Should College Players Be Paid?

[cohibasmoker]

Re: Should College Players Be Paid?

A certain amount of luck is involved, in terms of being a college professor. There's the natural ability that cannot be taught, there are often parents helping with tuition, there is the innate ability to be able to focus on a narrow topic for years. These are not things that everybody has, and in many instances, they cannot be taught. Of course, there is a lot of effort and self-sacrifice that goes into such a career, but there were people along the way that helped them get to where they are.

BTW - I don't understand why you are singling out college professors. If we want to talk about bloated salaries, why not discuss athletic directors and coaches, not to mention university administrators?

Are you talking about small business owners or college professors?

Why am I singling out college Professors? In a previous thread you mentioned fairness and equality. The #1 operating expense at any University are salaries. College Professors make twice the wages as a average American family. This relates to high tuition costs so, you tell me, how is it fair and equal if most Americans cannot afford to attend a major University because of the high cost of tuition? And, if folks do decide to attend, they walk away with exorbitant student loans. Speaking of student loans, did you know that figure just surpassed 1 trillion dollars?

How does it relate to this thread? Athletes don't pay - they get scholarships. It's amazing to me that in certain circles, folks have plenty to say about what others make but rarely question what college Professors make - Did you ever ask any of your Professors what their salary was?

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/student-loan-debt-tops-1-trillion-94316.html

As for athletic directors, coaches and administrators, don't they hold teaching certificates?

Just some thoughts

[Dewey2007]

Re: Should College Players Be Paid?

I work at a major university and not all college professors get paid big money. You have to be tenured and you have to have worked for some time to have a salary on the higher side. Junior faculty's starting salaries is not as much as you think it is and university's use a lot of lecturer's and graduate students to teach courses and they are not paid as much as regular faculty.

Also, the #1 operating expense at a university is definitely salaries but you also need people other then professors to run a university. The university I'm at employs the most people in the Bay Area, I believe, other then Kaiser Permanente so it's a huge operation.

Are you talking about small business owners or college professors?

Why am I singling out college Professors? In a previous thread you mentioned fairness and equality. The #1 operating expense at any University are salaries. College Professors make twice the wages as a average American family. This relates to high tuition costs so, you tell me, how is it fair and equal if most Americans cannot afford to attend a major University because of the high cost of tuition? And, if folks do decide to attend, they walk away with exorbitant student loans. Speaking of student loans, did you know that figure just surpassed 1 trillion dollars?

How does it relate to this thread? Athletes don't pay - they get scholarships. It's amazing to me that in certain circles, folks have plenty to say about what others make but rarely question what college Professors make - Did you ever ask any of your Professors what their salary was?

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/student-loan-debt-tops-1-trillion-94316.html

As for athletic directors, coaches and administrators, don't they hold teaching certificates?

Just some thoughts

[dscards]

Re: Should College Players Be Paid?

Why am I singling out college Professors? In a previous thread you mentioned fairness and equality. The #1 operating expense at any University are salaries. College Professors make twice the wages as a average American family.

Logically, the average American doesn't have a Master's and Doctorate in their field, unlike college professors. Their higher educational achievement leads to their higher salary.


As a college athlete myself, I gotta say it would be great to get paid. However, I'm receiving over $30,000 a year in free tuition, room and board, meal plans, etc. Over the course of 4 years, that equates to over $120,000 in return for playing baseball.

For those in favor of paying athletes, how much? What is reasonable? Should academic achievement be factored in (athletes with higher grades get a better salary?)

[russyurk]

Re: Should College Players Be Paid?

Ok, I probably have a totally different take seeing that I worked at the NCAA for eight years, 2004-2012. (For this argument athletes are Major DI FB and BB athletes.). These athletes are compensated with not only tuition but room, board, coaching & training, gear and travel...pretty good deal if you ask me. And let's not forget, nobody is forcing these kids to got to an NCAA institution, they are going under their own free will and know the deal when they sign their NLI. If they don't like it they can go play JUCO or NAIA ball or for the hoops guys, go overseas. Schools do walk a fine line when selling jerseys, etc but those funds also contribute to the enhanced practice facilities, weight rooms, other sports, etc.

The point has also been brought up that you would never be able to only pay male athletes, a Title IX lawsuit would be filed almost immediately. The NBA/WNBA argument is not relevant as they are a free market business that does not receive state funding.

The point about loosening rules is a fair point but those rules are there because at some point in time a school went too far and regulation became necessary. I often hear that they should be able to get a free "fill in the blank". The reality is what is the threshold for that "free" thing? A free round of golf becomes $250, which becomes a car, which becomes god knows what. The only way to regulate is an all or nothing threshold. If Johnny Football wants to make money signing autographs, drop out of school, hit the show circuit and take your chances in the draft next April.

Just my take as someone who has worked in intercollegiate athletics.

[jake33]

Re: Should College Players Be Paid?

Also the top 1% of workers in the Police, Fire and Military all usually graduate to higehr paying less dangerous positions within their fields. I am related to a fire cheif and a Police captain and they both have massively different rules and risks that the entry level workers in those fields. So yes, as I said before, the top 1% of people DO have different rules, because their value is grows higher with their skill level.

[onlyalbert]

Re: Should College Players Be Paid?

i am on the fence with this issue. i think of all of you make great points that are tough to argue but I think the players should get something in return.

i mean if the schools and the ncaa can make money off these players, I don't see why the players can't. I am not saying to give them a salary but I would loosen some of the rules. Perhaps let them make money for public events or for autograph signings. Maybe give them a stipend every week where some can be used on campus while the other can be used for personal use

I am not sure if anyone caught that ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the Fab Five and I remember Jalen Rose complaining how the University of Michigan was selling their jerseys, their shoes, their shirts, and posters with the fab five moniker attached to it.

I guess if Rose was so upset he should've transfered then. A free 100K education isn't enough? While other undergrads work their butts off flipping burgers to pay their tuition these "poor" athletes are playing a game on national tv, flying around the country, staying in nice hotels and eating for free.