Should College Athletes be paid?

[mike4949]

Right now, I'm watching a great program on ESPN called: Town Hall/Should College Athletes Be paid?

This is the biggest question is should these athletes be paid. I know a College Education is important. But, lets face it, many of these student athletes come from enviornments of poverty and crime. The NCAA rules don't allow student/scholorship athletes to work on campus. Pluse the schools with team merchandise(team jerseys) and ticket sales and the big TV revenues That ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, etc pay to air these Mens Basketball and Football games. The schools are making money off these kids. Most schools, the kids are only taught to focus opn the sport and not education, which half the time why many of them leave school early to get the big Pro contract. So yes, student athletes should get some money.

What do you think?

 

[ChuckD]

hmmmmm......

Well, how about something that they do for figure skaters????


If a figure skater wants to go to the Olympics, they must remain amatuer, which means that they can't accept money for their skating.

However, in recent years, skaters have been able to accept money for commericals and such, on the provision that the money goes into an account, and can ONLY be used for skating costs (coaches, new equipment, travel expenses). If they use it for personal items, they are then considered "pro" and lose olympic elegibility.

So, how about having an account set up for the college atheltes, that can be used for school expenses, tuition, books, sport equipment, and such?

 

[mike4949]

That's a good point Chuck. That's the deal, there are other college sports. The deal is; Mens basketball and Football makes the most money. That was the deal with Title IX, have a budget that can fund all these college sports program including skating, swiming, etc. All college athlethes should be giving some sort of living allowance for food, clothes, etc.

 

[Heavenly]

No they shouldn't but they should be set for school scholarships and assisted to get into the pros that is if they are good enuff

 

[mike4949]

The system that's inplace now is in bad shape. Graduation rates for student athletes in Div. 1 Basketball, Football is very low. Many of these students are giving the impression by coaches and their game highlights on ESPN Sports Center, the education part of it is not important. I have to say though, they are starting to get tough by telling teams and coaches if they don't graduate a certain amount of students, they get scholorships revoked.. If they don't want to pay the athletes, at-least try to make education a number 1 priority. Allow the students to get summer jobs and make the revenue from these sports create more scholorships for other education priorities.

 

[latinocop]

NO. Most of those students that are great athletes are already getting a free education. So why need to get more money. Their scholarships includes food. So no excuse about having money for food. Most leave not because they need the money because they WANT the money. They know they are that good. So, why not make it big, get paid, then go back once they are done with their sport career.

 

[mike4949]

There are some who do just want money. But there are lots of these athletes on the teams who sadly are just above avg. players who don't make in pro sports. Which comes to the education, many of these student athletes sadly can't meet all the education requirements due to practice and travel. many have to change to small majors to get the education. When they can't make it for being above avg. many can't be successful after college. That's why I say, If they are to be student athletes, try to make education the most important even if it means having freshmen sit out of sports the first year.

 

[4eVerFreeStyle]

Well, I'm not that familiar with what perks they do get or are allowed, besides free tuition, but as Latinocop said, the food is included... so their expenses are low.

On the flip side, these athletes/students are bringing in allot of money to some of these colleges so maybe they should get something. Whether it's an account where some of the money is deposited. Most of these college athletes are not persuing a profressional career in sports, but play it to pay for their educations, so maybe the colleges can put aside money for a family / child these students may have. Something along that field... Like a scholarship fund in the players name to be used at their disgretion (to give to whomever they choose) (spell?)

 

[Krystal]

Nope...no pay for them! If they aren't smart enough to know that they need an education then guess what? That's on them. I know the emphasis is on the sport they are playing but they have to think about themselves too. Cuz sports isn't always gonna be there for them.

 

[mike4949]

It's sad with the NCAA rules, where like I said, because many of these student athletes on scholorship come from low income enviornments, the rules won't let them work on campus in the off season. They caN't even have bags of grocery donated to them by churches, etc because of it being a violation while their jerseys are being sold at Foot Locker.

 

[4eVerFreeStyle]

It's sad with the NCAA rules, where like I said, because many of these student athletes on scholorship come from low income enviornments, the rules won't let them work on campus in the off season. They caN't even have bags of grocery donated to them by churches, etc because of it being a violation while their jerseys are being sold at Foot Locker.

They should get something, I'm sorry.

Yes, I believe in an education, but that has nothing to do with the fact that these schools are making money ON them playing a sport. So, they should see some of that money. They work hard keeping up in school and playing hard in a sport!

I totally understand what you're saying Mike. 😉

 

[mike4949]

I know that an education and athletics have saved many kids from lots of stuff including their life. I know that athletic scholorships have given many kids an access to education in Establishment that generally would not accept many of these students like The Ivy League schools, Georgetown, Boston College, Stanford, Northwestern, etc.. But yet these students should be giving something, even if it's a larger living allowance. I do not watch Sportscenter to see the students graduate, OK.