Thanks Bill, for opening up the debate and showing the “other side of the coin”. Much as I hate the hypocrisy and double standards of the NCAA, I also realize that paid student athletics would definitely be a Pandora’s Box. No matter which way reform ( if any ) goes, the only ones hurt are the genuine student athletes, not the one and dones.
Currently “student” athletes transfer for other reasons (sitting out a season, true, but sitting out their classes, also true). Universities even transfer to other conferences! The sports tail has wagged the university dog for decades now, but the new TV contracts are making it the worst in the history of “student” athletics.
the NCAA is raking in $100s of millions. The main problem is that they think that they can keep total control of the money tree AKA division 1 football and the multitude of bowl games. The scholarships can be taken away in a second if the player is not a star(see the multipart SI series)or if the coach sees a HS player that he wants but has no scholarship for. Look at graduation rates for football and BBall players in division 1. Overall they are very very low.
I say pay ‘em. Whatever the market will bear. They can choose the highest bidder. Free agency after each semester. -Eliminate recruiting rules and you eliminate cheating.-Oh, and let’s eliminate that messy student part. These guys are athletes! Their sport is a full time job and they shouldn’t have to take time off to go to class and have to study and stuff like that. They can just play until they go to the NFL or are cut.-We’ll see how many alums stay as part of the studio audience. Not that it will matter, since TV will make up for drop off in attendance. -And, TV can engineer playoffs any way it likes.
Linguist about 11 years ago
Thanks Bill, for opening up the debate and showing the “other side of the coin”. Much as I hate the hypocrisy and double standards of the NCAA, I also realize that paid student athletics would definitely be a Pandora’s Box. No matter which way reform ( if any ) goes, the only ones hurt are the genuine student athletes, not the one and dones.
RobinHood2013 about 11 years ago
Oh my GOD. Tank and the caller are starting to venture into NFL territory!
Godfreydaniel about 11 years ago
Currently “student” athletes transfer for other reasons (sitting out a season, true, but sitting out their classes, also true). Universities even transfer to other conferences! The sports tail has wagged the university dog for decades now, but the new TV contracts are making it the worst in the history of “student” athletics.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member about 11 years ago
Simple solution, give college players the same deal that Olympic athletes have. No pay but free to get ad deals.
timbob2313 Premium Member about 11 years ago
the NCAA is raking in $100s of millions. The main problem is that they think that they can keep total control of the money tree AKA division 1 football and the multitude of bowl games. The scholarships can be taken away in a second if the player is not a star(see the multipart SI series)or if the coach sees a HS player that he wants but has no scholarship for. Look at graduation rates for football and BBall players in division 1. Overall they are very very low.
braindead Premium Member about 11 years ago
I say pay ‘em. Whatever the market will bear. They can choose the highest bidder. Free agency after each semester. -Eliminate recruiting rules and you eliminate cheating.-Oh, and let’s eliminate that messy student part. These guys are athletes! Their sport is a full time job and they shouldn’t have to take time off to go to class and have to study and stuff like that. They can just play until they go to the NFL or are cut.-We’ll see how many alums stay as part of the studio audience. Not that it will matter, since TV will make up for drop off in attendance. -And, TV can engineer playoffs any way it likes.