If they are on scholarship that pays for their classes, housing, and food I don’t think they can take out a student loan for cars and prostitutes?

You can take out student loans. Besides scholarships can be broken down various ways.

If we really want to turn this into a business, then the best way to do this is profit sharing. If a school's athletic department makes money, then give the athletes a share of the profits. But let's remember, the business is the school athletic department so the profits come after all sports have expenses covered and I think all athletes should be included, not just basketball and football. Of course, if we did run it like a business, then a lot of sports programs would be shut down because very few are profitable. Then everyone would be whining about the lost opportunity for many students to play sports in college. Plus, since most athletic departments make very little money, we would hear complaining about how little profits there are to share. I heard Jay Bilas on the radio addressing this the other day and he said people would be very surprised at how little profit Duke basketball makes. It isn't like colleges are getting fat off these athletes.

 

Personally, I think more pro leagues need to be developed and let the athletes who don't care about an education go ahead and get paid to play. The fact is pro football and basketball are using colleges to develop their players instead of developing them on their own.

How many school's athletic departments are clearing a lot of money. How about a school like UC? They stashing a lot of dough generated by the athletic dept.?

How many school's athletic departments are clearing a lot of money. How about a school like UC? They stashing a lot of dough generated by the athletic dept.?

 

Very few schools make money on athletics when all things are factored in.

Think about all of the gray area involved....who would be able to put the cap on the amount that a signed ball is worth? What if RJ Corman wanted to pay John Wall $25,000 for a jersey? You see what I am saying? The ONLY way if could work is if it was regulated, and they were paid hourly while performing basketball activities.

 

I'll take a shot at this. The NCAA can set aside the percentage of jersey/merchandise sales that an athlete receives. The schools set the sales price, just like they do now. Also, the NCAA could sanction autograph sessions and appearances.

I am 100% against college athletes getting paid. Keep in mind, it's only a very select few that could be counted as revenue earners, the rest are simply getting their free education and going on. If a college kid on scholly needs $, then take out student loans, or work in the off-season. That's what I did.

 

I am with you RP.

 

I can see it now. They start by saying ok...everyone gets "$35" each. Star player gets mad because he thinks he should get $60 because he is a better player. Then Offensive lineman ask for more money because he protects the star player. Then defense guy gets mad because he keeps opponents from scoring and yada, yada, yada, yada!!!!! It would open up a can of worms like you wouldn't believe.

Then the next you know we will have high school athletes asking for money!

For those of you who said you don't want to hear about the education excuse. Sorry but colleges are educational institutions! I get some people only go to college just for the athletics. To me that is their problem not mine. Some athletes have a notion they are owed something. Sorry Mr or Miss athlete nobody owes you crap. Get an education, play your sport and move on!

For those of you who said you don't want to hear about the education excuse. Sorry but colleges are educational institutions! I get some people only go to college just for the athletics. To me that is their problem not mine. Some athletes have a notion they are owed something. Sorry Mr or Miss athlete nobody owes you crap. Get an education, play your sport and move on!

In theory you are correct. A lot of college athletics though is a multi-million dollar business. These "student-athletes" are used as pawns and have become nothing more than indentured servants. When the schools want to act like these students are in fact students first and foremost, then we can talk.

I need to clarify my position on them getting paid for merchandise. If the school sells a players jersey the player gets a cut of the sales. They don't get to sell it themselves for what ever they want.

In theory you are correct. A lot of college athletics though is a multi-million dollar business. These "student-athletes" are used as pawns and have become nothing more than indentured servants. When the schools want to act like these students are in fact students first and foremost, then we can talk.

 

I understand what you are saying.

 

Question...if the "student-athletes" have no money to get by how do they pay their cell phone bills, have cell phones worth $100's of dollars, Tat's from head to toe and some pretty nice cars???

If a student on a full academic scholarship has the ability to get a job and still get school paid for, why can't the athletes who are on scholly be given the same option? They both go to school for free...yet one has the ability to have some sort of income coming in while the other doesn't? That does not make sense to me.

 

If not being allowed to get a job, then perhaps some sort of academic incentive. If the athlete graduates on time then the school could pay for a portion of grad school possibly. There could be a way to reward the athletes for sticking to their school work while putting in the many hours it takes to compete at a high level.

Think about all of the gray area involved....who would be able to put the cap on the amount that a signed ball is worth? What if RJ Corman wanted to pay John Wall $25,000 for a jersey? You see what I am saying? The ONLY way if could work is if it was regulated, and they were paid hourly while performing basketball activities.

 

If possible that is what should be done IMO about being paid hourly for basketball activities. However only make it like minimum wage for what they make. This way they do at least earn a little bit of spending money for other things, since they do put so many hours into their sport while in their in college.

If a student on a full academic scholarship has the ability to get a job and still get school paid for, why can't the athletes who are on scholly be given the same option? They both go to school for free...yet one has the ability to have some sort of income coming in while the other doesn't? That does not make sense to me.

 

If not being allowed to get a job, then perhaps some sort of academic incentive. If the athlete graduates on time then the school could pay for a portion of grad school possibly. There could be a way to reward the athletes for sticking to their school work while putting in the many hours it takes to compete at a high level.

 

It's not as much about not being able to get a job I believe. It is about they HAVE NO TIME to get a job if they are a college athlete, especially during their season. The hours they put in for their sport every day is a lot, then when you add in class time and homework. There isn't anymore time of the day for them to work then.

I agree with RP.

 

If we're going to use the argument that the schools profit from them, then it would be just as unfair, IMO, to divvy up the profits. If Kentucky makes money from John Wall jerseys and they're giving the profits to the players, then John Wall should get it all. Jon Hood shouldn't get a cut. Average Joe on the swim team shouldn't get any either.

 

I think paying college athletes is a terrible idea.

I'll assume basketball and football bring in the most revenue for the University of Kentucky. What do they do with that money? What is it used for?