Let's draft a suitable compensation plan

[CalipariCapo]

The NCAA cannot pay every student athlete...very much anyway...so folks need to stop with the "NCAA makes billions and should players argument..."...if NCAA pays players it won't be enough, and they'd eventually run out of money...

There are roughly 460,000 student athletes. The NCAA makes about 1 billion in revenue a year. That comes out to about $2,173 per player.

Texas A&M athletic department makes the most money at about 190 million. Enough to pay players right?

Well let's think about all the expenses without additional pay to players on top of everything else they get. Major projects (renovations, new facilities, etc), coaches salaries, employee salaries, scholarships, money spent on pampering athletes (chefs, nutritionists, massage therapists, gear, etc), travel for all, recruiting budgets, marketing, etc...

I'm not entirely sure what all that adds up to be but I'm sure it's a pretty penny.

Now, that's not to say I'm totally against paying players a bit more, but I would like to know exactly how much money people think athletic departments can spare. Sure they make a lot of money, but they are not pro franchises ran by billionaires.

I would also like to point out that the "free market" argument is a can of worms people will eventually have issues with.

The second the revenue sports have to start bidding and paying for top talent, will be the second budgets of non rev sports get slashed...I mean "free market" right?

It's all fun to "stand with" the players and lock arms until women's sports start to go by way of the dodo.

What happens when players feel they're not getting paid enough? What happens when football starts to take all the money because they make all the money and have an additional 53 checks to write, at least...the big football schools will be writing checks to a hundred kids and pissing on their volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, golf, softball, and probably even baseball programs.

Real red pill and rabbit hole situation folks, that I'm not sure people really want to embark on...

Very good post! Also, if they pay the players based on the argument that they bring in revenue for the school, what would keep students from forming together and saying they should receive a stipend after every academic semester because they produce a revenue for the school through tuition, eating on campus, etc.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Very good post! Also, if they pay the players based on the argument that they bring in revenue for the school, what would keep students from forming together and saying they should receive a stipend after every academic semester because they produce a revenue for the school through tuition, eating on campus, etc.

Indeed...I mean can you imagine the fit faculty and staff would throw? Even though athletics is self funding and totally separate from the university, but still, there would be a revolt among academia.

 

[CalipariCapo]

Indeed...I mean can you imagine the fit faculty and staff would throw? Even though athletics is self funding and totally separate from the university, but still, there would be a revolt among academia.

How then do we give the athletes an incentive to go/stay in school while keeping them away from agents/ people that steer them to certain schools for compensation in hopes they sign with that agency when they turn pro? Let athletes sign with an agency out of high school that will provide them a loan to get through school? How do you keep the agents from trying to brokerage package deals to certain schools? There has to be an answer somewhere.

 

[truebluewildcat]

How then do we give the athletes an incentive to go/stay in school while keeping them away from agents/ people that steer them to certain schools for compensation in hopes they sign with that agency when they turn pro? Let athletes sign with an agency out of high school that will provide them a loan to get through school? How do you keep the agents from trying to brokerage package deals to certain schools? There has to be an answer somewhere.

I'm not sure what the exact answer is, it's a complex issue that will take a combination of many ideas and years to get right.

The NBA and apparel/shoe companies need to take over the AAU circuits and turn them into a developmental farm system/semi pro league. I think it is widely understood that this is where most of problems take place in terms of agents, peddlers, pimps, and runners for all sorts of companies getting in with families and players.

Let the best join up starting at 16-17 years old. Europe does it. Oversees academics and athletics are not tied at the hip. There are club sports for recreation, but it is not a multi billion dollar industry, nor do kids play college ball to get ready for pros. The pros find the talent and gobble it up. It's why the foreign player has become so coveted over the years, they start playing ball on some sort of pro/semi pro level and competing in that environment at 16 give or take.

The big soccer clubs have pipelines and academies all over, some are starting to set up camp in here in the states. MLB has there academies in the Dominican Republic where basically kids and young men live, eat, sleep, drink baseball.

 

[BBBLazing]

*Lengthy but PLEASE read*

Hello fellow wildcat fans! I have been a long time reader of this board for many years (since the fast paste days lmao) and have finally broke down, bit the bullet and created an account. Part of the reason is because there is so much talk these days of compensation for athletes and doing away with "amateurism" at the collegiate level (the other reason is because I love my fellow cats fans and live to talk good, knowledgeable basketball).

I am a recent graduate of a university (to remain nameless). During my time on campus, I had many classes with multiple football, basketball, and baseball players. During these classes, many of the athletes would not attend class. If they did attend class, they often would act very immature and cause disruption in the classroom. Some were lucky to even spell their own names. It would never fail though that these same players would pass the classes and be in the more advanced class the next semester.

I understand that not every student athlete is the same and there are some that do take their education seriously, but the majority of the ones that I have met, seen, and interacted with do not. THIS is the reason why an academic scholarship plus free room,board,meals,etc. are not enough for these players anymore (that do not see a free education as a monetary value). I am under the belief that if universities start paying athletes to play certain sports, our society will prove that Darwinism has completely taken over. That sends the message to the future generations that you don't have to try at school or become more knowledgeable about the world, as long as you have a unique body type that can dribble,throw, or catch, you will have far more advantages than the "normal" student/human being. This will give way to the phasing out of the mid major along with many other unintended consequences that come with putting a plan into action such as education around the country plummeting and being replaced by practicing a sport that will pay to go to college.

I am of the mindset that just because something has been done a certain way for so long, it does not mean that it can not be changed and made better. Saying it can not be changed only closes the door for discussion. I am completely OPPOSED to flat out paying of players/students to play a sport. However, I am not oblivious to the money the NCAA is racking in at these players expense. A great paradox indeed.

As stated previously, I am a recent college graduate and my gf has an accounting degree with an economics masters from the same university. We have been talking about the recent FBI scandal and wanted to come up with a plan that would compensate the players fairly, but also not send the message that just because you're not 6'8", and can't dunk or tackle, you, your interests, and your contribution to this world isn't any less important.

I understand this plan is not perfect and I am not claiming to be a financial wizard. I am looking for discussion as to how this plan could be made better and I know there is no other place better to do achieve that goal then on Rupp Rafters so here it goes:

1. The respective player files for an alternative financial aid agreement before arriving to university
2. The respective player is qualified to receive full or part tuition, room, board, meals, etc. (basically how a scholarship works currently)
3. If the respective player is a full scholarship athlete, the respective player will receive 1% of the profits generated through their respective sport PER YEAR. (Would have to work out what a part scholarship player receives).
4. The amount the student athlete receives would then go into an interest bearing account the student athlete sets up on their behalf (mutual fund, IRA, etc.). The student athlete could also choose to let the athletic program keep the money as a loan. Student will receive a fixed interest rate during the time the school retains the loan.
5. If the student athlete GRADUATES, they will receive the compensation from the athletic department as services to the school while also receiving a free education, meals, clothing, room and board, big man on campus status, etc.
6. If the player leaves college early and signs a contract for athletic services of any kind OR the athlete/family/anyone related to their recruitment is proven to have colluded with sports agents or received any kind of impermissible benefit, they are required to convey the compensation they have received from the athletic department back to the university or to a charity of their choice. TAX BENEFITS included. (If player leaves early and signs a professional contract AND caught colliding with agents/ taking extra benefits, the student athlete is required to pay back the compensation he/she has received PLUS matching that amount as a fine that must be paid back to the school or a charity of their choice).
7. In order for the student athlete or university to be required to partake in this plan, the respective universities athletic department must be generating profits well over the national average (certain percentages would have to be ratified).
8. The respective player may receive a loan from a university/financial institution for "living expenses" but loan must be repaid within a certain time. (Payment plan can be worked out)
9. If the student athlete graduates from the respective university, the student athlete is eligible to receive their compensation ONLY if they have complied with all the previous guidelines AND they have taken at least 6 credit hours of an investment/ financial management course. (Student must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA throughout the entirety of their career).

This is all I have at the moment but I know their are a lot of great minds on this board that can help tweak this out, point out the flaws, or just flat out shred it to pieces lol. I know @irishcat1965 is a lawyer and may be able to add some insight to whether or not something along these lines could be a viable plan. For those of you that read all the way through, I thank you! GO CATS and I feel like we have a real shot to bring home #9 this year as we can guard and score from all 5 positions when we are hot.

P.S. Duke and Carolina can suck a ****

If you were in class with them, you weren't taking the hard classes yourself. I call bullshit on your entire post.

 

[CalipariCapo]

I'm not sure what the exact answer is, it's a complex issue that will take a combination of many ideas and years to get right.

The NBA and apparel/shoe companies need to take over the AAU circuits and turn them into a developmental farm system/semi pro league. I think it is widely understood that this is where most of problems take place in terms of agents, peddlers, pimps, and runners for all sorts of companies getting in with families and players.

Let the best join up starting at 16-17 years old. Europe does it. Oversees academics and athletics are not tied at the hip. There are club sports for recreation, but it is not a multi billion dollar industry, nor do kids play college ball to get ready for pros. The pros find the talent and gobble it up. It's why the foreign player has become so coveted over the years, they start playing ball on some sort of pro/semi pro level and competing in that environment at 16 give or take.

The big soccer clubs have pipelines and academies all over, some are starting to set up camp in here in the states. MLB has there academies in the Dominican Republic where basically kids and young men live, eat, sleep, drink baseball.

Imagine how pissed Enes Kanter would be if that model was drafted lol. That situation still pisses me off to this day.

 

[CalipariCapo]

If you were in class with them, you weren't taking the hard classes yourself. I call bullshit on your entire post.

Lol if you're enrolled in the college of business, all freshmen/ sophomores take the same management, marketing classes, etc. Doesn't negate from the fact that they were rarely ever there but still passed. I won't lie though, I signed up for a couple bs classes here and there for a couple extra credits lol. Pretty sure that is a universal thing that happens.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Paying the players won't fix the issue. You have to fix the system. Agents, NCAA, Shoe companies. Pay a kid 50k in salary and he can still be swayed by 60k.

 

[CalipariCapo]

Paying the players won't fix the issue. You have to fix the system. Agents, NCAA, Shoe companies. Pay a kid 50k in salary and he can still be swayed by 60k.

In my original post, it states that if the player/family/ or anyone connected to his recruitment is caught colluding with agents, they are responsible for paying back the amount they have received from the school plus the amount they received from the agency as a fine for compensation of the costs for conducting an internal investigation, etc.

 

[420grover]

The majority of players getting paid are not planning on staying four years. Your plan is to make them wait four years to get paid. Makes sense to me.

I'm down with the Olympic model. Free marketing of your own image. If the Durham bank wants to pay Marvin Bagley $100k to do a radio commercial, I don't care.

 

[CalipariCapo]

The majority of players getting paid are not planning on staying four years. Your plan is to make them wait four years to get paid. Makes sense to me.

I'm down with the Olympic model. Free marketing of your own image. If the Durham bank wants to pay Marvin Bagley $100k to do a radio commercial, I don't care.

The benchwarmers, women's sports, and anyone that aren't the main faces on ESPN will find a way to burn the Olympic model to the ground.

 

[420grover]

The benchwarmers, women's sports, and anyone that aren't the main faces on ESPN will find a way to burn the Olympic model to the ground.

Same rules apply to them. Nothing is stopping their earning potential except their marketability.

 

[WitnessGreatness]

Let players cash in on their likeness and % of jersey sales. Easy

 

[CalipariCapo]

Same rules apply to them. Nothing is stopping their earning potential except their marketability.

I completely agree. I believe you should receive what you put out. But that won't keep the femenists and the people that feel "victimized" from blurting out their opinions and causing and opening up another box of problems. I can already see the Interviews ESPN and CNN would be setting up lol.

 

[420grover]

I completely agree. I believe you should receive what you put out. But that won't keep the femenists and the people that feel "victimized" from blurting out their opinions and causing and opening up another box of problems. I can already see the Interviews ESPN and CNN would be setting up lol.

I haven't seen the curling team complaining about not being paid like Shaun White.

 

[CalipariCapo]

I haven't seen the curling team complaining about not being paid like Shaun White.

Athletes also aren't entering a high value market while attending a university on a full ride curling or snowboarding scholarship. Shaun white also has the ability to have individual video games made on his behalf. He's made a lot of money from EA sports and others.

 

[420grover]

Athletes also aren't entering a high value market while attending a university on a full ride curling or snowboarding scholarship. Shaun white also has the ability to have individual video games made on his behalf. He's made a lot of money from EA sports and others.

Those lower sport college athletes aren't entering a high value market. They're entering a money losing market paid for by football(and basketball at a few schools)

 

[CalipariCapo]

Those lower sport college athletes aren't entering a high value market. They're entering a money losing market paid for by football(and basketball at a few schools)

You're right about that. Schools that break even or are operating in the red would have to decide whether or not to cut those programs or make them a club sport that does not receive a scholarship. Those players could still get academic scholarships that are available though.

 

[420grover]

One more thing that was mentioned earlier in the thread that I see mentioned a lot is the "Their scholarship is enough. Regular students don't get a free ride." That is false. There are more students on academic scholarship than athletic scholarship.

 

[CalipariCapo]

One more thing that was mentioned earlier in the thread that I see mentioned a lot is the "Their scholarship is enough. Regular students don't get a free ride." That is false. There are more students on academic scholarship than athletic scholarship.

Yes but ordinary students on a full ride academic scholarship aren't asking for even more compensation. Those students also aren't generating millions of dollars from their likeness for their respective university/athletic organization. The problem rests with letting agencies mingle with AAU programs/families of high school athletes. If that stuff gets cut out then a lot of it would be fixed. Not sure you can harshly enforce laws that would restrict this kind of contact though.

 

[CalipariCapo]

Hey @morgousky! Been reading the board a long time and I always agree with a lot of what you say and how you view the world/college basketball. I was wondering what your thoughts were on my OP/ how you would tweak it.

 

[catmankev]

I would like to see the emphasis placed on student-athletes (those intending to graduate). Make rules that discourage college coaches from recruiting any player who does not intend to graduate. Let those individuals who can’t do college work or have no interest in doing college work look elsewhere for their opportunities. There will be problems with any system, but at the very least, put the emphasis back on education.

 

[JonathanW]

There are flaws with every "fix the NCAA" article or suggestion I've read. This one just popped into my head, haven't had time to think it through, but am open to let you guys poke holes or tear it to shreds.

1) Take the top 5 recruit rankings, and get a composite recruit ranking (1-100).
2) Each school, or booster club, or wealthy donor wanting to represent the school, puts $ into an account for top recruits by a certain date (e.g. June 30th). No players can sign before that date (but you can't keep them from giving a verbal non-binding commitment).
3) Players in the top 100 will get a payment from that account upon their signing with a school. The amounts can be adjusted, this is just an example (#1 composite player gets $100k, ..., #5 gets $96k, ..., #78 gets $23k, ..., #100 gets $1k). That would be a total of $5.05 million.
4) When a player commits, provided that school/boosters/donors contributed enough to the fund, then he gets 1/3 of that cash allocated to his composite ranking when he signs with the school; 1/3 on the first day of fall classes, and 1/3 upon completion of his 1st year with passing grades.
5) If the school/boosters/donors did not contribute enough for all of their top 100 recruits, then it will be prorated. Such that if the school put in $100k, and had the #10, #42, & #51 players sign (should get $91k, $59k, & $50k respectively), then it would be adjusted so they get $45.5k, $29.5k, & $25k respectively.
6) If schools put too much into the fund, then they will get that $ back June 30 of the next year.
7) Any interest earned by the $5.05M fund would go into a NCAA athlete emergency fund, that could be used for things such as emergency funds for players of any sport, family travel for family to NCAA games or SR-night games, etc....

 

[CalipariCapo]

BTT

 

[TheDude73]

You're over thinking it. All it needs to be is a kid can make money with his own name, image, and autograph. Vanderbilt can do a Cane's commercial and Knox a radio add for Malones steaks. Easy.

I guess free school, food, athletic gear and a top-flight training and medical program isn’t enough. They’ll make money outside of college once they get there. Call me one that thinks this whole “pay the players”movement horse crap.

 

[coach-2]

Zero extra to the players. Let them profit from their image with endorsements, autographs, etc. Redirect all profits from athletics to academics. Cut all public funding to universities.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Hey @morgousky! Been reading the board a long time and I always agree with a lot of what you say and how you view the world/college basketball. I was wondering what your thoughts were on my OP/ how you would tweak it.

Speaking of him, where has he been? Don't think he's posted in almost a week.

 

[wildcatdonf]

JMO .........paying the players would create a different set of problems and a lot of chaos.

 

[CalipariCapo]

Speaking of him, where has he been? Don't think he's posted in almost a week.

No idea! This is a public service announcement. If anyone sees or hears from @morgousky, please point him in the direction of this thread! Thank you and have a great day

 

[RC_Texas]

Expand the NBA draft one round. Let teams draft and stash College players like they do Euros. Doesn’t count against that year’s cap. Have all draft picks have a guaranteed salary. 1st round 2-years like today. 2nd and 3rd Rounders get one year. Let the NBA team pay them. Players can draw from their future salary for up to four years depending on their development and the needs of their NBA team holding their rights. The top 30 or so kids each year can play in college and still make some money. NCAA or schools do not have to share their cash. Union still gets more older plays on rosters and future stars too. GM can watch their future players develop. Best kids still play college ball. Teams that are near or over cap number can draft kids that really will play in the NBA unlike some of the Euro player that are being drafted but are not good enough to play in the NBA.

 

[bthaunert]

OP, first thought when scanning your post is the 1% number you threw out. If you’re talking 1% of revenue per scholarship player, schools would lose 85% of their football revenue since it would go to 85 players.

 

[bthaunert]

The NCAA cannot pay every student athlete...very much anyway...so folks need to stop with the "NCAA makes billions and should players argument..."...if NCAA pays players it won't be enough, and they'd eventually run out of money...

There are roughly 460,000 student athletes. The NCAA makes about 1 billion in revenue a year. That comes out to about $2,173 per player.

Texas A&M athletic department makes the most money at about 190 million. Enough to pay players right?

Well let's think about all the expenses without additional pay to players on top of everything else they get. Major projects (renovations, new facilities, etc), coaches salaries, employee salaries, scholarships, money spent on pampering athletes (chefs, nutritionists, massage therapists, gear, etc), travel for all, recruiting budgets, marketing, etc...

I'm not entirely sure what all that adds up to be but I'm sure it's a pretty penny.

Now, that's not to say I'm totally against paying players a bit more, but I would like to know exactly how much money people think athletic departments can spare. Sure they make a lot of money, but they are not pro franchises ran by billionaires.

I would also like to point out that the "free market" argument is a can of worms people will eventually have issues with.

The second the revenue sports have to start bidding and paying for top talent, will be the second budgets of non rev sports get slashed...I mean "free market" right?

It's all fun to "stand with" the players and lock arms until women's sports start to go by way of the dodo.

What happens when players feel they're not getting paid enough? What happens when football starts to take all the money because they make all the money and have an additional 53 checks to write, at least...the big football schools will be writing checks to a hundred kids and pissing on their volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, golf, softball, and probably even baseball programs.

Also, some of that additional player cost will be passed on to us...ticket prices, merchandise, autographs, etc...

Real red pill and rabbit hole situation folks, that I'm not sure people really want to embark on...

Just as a clarifier, a majority of those 460,000 athletes are not on scholarship. UK has about 230 full equivalent scholarships.

 

[CalipariCapo]

OP, first thought when scanning your post is the 1% number you threw out. If you’re talking 1% of revenue per scholarship player, schools would lose 85% of their football revenue since it would go to 85 players.

This is true. Would have to revise it as a set percentage of the revenue the entire team is allowed to receive from their respective sport and then divide that up amongst the team. For example, the football team receives 20% of the revenue the team brings in that calendar year and then divides that amount of money up between all players on the team. When making my original post, I had basketball on the brain and didn't think about football. Good catch

 

[truebluewildcat]

Just as a clarifier, a majority of those 460,000 athletes are not on scholarship. UK has about 230 full equivalent scholarships.

Fair point and an important one. Are non-scholly athletes included in this whole issue/discussion?

It ties in to the discussion of "free" market, non revenue and women's sports. I don't know that it would be entirely fair and player friendly to pay only the scholly players on the two sports that make money (football and bball).

The thing about the college athletics model thus far is that everyone benefits from the very few making any money. Football makes the bread and the women's tennis team gets scholarships, access to massage therapy, a new tennis complex etc..

Inevitably I think if things are going to change, it isn't going to be the NCAA or individual institutions that pay players, but rules will be tweaked to allow third parties to pay players. Players will be allowed to sign with agents and/or take endorsements. In the end, that model will ultimately face scrutiny and criticism because only a handful of players will benefit from that.

After some players start making money, people will start howling that the local car dealer has to endorse women's athletes as well. Or, if you're an agent signing a male athlete you better sign a female bball player to. Once that happens some businesses/third party pockets are going to back out on the account of it doesn't make sense nor do they have the funds to pay handfuls of athletes.

 

[bthaunert]

Fair point and an important one. Are non-scholly athletes included in this whole issue/discussion?

It ties in to the discussion of "free" market, non revenue and women's sports. I don't know that it would be entirely fair and player friendly to pay only the scholly players on the two sports that make money (football and bball).

The thing about the college athletics model thus far is that everyone benefits from the very few making any money. Football makes the bread and the women's tennis team gets scholarships, access to massage therapy, a new tennis complex etc..

Inevitably I think if things are going to change, it isn't going to be the NCAA or individual institutions that pay players, but rules will be tweaked to allow third parties to pay players. Players will be allowed to sign with agents and/or take endorsements. In the end, that model will ultimately face scrutiny and criticism because only a handful of players will benefit from that.

After some players start making money, people will start howling that the local car dealer has to endorse women's athletes as well. Or, if you're an agent signing a male athlete you better sign a female bball player to. Once that happens some businesses/third party pockets are going to back out on the account of it doesn't make sense nor do they have the funds to pay handfuls of athletes.

It would be against Title IX if you compensated male sports and not female sports. Another wrinkle into all of this. It’s just not as easy as everyone is making it out to be. The value of an athletic scholarship for a female athlete would have to be the same as the value for the men.

Throw in the fact that most Division I football and basketball programs lose money already and it gets even more complicated.

I’ve said from the get go, that making interest free loans available to all athletes through the NCAA, with incentives for loan forgiveness is the way to go. If you do that and you work with the NBA to get the straight out of high school rule back in play and continue to establish the G League as a true option for kids that don’t want to go to college but also aren’t ready for the NBA.

I think opening it up to the free market is a terrible idea.

 

[kb22stang]

The NCAA is now in a position where their hand has been forced. Something will have to change or else the people behind the recruiting underworld will realize that they are the ones running things (like they already are). The people will see the NCAA as nothing more than a paper tiger with no claws (as we already do) and the paying for players/ extra benefits will get worse and worse in time. Even if this certain plan isn't viable, the NCAA has to do SOMETHING/ANYTHING to prove they still have enforcement in the matter of collegiate athletics. Given the NCAA's history though, I have given up all hope that they will do anything that makes sense to try and rectify this situation.

All they have to do is lift the restrictions off players making money elsewhere, endorsements, agents, etc. Its simple, costs the NCAA slum lords any cash and the indentured servants actually get to profit off their labor. Also avoids title IX issues.

 

[kb22stang]

Throw in the fact that most Division I football and basketball programs lose money already and it gets even more complicated.

They find ways to pay coaches large sums of money.

 

[CalipariCapo]

Fair point and an important one. Are non-scholly athletes included in this whole issue/discussion?

It ties in to the discussion of "free" market, non revenue and women's sports. I don't know that it would be entirely fair and player friendly to pay only the scholly players on the two sports that make money (football and bball).

The thing about the college athletics model thus far is that everyone benefits from the very few making any money. Football makes the bread and the women's tennis team gets scholarships, access to massage therapy, a new tennis complex etc..

Inevitably I think if things are going to change, it isn't going to be the NCAA or individual institutions that pay players, but rules will be tweaked to allow third parties to pay players. Players will be allowed to sign with agents and/or take endorsements. In the end, that model will ultimately face scrutiny and criticism because only a handful of players will benefit from that.

After some players start making money, people will start howling that the local car dealer has to endorse women's athletes as well. Or, if you're an agent signing a male athlete you better sign a female bball player to. Once that happens some businesses/third party pockets are going to back out on the account of it doesn't make sense nor do they have the funds to pay handfuls of athletes.

This! You're spot on. The only ones that should even be considered to be compensated are the ones that bring in the money for the athletic departments (football and basketball). With this whole equality propaganda sweeping the nation, that will never fly. I can't seem to find a solution that won't open up a can of worms and offend multiple groups of people or completely mess up the economic structure. Like I and others have mentioned, going to college on a full scholarship is a privelage, NOT a right. The athletes that this is truly affecting have other options than to go to college in order to get where they want to be. Sometimes things should be left the way they are. Progress, just for the sake of progress, can be bad thing. But all the talking heads in sports and on TV say "it's corrupt" and "change it because we need to be paid more and get more benefits than what we are already getting". They say these things without one iota of thought of how it would affect the economics of the universities, governing institution, and the country just because every one else is saying it and they need to jump on the bandwagon real quick in order to meet the agenda.

 

[bthaunert]

They find ways to pay coaches large sums of money.

Because they are funded through the general fund if the University. I just cannot see a University President approving a tuition increase for the general student body to fund the pay of athletes in this scenario.

 

[truebluewildcat]

It would be against Title IX if you compensated male sports and not female sports. Another wrinkle into all of this. It’s just not as easy as everyone is making it out to be. The value of an athletic scholarship for a female athlete would have to be the same as the value for the men.

Throw in the fact that most Division I football and basketball programs lose money already and it gets even more complicated.

I’ve said from the get go, that making interest free loans available to all athletes through the NCAA, with incentives for loan forgiveness is the way to go. If you do that and you work with the NBA to get the straight out of high school rule back in play and continue to establish the G League as a true option for kids that don’t want to go to college but also aren’t ready for the NBA.

I think opening it up to the free market is a terrible idea.

Agreed that everyone with legit talent to get paid at the professional level needs to have those avenues readily available starting at an earlier age.

Indeed, if a true free market is implemented in college sports overtime we'll see non-rev sports deteriorate. I mean, the second you tell alabama they can pay athletes they're going to write checks to 100 of the best football players in the country. 5-6 years down the road from that they may not have any women's or non rev sports.

I find it quite humorous that a lot of very liberal sports talkers and media in general are in favor of a "free market" system in college but don't miss an opportunity to rail against it outside the sports world.