First step toward college athletes unionizing was taken today...

[Len B]

NCAA should just offer athletes choice of athletic scholarship or annual stipend. If they want the free education, then everything is paid for. If they want money, then they can take out a loan like the rest of us and pay off school when they graduate.

 

[buckeye]

The main argument is that the NCAA makes a shit ton of money off of the players' image/likeness but the players are not permitted to do so themselves. If they fix that and allow the players to make money off of their own image then this all goes away. Its not that difficult.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[Youk]

The main argument is that the NCAA makes a shit ton of money off of the players' image/likeness but the players are not permitted to do so themselves. If they fix that and allow the players to make money off of their own image then this all goes away. Its not that difficult.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

It's far beyond that now, as seen by the anonymous NU player that NAHSTE quoted.

Also, think about how many players will actually make substantial money off of their likeness. Not too many have that instant recognition (in comparison to how many D1 football players there actually are). Should they be allowed to? Of course. Will this all go away if you allow that? Not at all.

 

[JeremyHight]

Just go the Olympic route. Schools can give a scholarship, players can get endorsements. There is no reason the 2nd string kicker at LaTech should be making the same as the starting QB at Michigan.

And before people say "But football and basketball make the money, they should be paid!" While I agree they make the most money, the schools get the money and often have to support absolutely awful sports which lose money in order to comply with Title IX. A grand total of 23 of 226 public institutions who reported their budgets actually made money off of athletics (source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2013/05/07/ncaa-finances-subsidies/2142443/ ) So while programs may be making money, the athletic department as a whole could be in the red.

 

[buckeye]

Just go the Olympic route. Schools can give a scholarship, players can get endorsements. There is no reason the 2nd string kicker at LaTech should be making the same as the starting QB at Michigan.

And before people say "But football and basketball make the money, they should be paid!" While I agree they make the most money, the schools get the money and often have to support absolutely awful sports which lose money in order to comply with Title IX. A grand total of 23 of 226 public institutions who reported their budgets actually made money off of athletics (source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2013/05/07/ncaa-finances-subsidies/2142443/ ) So while programs may be making money, the athletic department as a whole could be in the red.

I think the issue here is how much does the NCAA make off of athletics and sponsorships per year? How much do media companies make in relation to direct use of player likeness?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I think the issue here is how much does the NCAA make off of athletics and sponsorships per year? How much do media companies make in relation to direct use of player likeness?

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

And there is the problem. That shouldn't even be a talking point. Who cares how much the NCAA, the college is making? Whether its $50B, one cent, or they are in the red by $50B...shouldn't matter.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Fear mongering. If anything it will lead to sports that don't generate revenue being cut. Problem is, cutting a squash team or two won't lead to the kind of pushback these guys need to stop the momentum.

ADs and University Presidents are scared and grasping at whatever straws they can to turn public opinion back in their favor.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

It would lead to a loss of scholarships for all sports before it lead to sports being cut I would think.

 

[EmpireWF]

What it is about is protection. Many of us will have numerous injuries throughout our playing careers. A group of those players will continue to feel the effects of those injuries long after their playing days are over. The goal is to have some sort of medical protection if we need surgeries stemming from injuries sustained while playing for our university. Another goal is graduate school for those who were fortunate enough to play as a true Freshman. Most student-athletes get redshirted in their first year, and receive one year of grad school payed for in their fifth year of eligibility. We feel as though it is fair to ask for the same investment from the university all around. It isn't about getting an extra $200 a month for spending. We have our stipend, and if we budget correctly we are able to make it stretch for the month. Would it be nice to have some part of jersey sales or memorabilia sales? Absolutely. But that is not the goal as of right now.

1. Obviously, athletes get injured and may need treatments long after their days in school. Should private schools be held in a position to where they have to pay forever for these men and women? I don't know if it works like this now but I'll assume any injuries suffered while competing as college sports would be covered by insurance taken out while in school. If not, wtf?

2. Grad school? Now they want all athletes under scholarships to receive the option of a free year of grad school, too? How is this such a major issue? Seems pretty straight forward to me.

 

[Glenbino]

It would lead to a loss of scholarships for all sports before it lead to sports being cut I would think.

I still think they'd cut a whole sport that was a money loser over taking schollies away from one of their top revenue streams.

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

 

[ram29jackson]

1. Obviously, athletes get injured and may need treatments long after their days in school. Should private schools be held in a position to where they have to pay forever for these men and women? I don't know if it works like this now but I'll assume any injuries suffered while competing as college sports would be covered by insurance taken out while in school. If not, wtf?

2. Grad school? Now they want all athletes under scholarships to receive the option of a free year of grad school, too? How is this such a major issue? Seems pretty straight forward to me.

no, colleges don't have to pay crap for/to injured players

 

[Jayrock]

One of my best friends plays for N'Western so I've heard the "inside" perspective on all of this.

Kain is pretty scumbaggy. Kid would never have gotten into Northwestern without a football scholarship. Some question whether a concussion he took in the Cal game has had lingering effects.

Whatever, it is what it is. I would gladly take a full ride for this "job" that includes chartered flights, three meals a day, free full time tutors, special classes, free gear, etc.

 

[jeffx]

IMO, the genie's already been let out of the bottle. It's not happening overnight, but a change is gonna come. It has to, because the system is broken and must be fixed. The problem is finding a solution that will appease everyone. The NCAA has no one but themselves to blame - for years they perpetuate the big lie about college football/basketball being amateur athletics when we know it's a cold-blooded, big-time business. Shit, the only group greedier than the NCAA suits are the NFL owners. Well, they can't hide anymore.