Paying College Athletes Part 2

The Future of College Sports

 

    Last week I asked the controversial question "should the NCAA give something back to college athletes"? ....... Well, I think it's no longer a question of whether they NCAA will, but a question of when. College athletes have evolved and so have the sports they participate in every year. With that, the NCAA has stayed the same since it was first formed. Of course, there have been some rule changes and rule additions, but the concept and the basis has not changed.

 

    Attention NCAA! It's time to evolve just as the Universities and their sports have over the years. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that the NCAA should make it okay for schools to start throwing money at college athletes (which would clearly make it a Free-For-All, and only the biggest money making programs would survive). However, times have changed and something has to be done. It is no longer a simple "oh let's add this new rule" situation (which has been the answer to problems like this over the last 20+ years). So what can the NCAA approve or change to make this work? I don't have the answers; if I did, I wouldn't be here.

     Believe me, I used to be like so many of you out there who think the idea of paying college athletes would ruin the sport and it just wouldn't work. And, I am still scared that it would ruin the sport...... But is it not starting to ruin the sport because a kid can't even sign his own name on a jersey and receive some kind of benefit? It is his NAME and SIGNATURE, not the NCAA's. If the NCAA is going to continue to exploit these college athletes then the sport is already ruined. We have grown adults, who call themselves professionals and 'wise' individuals, and they sit back every year and collect $$$$$$ off the college athlete. Why? What did the NCAA do to deserve, or even earn the right to make money off of an 18 year-old kid? The board that makes up the NCAA, and the NCAA president Mark Emmert contribute nothing to the college athlete, and they sit back and tell the public that the NCAA does not exploit the college athletes' names and likenesses. Really? I mean, really? Who buys that? Really, I want to know. I want to know who really believes that statement. Mark Emmert doesn't even believe that. No? He recently removed team jerseys from the NCAA online store because he felt it could be seen as 'hypocritical'. Wow! What a shock, right? The NCAA has been selling this stuff for decades and profiting......but now it might not be right? Come on!

     So why is the NCAA looking for a way out? Well, it's simple. The lawsuits against the NCAA are starting to stack up.... Not only that, but now there is a particular player in college football whose family can afford to defend itself against the NCAA. Johnny Manziel has the NCAA breathing down his neck, but the NCAA found out very quickly that this kid isn't bothered by it. In fact, I think he just laughs at the NCAA. I'm not a big Manziel fan, however I am pulling for his case. Not so that student athletes may receive benefits for their autographs, but for the affect it could have in helping the NCAA evolve. That is the #1 goal for Mark Emmert right now, well....that and some how dig themselves out of this hole that they dug for themselves.
 
    Mark Emmert needs to find a way for the NCAA to evolve. Either that, or he needs to find his replacement who will do the job. Ten years ago if I asked you if college football would have a 'play-off system', what would your answer have been? "Man, that would be SWEET!!" or "Yeah, that would be the day" or "You're dreaming". The BCS and the NCAA found a way, and they evolved. Well, it's that time again.....but this time the NCAA has to take matters into their own hands, no matter the dollar figure, and make things work again.

    Obviously, programs throwing money at student athletes isn't exactly what I had in mind. But these athletes, who get full scholarships for school, can't work a part time job outside of school and participate in their sport. So what are they supposed to do? This isn't the 60's or 70's....or one step further, the 80's...... Times have changed, and if you don't have any spending money, then you can't go out with your buddies and have fun.... No I am not talking about going to a party.... In a lot of cases, I wish they had some money so they would stay away from a party or two. And I am not talking about a lot of money... The best idea I have heard through-out the debate of paying athletes was the idea of paying them minimum-wage. What is that now, like $7.50 an hour? And, I'm not suggesting that just for college football players.... I think that is a reasonable answer across the board for ALL athletes. Would there be some growing pains with this? Yes, but that would be true with any process. How would the smaller programs deal with this? Simple, the NCAA would finally get to contribute something to the student athlete. Draw a line.... Programs that fall below the line receive help from the NCAA. If you think the NCAA can't afford this, you have been fooled. Now, who opposes this type of system? Obviously the ones who are benefitting from the current system..... The NCAA.

     I admit, I could be totally wrong with the idea above..... But the alternatives don't seem much better either. Later this week I will hit this topic again, only it will be with your questions and comments. Let me know what you think. Leave a comment or send to Jeremy.cf2d@yahoo.com or post on our Facebook page. Don't forget to give www.facebook.com/collegefootball2day a 'LIKE'.