some of the restrictions getting eased a bit. A stipend for groceries and other needs certainly would be a step in the right direction, that's for sure. So don't pay them, but relax some of the draconian rules govering what they can and can't do, and what other people can and can't do for them.

Come to think of it, maybe they should be treated like anyone else who gets a work-study job with a university. Hmm... gotta think this one over.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by JRL

Bette I put the "Full Ride" part in to get the ball rolling. I think many people don't understand the limitations imposed on the student athlete when they sign what everyone calls a full ride scholarship. Many of the kids we enjoy watching come from very impoverished backgrounds. The Pell Grant is supposed to help but it is my understanding the schools actually get the money and distribute it as they see fit within the NCAA guidelines. Many of the less well off kids playing football are not allowed or don't have the time for part time jobs and can't afford to buy a pizza once a week.

We faced a similar decision when our son was making his college choice. He was offered various scholarship packages from multiple schools to play baseball. Baseball is far different than football or basketball in that the number of scholarships offered (11 +-) must be split among 20 - 25 players. He (we) decided to pass on the athletic scholarship offers from the D 1 schools and instead chose a small school that did not offer athletic scholarships. He did receive what was considered a full ride academic scholarship. Even with the "Full Ride" the additional cost were astronomical. Between his workouts / training and academics he had little time to work, had we not been in the position to offer financial supplement I don't know what he would have done.

This is a very complex issue and one that will likely not get resolved in the near future. From my point of view the atheletes are paying a tremendous price for a small return - the universities are coming out ahead.

So you are saying you want them to get paid? If so, how? That small school isnt going to get a very big piece of the pie, if any
Remember too, that the universities are paying those whopping big salaries to the professional administrators and colleges. How much is left over? How much goes back into the sports programs?
The more I think about it all, the more questions come to my mind.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Pay them......or cut out all the silly NCAA rules that prevents them from making a buck on the side while in school

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Pay them......or cut out all the silly NCAA rules that prevents them from making a buck on the side while in school

That could be an answer. Maybe. Why do you think they have those rules in the first place?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Bette

That could be an answer. Maybe. Why do you think they have those rules in the first place?

They're not supposed to be able to benefit from their fame as football players, but the NCAA takes it too far most of the time.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

They're not supposed to be able to benefit from their fame as football players, but the NCAA takes it too far most of the time.

You mean getting paid for endorsements and such?
So where would you draw the line if you think the NCAA takes it too far?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Bette

You mean getting paid for endorsements and such?
So where would you draw the line if you think the NCAA takes it too far?

Regular jobs, something you or I or anyone can get, but no endorsements or anything like that.

[JRL]

The NCAA cracked down years ago because schools had alumni paying big bucks to some of the star players. The availability of high paying do nothing jobs was often used as a recruiting tool. Come sign with us and you get a car to use and money under the table etc from one of our alumni that owns a car dealership.

It was totally out of control and needed fixing but ........ they over fixed the problem.

I don't begrudge the staff for getting big money - they are paid what the market provides - the American way - capitalism at its best.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Regular jobs, something you or I or anyone can get, but no endorsements or anything like that.

A regular job? Surely you jest. Do you want them to give up sleeping or something? Think about their schedule. They can get pulled out of classes to play a game, they play nights, they practice in between and most of them manage to pull in pretty good grades. Read JRL's post about his son. The kid had no time to work.

[Quack Attack]

This topic is so old and been debated thousands of times over the years especially when the NCAA came down hard on universities for loaning players money, giving them cars, putting them on secret booster's payrolls, paying for parents luxury houses (Reggie Bush) and so on.

Hell No!!! College athletes should be damn thankful they are receiving a full ride scholarship worth I am guessing now $ 200,000.00 with the ongoing increased tuition/books compilation costs? College athletes are also getting free ride/exposure, for example in college football, to showcase their skills, to attract NFL scouts. No, we will not now or ever pay college athletes whether it be football, basketball, baseball or other.

If we allowed paid college athletes...where would it stop? Maybe the high school players want a piece of the action??? Unbelievable how this rediculous topic keeps being brought up?

P.S. Hey, not trying to bash the original topic starter. Good man. Actually, always a great topic but I get tired of it. Original poster knows this and really is something that continues to be debated every year with the same result: It isn't going to happen!

This is just my 2 cents worth and can easily debate this issue further which really has been debated for years.

[Quack Attack]

Hey, just wanted to emphasize, this really was a great topic JRL and the most popular topic in college football debated every year. I hope my last post didn't irritate you or anybody else or discourage anybody...my opinion sometimes can have this affect but really never had this intention!

[JRL]

LMAO if I get offended by someone answering the question I better find another hobby. I asked the question to generate debate - my only problem - not much participation in the debate. I agree with a little on both sides of the argument.

Some of the disadvantaged kids really have a hard time fitting in. The scholarship covers a lot and gives many an opportunity they wouldn't have but it also creates hardship for some. A kid from a broken family doesn't have the financial support to fill in the gaps between school expenses (covered by the scholarship) and living a normal college life like cloths, transportation, money to go home, take in a movie or eat a pizza