Compensation For College Athletes Essay
Compensation for College Athletes Athletes have to be dedicated to the game they play. Dedication means something different to each person; it is how the person responds to adversity that makes all the difference for when they play again. When student athletes have to practice they must be committed to their sport. This means student athletes must make their sport their second full time job, their first full time job is their schooling. Division 1 football players spend 43.3 hours a week practicing, and basketball players spend 39 hours a week practicing. All of the dedication goes unnoticed, however all of the university employees and school programs make money off of the student athletes hard work and dedication. All college athletes should be paid a portion of all revenues, which can accumulate over a billion dollars that are either donated by boosters, merchandise sold, ticket sales, and TV franchising. The common argument to college athletes being paid is that they are “Student Athletes.” Taylor Branch the writer of The Shame Of College Sports agrees that the NCAA makes “Student
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Athletes” sign a Student Athlete Statement. “The Student Athlete Statement that NCAA rules requires be collected yearly from every college athlete, in signing the statement, the athletes attest that they have amateur status, that their stated SAT scores are valid, that they are willing to disclose any educational documents requested and so forth. NCAA says that the athletes do not have any propriety rights (Branch 14). It is ludicrous to think that the students are amateurs; all college athletes have been playing their sport for at least 14 years plus years. This does not qualify them to be an amateur they should be considered semi-professional athletes. Some people believe student athletes are already paid, because they are receiving free education and free clothing (17). Schools do not always provide free tuition and room and board to all student athletes. However, universities and colleges will pay emergency travels and clothing for “Student Athletes” which will result in cost of $952 to $6,127 depending on the school (Frommer 2). Student athletes should not be responsible for their own tuition and room and board because the colleges have recruited them to come and support their athlete programs. Student athletes should be treated like the adults they are with their own rights, responsibilities, and abilities to reasons. The college athletes have a full time job and school with no pay. The first executive director of the NCAA, Walter Byers was a drop out of college and was not even 30 years old when he was appointed to this position by President Roosevelt (Branch 3). If we are expecting college athletes to be considered full time students carrying anywhere from 12-18 credit hours, and he did not even graduate from college but is going to create rules and regulations on sports when they first began. Michael Wilbon states, “The players have become employees of the universities and conferences as much as students—employee with no compensation, which not only violates common decency but perhaps even the law” (2). Some students cannot even afford to visit family during the holidays because they do not have any extra cash for flights or a bus ride home. Yes, all college students struggle to pay for entertainment, but if the students were putting in as many hours as college athletes were with their studies and practice then they should be compensated. These are the types of burdens student athletes go through which is why they will accept money illegally from boosters. Billions of dollars each year is generated by the spectators, games, and T.V. sales for the March Madness event with about 80 million people watching it on T.V or talking about it to friends (Branch 1). This constitutes as money that could be provided for the student athletes playing the sport. The NCAA could be compared to capitalism because they control the rules, regulations, and profits given to the school. Many people believe that paying college athletes will take away the integrity and appeal of college sports (Branch 2). This is an untrue statement professional athletes in the NBA and the NFL are getting paid, it does not take away that persons integrity. Some coaches’ bonuses are worth a student athlete’s whole entire scholarship (Frommer 3). This is why college athletes should be provided compensation. There continues to be student athletes that petition the NCAA to be reimbursed portions of revenues from the millions of dollars brought in by television sales (Dohrmann 1). Many discussions have taken place on how to pay student athletes, but it is going to take lot collaboration from NCAA officials and college institutions on how much the student athletes should be reimbursed. CBS sports paid $771 million to NCAA officials for T. V. rights during the men’s basketball tournament. NCAA officials are making three fourths of a billion dollars off of those athletes (Branch 7). Some college coaches are trying to get extra money for living expenses and academic expenses due to all of the billions of dollars the student athletes bring into the college and universities (Aschoff 1). These discussions would lead to student athletes being seen as professional’s not just amateurs. Big named football teams earn anywhere from 40 million to 80 million a year after coaches get paid multi million dollar salaries (Branch 1). These revenues are distrubted to the universities, which in turn takes those revenues, and sometimes creates upgrades to their universities. These buildings then generate more revenues because other students are enticed to attend their campuses. If colleges and universities would only allow certain number of sport programs at each campus then the college and universities would save more than $1, 033, 700 (Dohrmann 4). This would create money for the universities to pay student athletes. In the Sport Illustrated magazine, Dohrmann polled 10 D1 athletes and asked them how much money each player should get paid to play. The athletes believe one thousand dollars should be enough to pay for cell phone bills, gas money, car insurance, and incidentals (5). This is a fair estimate on how much money student athlete should be paid for the amount of time and effort put in to the universities. With these popular colleges and universities reaping the benefits of the money by television, radio, Internet, and merchandise sold, the college athlete should make money on the profits being generated.
It has been in the news that some college athletes have generated funds illegally by selling their own memorabilia (Wilbon 1-2). This is against the NCAA rules and regulations; It is ridiculous that college athletes cannot sell items that belong to them. In the article titled, Should College Athletes Be Paid? Huma once a college athlete stated, “I got by taking toilet paper and soap at hotels, and taking out credit cards. Huma also had $6,000 dollars in credit card debt when he graduated from UCLA (1). To think that college students cannot afford daily living expenses is unbelievable when that specific student generates thousands of dollars of money for the
universities.
College athletes generate all of this money but yet they still are not compensated for their talents given to the school. For the amount of money student athletes bring in they should all be compensated about $3,000-$4,000 annually to allow the players to live comfortably and see their families. These student athletes put in a lot of hours completing course work, attending practices, and games. Student athletes are basically employees that are not getting paid for their time and effort put in. These student athletes should be paid for the money that is generated to universities and colleges. There continues to be many legal cases against the NCAA for athletes not being compensated for their performance on and off the field. This discussion will continue as long as student athletes are not given the respect they deserve for talents like other professionals.
Works Cited
Aschoff, Edward. “Steve Spurrier Wants Players Paid.” ESPN.Sportsnation, 30 May 2012. Web. 11 March 2013.
Branch, Taylor. “The Shame of College Sports.” Atlantic Monthly, Vol 308 Issue 3 (October 2011): p80-110. Inspire.net School Education. 11 March 2013.
Dohrmann, George. “Pay For Play.” SIVault. Sports Illustrated, 7 Nov. 2011. 12 March 2013.
Frommer, Frederick J. "Should College Athletes Be Paid? As Much as $1M Says New Report." Chicago Sun Times. Chicago Sun Times, 13 Sept. 2011. Web. 09 Jan.
2013.
J, Michael Wilbon. "College Athletes Deserve To Be paid." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.
Athletes” sign a Student Athlete Statement. “The Student Athlete Statement that NCAA rules requires be collected yearly from every college athlete, in signing the statement, the athletes attest that they have amateur status, that their stated SAT scores are valid, that they are willing to disclose any educational documents requested and so forth. NCAA says that the athletes do not have any propriety rights (Branch 14). It is ludicrous to think that the students are amateurs; all college athletes have been playing their sport for at least 14 years plus years. This does not qualify them to be an amateur they should be considered semi-professional athletes. Some people believe student athletes are already paid, because they are receiving free education and free clothing (17). Schools do not always provide free tuition and room and board to all student athletes. However, universities and colleges will pay emergency travels and clothing for “Student Athletes” which will result in cost of $952 to $6,127 depending on the school (Frommer 2). Student athletes should not be responsible for their own tuition and room and board because the colleges have recruited them to come and support their athlete programs. Student athletes should be treated like the adults they are with their own rights, responsibilities, and abilities to reasons. The college athletes have a full time job and school with no pay. The first executive director of the NCAA, Walter Byers was a drop out of college and was not even 30 years old when he was appointed to this position by President Roosevelt (Branch 3). If we are expecting college athletes to be considered full time students carrying anywhere from 12-18 credit hours, and he did not even graduate from college but is going to create rules and regulations on sports when they first began. Michael Wilbon states, “The players have become employees of the universities and conferences as much as students—employee with no compensation, which not only violates common decency but perhaps even the law” (2). Some students cannot even afford to visit family during the holidays because they do not have any extra cash for flights or a bus ride home. Yes, all college students struggle to pay for entertainment, but if the students were putting in as many hours as college athletes were with their studies and practice then they should be compensated. These are the types of burdens student athletes go through which is why they will accept money illegally from boosters. Billions of dollars each year is generated by the spectators, games, and T.V. sales for the March Madness event with about 80 million people watching it on T.V or talking about it to friends (Branch 1). This constitutes as money that could be provided for the student athletes playing the sport. The NCAA could be compared to capitalism because they control the rules, regulations, and profits given to the school. Many people believe that paying college athletes will take away the integrity and appeal of college sports (Branch 2). This is an untrue statement professional athletes in the NBA and the NFL are getting paid, it does not take away that persons integrity. Some coaches’ bonuses are worth a student athlete’s whole entire scholarship (Frommer 3). This is why college athletes should be provided compensation. There continues to be student athletes that petition the NCAA to be reimbursed portions of revenues from the millions of dollars brought in by television sales (Dohrmann 1). Many discussions have taken place on how to pay student athletes, but it is going to take lot collaboration from NCAA officials and college institutions on how much the student athletes should be reimbursed. CBS sports paid $771 million to NCAA officials for T. V. rights during the men’s basketball tournament. NCAA officials are making three fourths of a billion dollars off of those athletes (Branch 7). Some college coaches are trying to get extra money for living expenses and academic expenses due to all of the billions of dollars the student athletes bring into the college and universities (Aschoff 1). These discussions would lead to student athletes being seen as professional’s not just amateurs. Big named football teams earn anywhere from 40 million to 80 million a year after coaches get paid multi million dollar salaries (Branch 1). These revenues are distrubted to the universities, which in turn takes those revenues, and sometimes creates upgrades to their universities. These buildings then generate more revenues because other students are enticed to attend their campuses. If colleges and universities would only allow certain number of sport programs at each campus then the college and universities would save more than $1, 033, 700 (Dohrmann 4). This would create money for the universities to pay student athletes. In the Sport Illustrated magazine, Dohrmann polled 10 D1 athletes and asked them how much money each player should get paid to play. The athletes believe one thousand dollars should be enough to pay for cell phone bills, gas money, car insurance, and incidentals (5). This is a fair estimate on how much money student athlete should be paid for the amount of time and effort put in to the universities. With these popular colleges and universities reaping the benefits of the money by television, radio, Internet, and merchandise sold, the college athlete should make money on the profits being generated.
It has been in the news that some college athletes have generated funds illegally by selling their own memorabilia (Wilbon 1-2). This is against the NCAA rules and regulations; It is ridiculous that college athletes cannot sell items that belong to them. In the article titled, Should College Athletes Be Paid? Huma once a college athlete stated, “I got by taking toilet paper and soap at hotels, and taking out credit cards. Huma also had $6,000 dollars in credit card debt when he graduated from UCLA (1). To think that college students cannot afford daily living expenses is unbelievable when that specific student generates thousands of dollars of money for the
universities.
College athletes generate all of this money but yet they still are not compensated for their talents given to the school. For the amount of money student athletes bring in they should all be compensated about $3,000-$4,000 annually to allow the players to live comfortably and see their families. These student athletes put in a lot of hours completing course work, attending practices, and games. Student athletes are basically employees that are not getting paid for their time and effort put in. These student athletes should be paid for the money that is generated to universities and colleges. There continues to be many legal cases against the NCAA for athletes not being compensated for their performance on and off the field. This discussion will continue as long as student athletes are not given the respect they deserve for talents like other professionals.
Works Cited
Aschoff, Edward. “Steve Spurrier Wants Players Paid.” ESPN.Sportsnation, 30 May 2012. Web. 11 March 2013.
Branch, Taylor. “The Shame of College Sports.” Atlantic Monthly, Vol 308 Issue 3 (October 2011): p80-110. Inspire.net School Education. 11 March 2013.
Dohrmann, George. “Pay For Play.” SIVault. Sports Illustrated, 7 Nov. 2011. 12 March 2013.
Frommer, Frederick J. "Should College Athletes Be Paid? As Much as $1M Says New Report." Chicago Sun Times. Chicago Sun Times, 13 Sept. 2011. Web. 09 Jan.
2013.
J, Michael Wilbon. "College Athletes Deserve To Be paid." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.