Student athletes my ass (NCAA athletics)

The Green Eyed Monster

Personally, I'm glad to see some students are speaking up about it. The system is exploitative and unethical:

AP wrote:

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Playing in a bowl is no longer reward enough for some college football players: Some Buckeyes and Gators want a cut of the millions being generated by the championship game.

"We all deserve more money," Ohio State senior guard T.J. Downing said. "We're the reason this money's coming in. We're the guys out there sacrificing our bodies. We're taking years off our lives out here hitting each other, and we're not being compensated for it."

Instead, players from top-ranked Ohio State and No. 2 Florida received portable satellite radios and commemorative wristwatches, first-class meals and VIP treatment at posh resorts.

"I've got to admit, sometimes I look in my hand and look in their hand," Florida defensive tackle Joe Cohen said, referring to the Bowl Championship Series. "I believe players should get a little bit more than what they're getting. I don't want to sound like I'm greedy. It's just reality.

"I believe players should be paid, because I'm broke."

Cohen chuckled when he said it, but it's no laughing matter for the NCAA, which has steadfastly maintained that players -- or student-athletes, as the association refers to them -- are amateurs and cannot be paid. It's right there in Bylaw 2.9 of the NCAA Manual: "Student participation in intercollegiate athletics is an avocation, and student-athletes should be protected from exploitation by professional and commercial enterprises."

But bowls have become increasingly commercial. Fourteen different commercial logos appeared Friday inside University of Phoenix Stadium, where media day was held.

Bowl payouts have been mushrooming, too. According to the Football Bowl Association, this year's 31 bowl games will generate $210 million for NCAA schools. Over the last six years, bowls have paid schools $900 million, the association said, and it estimates bowl payouts will grow to $2.2 billion over the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, the Phoenix area expects to reap $350 million in tourism revenue from its three bowl games this year -- the Insight, the Fiesta and the BCS title game.

Plus, Fox is in the first year of a four-year deal that will pay the BCS $320 million for the broadcast rights to the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar bowls from 2007-10 and the national title game from 2007-09.

Little of this money trickles down to the players. The NCAA has set a $500 limit on gifts they can receive from bowl hosts.

Some players shrugged when asked about the money they help generate.

Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy, said he doesn't mind that others profit from sales of his No. 10 jersey, the garment of choice among Buckeyes fans.

"I think what you get is what you deserve," he said. "Thinking about getting revenue off jerseys right now, for me, is definitely not my thinking. That doesn't bother me at all."

Officials and coaches from Florida and Ohio State said paying players would not be practical.

According to 2005-06 U.S. Department of Education figures, Florida reported a total of 538 male and female athletes and said it spent $5.3 million on athletic scholarships. Ohio State reported a total of 996 athletes and said it spent $11.3 million on athletic scholarships.

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said he heard questions about pay-for-play at the men's basketball Final Four in Indianapolis last spring, where the Gators won the national title.

"There's a philosophical side of the conversation," Foley said. "But there's a realistic side. I don't see how you have a system in place that just pays men's basketball and football players. Then it becomes just a pure dollars-and-cents issue."

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel agreed.

"Down the road, for the revenue-generating kids, there are careers out there," he said. "If you become one of the great ones, you can maybe generate some income for yourself."

Count Tressel among those experiencing a BCS windfall. He received a $200,000 bonus for leading the Buckeyes into the title game. If Ohio State wins, his current contract specifies he can negotiate a new agreement just six months after signing one that will pay him more than $2.6 million this season.

As the money pours in, the debate isn't likely to end soon.

"I can't sit here and say, 'Hey, I need more money,' because the money they're giving us for college, and money they're giving us for rent, the money we're getting for food is plenty enough for me," Ohio State sophomore linebacker Marcus Freeman said. "But you see people at the next level (the NFL) doing the same thing, and then you hear how many millions that the school is getting for playing in a game like this, and you're saying to yourself, 'Man, give us just a little bit more.' "

If you get your program to the National Championship game, you should get paid. I know they get tons of privilege already, but compared to the wealth they're generating? It's still not enough. Scholarships and small gifts are nice, but it's not enough. This is why we see big programs like the University of Miami have abysmal graduation rates, because simply put you'll make MONEY going pro.

So anyway -- what says D&D? No problem, keep it moving? Pay them already? Divorce colleges and big money athletic programs? Or how about if the students can't take sponsorships, the schools can't either? And in particular, how is this ethical and where do they get off with this "student athlete" bullshit? We all know why they're there, it's just dishonest and dumb to pretend otherwise.

Sorry if this is an old topic, but it continues to be a problem in my eyes, and I wish more than just sports fans would bother to care.

Senjutsu

Your whole college sports program seems strange and monstrous to me. In Canada we make sure our college teams are soundly ignored and have no funding the way God intended.

Jragghen

And here I thought the point of going to college was to network and prepare yourself for a career.

drhazard

Senjutsu wrote:

Your whole college sports program seems strange and monstrous to me. In Canada we make sure our college teams are soundly ignored and have no funding the way God intended.

Oh how I yearn for a day when athletic skill and prowess are actually the most important parts of our sports culture.

Dagrabbit

Wait...so college coaches can make millions of dollars, but the athletes make squat, and the coach interviewed said that it "wouldn't be practical" to pay the kids? "If you're good, you can make money later, while we make money now?" What an ass.

We treat the popular college athletic programs as professional sports. It's time to stop pretending we don't and pay the players, or remove the commercialism from the game. Right now, the colleges and athletic administration staff get it to have both ways while the players get screwed. Pick one.

Jragghen

Dagrabbit wrote:

Wait...so college coaches can make millions of dollars, but the athletes make squat, and the coach interviewed said that it "wouldn't be practical" to pay the kids? "If you're good, you can make money later, while we make money now?" What an ass.

We treat the popular college athletic programs as professional sports. It's time to stop pretending we don't and pay the players, or remove the commercialism from the game. Right now, the colleges and athletic administration staff get it to have both ways while the players get screwed. Pick one.

The athletes are getting paid. Just not monetarily. If the athletes start getting paid, then the rest of the students shouldn't be subsidizing the athletes' tuition, room, and board via sports scholarships.

Elki

AP wrote:

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel agreed.

"Down the road, for the revenue-generating kids, there are careers out there," he said. "If you become one of the great ones, you can maybe generate some income for yourself."

Count Tressel among those experiencing a BCS windfall. He received a $200,000 bonus for leading the Buckeyes into the title game. If Ohio State wins, his current contract specifies he can negotiate a new agreement just six months after signing one that will pay him more than $2.6 million this season.

That's the biggest load of bullshit, ever.

I mean, yeah "you could make money at the next level" but how many players in your roster will make it to the next level? If you're a team with great talent, like Ohio State, then last year it was 9 last year, out of a ginormous roster.

Marty81

The sad thing is that, despite the huge payouts involved in college sports, most college athletic departments actually operate in the red. If an average division I school were able to drop its sports teams and all the cost and revenue associated with them, while maintaining the same number of students, its net profit per year would go up.

Source: Beer and Circus. Anyone else read it?

The Green Eyed Monster

Jragghen wrote:

Dagrabbit wrote:

Wait...so college coaches can make millions of dollars, but the athletes make squat, and the coach interviewed said that it "wouldn't be practical" to pay the kids? "If you're good, you can make money later, while we make money now?" What an ass.

We treat the popular college athletic programs as professional sports. It's time to stop pretending we don't and pay the players, or remove the commercialism from the game. Right now, the colleges and athletic administration staff get it to have both ways while the players get screwed. Pick one.

The athletes are getting paid. Just not monetarily. If the athletes start getting paid, then the rest of the students shouldn't be subsidizing the athletes' tuition, room, and board via sports scholarships.

But the athletes in many programs generate their own scholarships and then some in return for the schools.

I don't think they should all be salaried or anything, but I do think if they earn these big stage appearances they should receive a cut of the generous profits being realized by the organizations that put them together. If you're in the BCS, you get a cut of the action.

I mean the Screen Actor's Guild has its members getting paid when their movies get syndicated, why shouldn't athletes be getting paid when their image and likeness is being used to generate even greater profits? Aren't they really just entertainers in the end? How is this not illegal even?

Elki

Jragghen wrote:

Dagrabbit wrote:

Wait...so college coaches can make millions of dollars, but the athletes make squat, and the coach interviewed said that it "wouldn't be practical" to pay the kids? "If you're good, you can make money later, while we make money now?" What an ass.

We treat the popular college athletic programs as professional sports. It's time to stop pretending we don't and pay the players, or remove the commercialism from the game. Right now, the colleges and athletic administration staff get it to have both ways while the players get screwed. Pick one.

The athletes are getting paid. Just not monetarily. If the athletes start getting paid, then the rest of the students shouldn't be subsidizing the athletes' tuition, room, and board via sports scholarships.

You think the millions they bring to the schools won't be able to cover their tuition, and room and board?

Irond Will

God I loathe college athletics. If we need a farm structure with lots of local franchises in order to maintain our professional sports leagues, then these should stand on their own, rather than burdening our largely publicly-funded educational institutions with the costs and burden of maintaining these.

It's nonsensical and runs counter to what should be the educational mandate of these institutions.

Doc

Irond Will wrote:

God I loathe college athletics. If we need a farm structure with lots of local franchises in order to maintain our professional sports leagues, then these should stand on their own, rather than burdening our largely publicly-funded educational institutions with the costs and burden of maintaining these.

It's nonsensical and runs counter to what should be the educational mandate of these institutions.

Dagrabbit

Jragghen wrote:

Dagrabbit wrote:

Wait...so college coaches can make millions of dollars, but the athletes make squat, and the coach interviewed said that it "wouldn't be practical" to pay the kids? "If you're good, you can make money later, while we make money now?" What an ass.

We treat the popular college athletic programs as professional sports. It's time to stop pretending we don't and pay the players, or remove the commercialism from the game. Right now, the colleges and athletic administration staff get it to have both ways while the players get screwed. Pick one.

The athletes are getting paid. Just not monetarily. If the athletes start getting paid, then the rest of the students shouldn't be subsidizing the athletes' tuition, room, and board via sports scholarships.

The yearly room and board don't come even close to what the coaches are making, and the revenue generated from the games. I agree, if they are salaried, the < 35K room and board they get per year should no longer be scholarship money.

Jragghen

Elkamil wrote:

Jragghen wrote:

Dagrabbit wrote:

Wait...so college coaches can make millions of dollars, but the athletes make squat, and the coach interviewed said that it "wouldn't be practical" to pay the kids? "If you're good, you can make money later, while we make money now?" What an ass.

We treat the popular college athletic programs as professional sports. It's time to stop pretending we don't and pay the players, or remove the commercialism from the game. Right now, the colleges and athletic administration staff get it to have both ways while the players get screwed. Pick one.

The athletes are getting paid. Just not monetarily. If the athletes start getting paid, then the rest of the students shouldn't be subsidizing the athletes' tuition, room, and board via sports scholarships.

You think the millions they bring to the schools won't be able to cover their tuition, and room and board?

It would. I'm just saying that right now, both sides are going "gimme money." If the athletes want to be paid, they should also carry their own costs. All I'm saying.

The Green Eyed Monster

Marty81 wrote:

The sad thing is that, despite the huge payouts involved in college sports, most college athletic departments actually operate in the red. If an average division I school were able to drop its sports teams and all the cost and revenue associated with them, while maintaining the same number of students, its net profit per year would go up.

Source: Beer and Circus. Anyone else read it?

Which is fine for the less successful programs, but for the ones involved in these big bowl games, which means they definitely are hitting the black, they deserve a cut.

Then, to top it off -- lots of that "loss" is often the coach's salary. Bring their salaries back down to earth, and the losses would probably immediately disappear. There's also the Booster issue to boot. It's a misleading statistic.

Elki

Irond Will wrote:

God I loathe college athletics. If we need a farm structure with lots of local franchises in order to maintain our professional sports leagues, then these should stand on their own, rather than burdening our largely publicly-funded educational institutions with the costs and burden of maintaining these.

It's nonsensical and runs counter to what should be the educational mandate of these institutions.

I agree, but not with the costs part. Many college athletic programs lose money, but the ones that could be labeled as "pro-farms" are all revenue producers.

Senjutsu

Irond Will wrote:

God I loathe college athletics. If we need a farm structure with lots of local franchises in order to maintain our professional sports leagues, then these should stand on their own, rather than burdening our largely publicly-funded educational institutions with the costs and burden of maintaining these.

It's nonsensical and runs counter to what should be the educational mandate of these institutions.

So for the NBA and NFL, are the college systems essentially their farm systems?

I'm much more familiar with the NHL and MLB, which both have professional farm systems.

Marty81

celery77 wrote:

Marty81 wrote:

The sad thing is that, despite the huge payouts involved in college sports, most college athletic departments actually operate in the red. If an average division I school were able to drop its sports teams and all the cost and revenue associated with them, while maintaining the same number of students, its net profit per year would go up.

Source: Beer and Circus. Anyone else read it?

Which is fine for the less successful programs, but for the ones involved in these big bowl games, which means they definitely are hitting the black, they deserve a cut.

Then, to top it off -- lots of that "loss" is often the coach's salary. Bring their salaries back down to earth, and the losses would probably immediately disappear. There's also the Booster issue to boot. It's a misleading statistic.

The book I referenced (and I think it's about 6 or 7 years old now, mind - back before the time where practically every team in the nation goes to a bowl game) says that even most schools involved in bowl games operate in the red. I can grab some specific figures for you later tonight if you want.

Elki

celery77 wrote:

Marty81 wrote:

The sad thing is that, despite the huge payouts involved in college sports, most college athletic departments actually operate in the red. If an average division I school were able to drop its sports teams and all the cost and revenue associated with them, while maintaining the same number of students, its net profit per year would go up.

Source: Beer and Circus. Anyone else read it?

Which is fine for the less successful programs, but for the ones involved in these big bowl games, which means they definitely are hitting the black, they deserve a cut.

Then, to top it off -- lots of that "loss" is often the coach's salary. Bring their salaries back down to earth, and the losses would probably immediately disappear. There's also the Booster issue to boot. It's a misleading statistic.

Also, that stat is for for whole ADs, not specific sports.

Crayon

And they need to stop acting like they don't get paid. We all know the under-the-table dealings going on, it's just most local industries don't crack wind of it because nobody cares if your team is winning. Hell, it even happens in high school sports.

They get leased cars, houses, cuts, and let us not even speak about the social aspects of being a "badass football player" around campus.

Irond Will

Elkamil wrote:

Irond Will wrote:

God I loathe college athletics. If we need a farm structure with lots of local franchises in order to maintain our professional sports leagues, then these should stand on their own, rather than burdening our largely publicly-funded educational institutions with the costs and burden of maintaining these.

It's nonsensical and runs counter to what should be the educational mandate of these institutions.

I agree, but not with the costs part. Many college athletic programs lose money, but the ones that could be labeled as "pro-farms" are all revenue generators.

I'm tempted to agree, but seems difficult to calculate, given all the factors surrounding alumni donations, city/ state earmarks for stadiums, direction of advertising money or endorsements, and the fact that the schools really like to hide the actual costs of the program.

I went to Texas Tech, for instance, and one year our school bookstore had to file bankruptcy because there was some sort of money-laundering scam going on with the filtering money through the bookstore to the football program.

Still, given the degree of public interest, it's hard to believe that it can't be profitable in some cases. I just don't think it's helping schools at all.

Marty81

Elkamil wrote:

celery77 wrote:

Marty81 wrote:

The sad thing is that, despite the huge payouts involved in college sports, most college athletic departments actually operate in the red. If an average division I school were able to drop its sports teams and all the cost and revenue associated with them, while maintaining the same number of students, its net profit per year would go up.

Source: Beer and Circus. Anyone else read it?

Which is fine for the less successful programs, but for the ones involved in these big bowl games, which means they definitely are hitting the black, they deserve a cut.

Then, to top it off -- lots of that "loss" is often the coach's salary. Bring their salaries back down to earth, and the losses would probably immediately disappear. There's also the Booster issue to boot. It's a misleading statistic.

Also, that stat is for for whole ADs, not specific sports.

One of the requirements to be an NCAA school is that you host a specific number of different sports (and constantly build/maintain/upgrade the facilities for them to meet increasingly demanding NCAA requirements), so it's not like you can just cut out the non-profitable sports and keep the one or two you're good at.

Irond Will

Senjutsu wrote:

Irond Will wrote:

God I loathe college athletics. If we need a farm structure with lots of local franchises in order to maintain our professional sports leagues, then these should stand on their own, rather than burdening our largely publicly-funded educational institutions with the costs and burden of maintaining these.

It's nonsensical and runs counter to what should be the educational mandate of these institutions.

So for the NBA and NFL, are the college systems essentially their farm systems?

I'm much more familiar with the NHL and MLB, which both have professional farm systems.

I have never heard of a farm system for the NBA and NFL. Well, there was the CFL, but I think they got bought. Given that NFL rookies are inevitably referred to by their alma mater, I suspect that there isn't a farm league.

3lwap0

I've known some really dirt poor college athletes who couldn't get jobs. I'm not talking the famous football playing ones either, more like your track, soccer, wrestling athletes. There is a rosy side to having a roof over your head, and food in your stomach. But coughing up money for odds/ends like socks, new clothes, or even toothpaste can be a real pain in the ass depending on what your family can send your way. I sympathize with the athletes who live hand to mouth. I do wish the school could create a stipend for them, to at least provide the incidentals and a bit of folding money.

Of course, football players do not do without. On top of all the perks of being scholarship'd NCAA Div 1 athletes, they frequently get donations from the school and athletic club boosters. They get a ton of gray-area gifts, like expensive suits for game-day, new shoes, even cellphones at some programs. They do pretty damn good for themselves, so my sympathy for them lacks.

Least we forget as well, they get the greatest of them all: A free education. I'll be paying off my student loans for years to come, so my heart doesn't bleed for them.

The Green Eyed Monster

Crayon wrote:

And they need to stop acting like they don't get paid. We all know the under-the-table dealings going on, it's just most local industries don't crack wind of it because nobody cares if your team is winning. Hell, it even happens in high school sports.

They get leased cars, houses, cuts, and let us not even speak about the social aspects of being a "badass football player" around campus.

Which frankly, I'm fine with. If people want to extend these privileges to the athletes, why shouldn't they be allowed to do so?

Oh, that's right, because they're "student athletes." If they weren't on the football team and similar gifts were given to them, there would be no issue whatsoever. I mean, how fucking retarded is that?

mcdermott

3lwap0 wrote:

I've known some really dirt poor college athletes who couldn't get jobs. I'm not talking the famous football playing ones either, more like your track, soccer, wrestling athletes. There is a rosy side to having a roof over your head, and food in your stomach. But coughing up money for odds/ends like socks, new clothes, or even toothpaste can be a real pain in the ass depending on what your family can send your way. I sympathize with the athletes who live hand to mouth. I do wish the school could create a stipend for them, to at least provide the incidentals and a bit of folding money.

As compared to those of us who aren't college athletes, and have to pay for our books, tuition, housing, food, AND "odds and ends."

No sympathy here. Take out loans like everybody else.

celery77 wrote:

Which frankly, I'm fine with. If people want to extend these privileges to the athletes, why shouldn't they be allowed to do so?

Oh, that's right, because they're "student athletes." If they weren't on the football team and similar gifts were given to them, there would be no issue whatsoever. I mean, how fucking retarded is that?

Incredibly retarded? They're (specifically basketball and football players) basically minor-league athletes, and should be allowed to take some level of compensation.

Seriously, I think our colleges need to step away a bit from the gigantic money machine that is professional sports. Tell the NFL and NBA they have X number of years to get a working farm system going, and if they fail to do so the NCAA will disband every football and basketball program across the country.

Yeah, I realize it's never happening.

Clint Eastwood

If you don't mind, I'm going to go watch the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, or perhaps the Capital One Whatthefuckever Bowl. Hell, I might even watch the Cingular Bowl or the Walmart Bowl while I'm at it.

Jesus.

The Green Eyed Monster

Irond Will wrote:

I have never heard of a farm system for the NBA and NFL. Well, there was the CFL, but I think they got bought. Given that NFL rookies are inevitably referred to by their alma mater, I suspect that there isn't a farm league.

The NBA is working on developing the NBDL (DL = development league), but otherwise yeah, college is now MANDATED (you have to be 19 to declare for the draft now, so either go to college for one year or go pro in Europe before declaring).

Another weird thing about the NFL is that you have to have completed your Junior year before you declare, but programs like Miami still have like ~60% or less graduation rates.

BigJoeM

There would be an issue anytime someone is given "gifts" for something they're supposed to do it looks like a bribe.

Their payment for their athletic prowess is that they get to go to school for free and at some places that's a nice little chunk of change you don't have to pay.

I know a guy who is now a pro football player he and his family wanted for nothing while he was in college (i'm talking 4 or 5 SUVs, home renovations the works that came free)

When they get those under the table bonuses and get away with stuff i wouldn't dream of doing i don't think they should get a check on top of that.

The Green Eyed Monster

BigJoeM wrote:

There would be an issue anytime someone is given "gifts" for something they're supposed to do it looks like a bribe.

Their payment for their athletic prowess is that they get to go to school for free and at some places that's a nice little chunk of change you don't have to pay.

I know a guy who is now a pro football player he and his family wanted for nothing while he was in college (i'm talking 4 or 5 SUVs, home renovations the works that came free)

When they get those under the table bonuses and get away with stuff i wouldn't dream of doing i don't think they should get a check on top of that.

But the point is why make these gifts go under the table? What's the harm in just doing this stuff out in the open? Can you justify that?

mcdermott

celery77 wrote:

Another weird thing about the NFL is that you have to have completed your Junior year before you declare, but programs like Miami still have like ~60% or less graduation rates.

How do they determine academic year? For instance, as far as my school is concerned I'm a "junior" right now, but firmly planted in the sophomore portion of my curriculum.

Elki

mcdermott wrote:

celery77 wrote:

Another weird thing about the NFL is that you have to have completed your Junior year before you declare, but programs like Miami still have like ~60% or less graduation rates.

How do they determine academic year? For instance, as far as my school is concerned I'm a "junior" right now, but firmly planted in the sophomore portion of my curriculum.

It's just the number of years, I think. You can redshirt the first year, and declare after your "sophomore" year.

ege02

I personally loathe the professional sports industry because too much money and politics are involved. Watching college sports seems more fulfilling to me. Perhaps it's because I have this idea that college athletes do what they do for the love of the sport, whereas professional athletes do it for money. I don't know enough to elaborate though.

Senjutsu

ege02 wrote:

I personally loathe the professional sports industry because too much money and politics are involved. Watching college sports seems more fulfilling to me. Perhaps it's because I have this idea that college athletes do what they do for the love of the sport, whereas professional athletes do it for money. I don't know enough to elaborate though.

So what you're saying is that you're incredibly naive about the realities of college athletics vs professional leagues?

BigJoeM

But the point is why make these gifts go under the table? What's the harm in just doing this stuff out in the open? Can you justify that?

I would prefer no gifts at all only the standard awards,trophies, and sponsorship deals that are on the up and up.

The Green Eyed Monster

Elkamil wrote:

mcdermott wrote:

celery77 wrote:

Another weird thing about the NFL is that you have to have completed your Junior year before you declare, but programs like Miami still have like ~60% or less graduation rates.

How do they determine academic year? For instance, as far as my school is concerned I'm a "junior" right now, but firmly planted in the sophomore portion of my curriculum.

It's just the number of years, I think. You can redshirt the first year, and declare after your "sophomore" year.

Yeah, it's a weird mess of bullshit and misdirection, but I think Elks has made the proper read here.

I'm guessing there must be an age requirement as well, for those that didn't attend college (which there really aren't many), but I don't know what that is, but it's over what a junior would be. It's a weird weird system. Should be noted the NFL also has the weakest player union of all major sports.

The Green Eyed Monster

BigJoeM wrote:

But the point is why make these gifts go under the table? What's the harm in just doing this stuff out in the open? Can you justify that?

I would prefer no gifts at all only the standard awards,trophies, and sponsorship deals that are on the up and up.

Okay, but why does this only apply to the athletes? Shouldn't the programs be forced to adhere to the same guidelines then?

Fencingsax

celery77 wrote:

Crayon wrote:

And they need to stop acting like they don't get paid. We all know the under-the-table dealings going on, it's just most local industries don't crack wind of it because nobody cares if your team is winning. Hell, it even happens in high school sports.

They get leased cars, houses, cuts, and let us not even speak about the social aspects of being a "badass football player" around campus.

Which frankly, I'm fine with. If people want to extend these privileges to the athletes, why shouldn't they be allowed to do so?

Oh, that's right, because they're "student athletes." If they weren't on the football team and similar gifts were given to them, there would be no issue whatsoever. I mean, how fucking retarded is that?

I agree that the gifts they get and the emphasis put on them is pretty damn stupid.

Elki

Irond Will wrote:

Still, given the degree of public interest, it's hard to believe that it can't be profitable in some cases. I just don't think it's helping schools at all.

I don't think it's helping the schools either. But don't know why everybody is talking about the schools like they aren't the exploitative bastards, here.

Spaten Optimator

Many college students have to work multiple jobs to get by, and as one of them (worked third shift while attending classes last semester to afford food/rent), my response to this whining is pretty lukewarm. If student athletes had to pay tuition like everyone else, then I'd perhaps be more inclined to listen.

This situation is pretty stupid though--if it's so disheartening to be used in such a fashion but you have to play out of love of the game, then play intramural or try your hand at NFL Europe or something. Jesus Christ, what a bunch of whiners. And yes, the NCAA are douchebags too. I wish the NFL would just take over the organization and set up a 'd' league to free up scholarships for students who go to college to, you know, learn something.

Crayon

Fencingsax wrote:

celery77 wrote:

Crayon wrote:

And they need to stop acting like they don't get paid. We all know the under-the-table dealings going on, it's just most local industries don't crack wind of it because nobody cares if your team is winning. Hell, it even happens in high school sports.

They get leased cars, houses, cuts, and let us not even speak about the social aspects of being a "badass football player" around campus.

Which frankly, I'm fine with. If people want to extend these privileges to the athletes, why shouldn't they be allowed to do so?

Oh, that's right, because they're "student athletes." If they weren't on the football team and similar gifts were given to them, there would be no issue whatsoever. I mean, how fucking retarded is that?

I agree that the gifts they get and the emphasis put on them is pretty damn stupid.

I find it stupid that they aren't getting officially compensated, but to look at this we also have to understand that they do get paid in other methods like I notated above.