Should colleges pay their players?

[daveshoe]

Sean McClelland of the Dayton Daily News thinks that it is strange that ''coaches can command top dollar'' while their players are ''prohibited from accepting so much as a free lunch or T-shirt from anyone connected to the [school]program '' As for the argument that a free education is enough payment,''Anyone making that argument has his feet firmly planted in the past'' This is presumably because of the ''billions of TV dollars flowing into these schools coffers'' He concludes the article by saying''Pay the kids. That way,nobody needs to take care of them under the table. Who knows? Maybe they'd even eat better. ''

I showed this article to my daughter Katie,who last year at this time had one full ride athletic and two academic/athletic full rides offered to her. It is a very long story,but she instead chose a DIII college which will without question give her a superior education. One of her team-mates got a full ride athletically to a D-I school.

D-I gives you free practice uniforms[sweats tees ,and shoes] They also have good food at decent restaurants,nice hotels when away from school at events,sports co-ordinators who make sure their class schedule is friendly to their sport, and keep watch over them to make sure they succeed academically. Her team-mate also got red-shirted to give her FIVE years to obtain her degree.

On a recent trip to try to qualify for NCAA nationals. ,Katie warmed up in her own sweats,ran in her own cleats,stayed in a crappy motel [alone as the only female participant] in which the door opening into the parking lot caused her a real security scare during the night,and last but not least,was limited to a five dollar meal when university meals are eight dollars. She would not have it any other way!

I wonder what Mr. McClelland would think of that?

 

[TowPro]

in 7 years my Daughter will be in Collage. I don't think schools should be allowed to offer anymore then free education to athletes. Where are they going to get the money to pay the student athlete? By charging the paying students more! My Daughter is doing well in track and field (made it through 2 finals this year, and missed the whole area final by 1 place in the 4x100).

Her ability might go far enough to get a scholarship (sure would be nice), but I still feel they should not be paid at the expense of other hard working parents.

 

[biggieou]

Being a former college football player, I believe athletes should be paid. People say, well you get a free education, which is partially true, but nothing is ever free. Books, housing, etc. some of that stuff is not included in scholarships. Athletes put their bodies on the line for universities to exploit and what do athletes get? A free education? Please, athletes arent even aloud to have jobs to help pay for cell phones, car insurance etc. Especially at the bigger uni's they exploit the athletes so much it's sickening. Just my . 02

 

[kowaliga]

Before the NCAA disallowed athletic dormitories, The University of Alabama's Paul Bryant Hall housed, fed, tutored and provided entertainment and study halls for all scholarship athletes. Sons of millionaires and farmers lived under the same roof and were given ( NCAA permissible ) small stipends for laundry, and supervised by assistant coaches who lived there also. These were unmarried athletes. Because some college's facilities were 'more advantageous' than others, the NCAA banned them all. The NCAA dorm ban exacerbated college athlete's money problems. You may surmise my dislike for the NCAA and I confirm it.

 

[me4osu]

Too bad there isn't a farm team program, like baseball has, for the (majority?) players who want to get paid right out of high school instead of go to college.

 

[Sled Puller]

Say, where does the money go for the jerseys, sweatshirts? Spectator gate fees?

 

[Dl5treez]

Say, where does the money go for the jerseys, sweatshirts? Spectator gate fees?

General athletic fund. Controlled by the Board of Regents.



So basically it pays for the Regents to travel to Hawai'i, the two King Airs, the Learjet timeshare, the marble floors in the president's office, the president's mansion... ... . all important things that the U. needs to survive ya know. :-laf

 

[Bill Lins]

Do you know the difference between college & pro sports?



The pros have salary caps! ;-)

 

[biggieou]

Dave, check your PM box its full and I have another long one for you

 

[Byershome]

I don't think they need to pay the players but should be allowed a little more leway in supporting them. The money to do so would not come from the other students tuition cost. These programs already bring in enough money to support the rest of the ahtletic programs in the school. There is plenty of money availble to pay the athlete's. Should they pay the members of the school chess and swim team as well?



How about this. You can pay an athlete out right a small paycheck but every athlete gets the same amount and for every student who does not graduate with a degree you loose a scholarship the following year.

 

[JPope]

"... How about this. You can pay an athlete out right a small paycheck but every athlete gets the same amount and for every student who does not graduate with a degree you loose a scholarship the following year... . "



Now there is an idea!!!!

 

[loncray]

Wait - can there be more than one JHByers? Dude, why can't you post sensible, reasonable things like this in the Political Forum?

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Being a former college football player, I believe athletes should be paid. People say, well you get a free education, which is partially true, but nothing is ever free. Books, housing, etc. some of that stuff is not included in scholarships. Athletes put their bodies on the line for universities to exploit and what do athletes get? A free education? Please, athletes arent even aloud to have jobs to help pay for cell phones, car insurance etc. Especially at the bigger uni's they exploit the athletes so much it's sickening. Just my . 02

Oh, I feel so bad for you. You didn't get paid to receive a free education and play the sport you chose. It was you decision, deal with it.

 

[biggieou]

Oh, I feel so bad for you. You didn't get paid to receive a free education and play the sport you chose. It was you decision, deal with it.

Wonderful post. Did you write that all by yourself? Did alot of thought go into it? I will just revert to a saying someone once told me: "Never argue with an idiot, because from a distance, a stanger cannot tell the difference".

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Wonderful post. I will just revert to a saying someone once told me: "Never argue with an idiot, because from a distance, a stanger cannot tell the difference".

I guess I'll leave you alone then.

 

[daveshoe]

Jumping back in

You have to remember that these players--especially some who play contact sports really take a pounding. I personally saw two bad injuries in one day--in the ''mundane''sport of winter track. I could literally hear a long jumper's hamstring let go. In the course of recruiting,we sort of got all glassy eyed about all the compliments paid to our daughter by the coaches involved,but when we questioned them about what it took to KEEP the scholarship for four years,the atmosphere cooled a bit.

Before you think that jocks have it easy,look at the schedule that they have on the weekends. Then look at the travel time spent away from school and the classes that they must miss. Add to this the people that cut summer employment short for fall conditioning. Add to this the fact that if they are hurt while playing,the medical bills and treatment of post graduate pain management is on them. If there is to be a fund set up for athletes benefit,then I could see post injury management as an area that needs attention.

The marquee sports like football and basketball do much to support other areas of athletics. I think that much of the ''pay''that would be due to the football and basketball players is already spent on other sports that would not pay their own way in gate receipts. The confidence that my daughter got by finding some new friends in a new life away from high school is one benefit from continuing track in college. I am happy for her that she can look at her sport as a sport and not a job. She was very fortunate to receive enough scholastic and financial aid that she could attend a private school. Although she did not make it to nationals as her high school career would suggest,she came close enough to try it again next year.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I played hockey my whole life up until a couple years ago, I know what the sports life consists of. It was my choice and I never expected to get paid for it. Like you said, it's a sport not a job. I'll stand by my previous post, unless you're a professional athlete to where it is your job, you don't deserve a dime of pay.