ESPN NCAAF Conversation

thevoicofreason

It sounds like folks have forgotten the purpose of athletic scholarships. They are meant to be a way for a STUDENT to play a sport in college so that they can help pay for an EDUCATION. The "poor" student athletes are already getting paid---to play a game they love---that's the scholarship they receive. If they are unhappy with their pay, then like any other person they can choose not to accept the scholarship/money and just go to school on their own or find a job---just like everyone does. Additionally, only 22 of the more than 200+ Division I schools actually generate a "profit" for their schools through their athletics programs. Most people are unaware of this, but the rest of the students (or their parents) actually help fund all of the athletic college scholarships for the student athletes. This is done in the form of "student athletic fees" every student pays which are not optional. Bottom line is that student-athletes have a sweet deal----they get to play a game they love and they get paid to do it so they can get a free/reduced cost education (if they take advantage of it). And yes they do put a lot of hours into it (20 hrs/wk by NCAA rule), but so do students who have a regular job that aren't doing something they love but need money just like the student-athletes to pay for their education---plus they don't have access to special tutors to help them like the athletes do. Oh, and by the way one of my kids is a student-athlete, and we are thankful for the opportunity that college athletics has provided and we don't expect that we should make money off this system----the chance to help pay for an education is plenty fair.
44 Days ago

Mattberky

A Duke basketball player is estimated to be worth over a MILLION DOLLARS. 80K scholarship aint even close. (Study done by NCPA and Drexel University)
50 Days ago

Mattberky

Why cant you just do it for football and basketball? That's where the money is made.
50 Days ago

joshua81174

I say pay the players in sports that generate money. What better time or place for college kids to learn that no, life isnt fair and yes in the real world you only get paid when what you do is profitable.
329 Days ago

wingding2011

"We as coaches believe they're entitled to a little more than room, books, board and tuition," Spurrier said. ...kinda blows the whole "student-athlete" moniker out of the water, eh?
330 Days ago

njrohde

Has anyone ever considered this thing called athletes taking out student loans?
352 Days ago

CoachNewCoach

Athletes bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to college athletics and these programs and as such should get more than the average to cover college expenses. Yes they get tuition and room and board expenses covered but so does the average student with good grades who earns a academic scholarship. The difference is the academic student whose expenses are also covered doesn't have to deal with injuries such as broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons, and concussions like these players do, and also they don't generate money for their respective universities like these athletes do.
355 Days ago

Meesch1122

Those players get free, top of the line healthcare for their broken bones. University hospitals are often the best hospitals in the region.
353 Days ago

Jafreeman6

you sir must know nothing about college. It is extremely difficult to get that $80k to pay for school, you make it sound like its a peace of cake. Most students are lucky to get enough money to pay for 1st years tuition. Free education is the players paycheck.
354 Days ago

Mattberky

You sir must have no idea how much time an athlete puts into his/her sport. If they spent all that time on academics they would all have straight A's.
50 Days ago

URASLACKER

THEY ALREADY GET A STIPEND FOR COLLEGE EXPENSES IN $50 A DAY!
355 Days ago

dspdevildog

Just let them get part time jobs.
355 Days ago

JungleMan81

Anyone that agrees with this is an idiot. PERIOD.
355 Days ago

dspdevildog

Anyone who doesn't see that this is a really complicated issue that needs to be discussed and solved is the idiot.
355 Days ago

150bigdaddy

They players produce the income give them the amount Spurrier said it's more than enough.They should be entitled to it.
355 Days ago

Falconsfan4242

Thats whats wrong with you people. Always wanting a hand out and have a horrible sense of entitlement.
348 Days ago

iowa1966

A question I have,If you pay these athletes the amount of money Spurrier wants,do these athletes have to report the money to the IRS? Are these athletes considered contracted employees which in turn colleges and universities would have to give athletes 1099 tax forms if an individual athlete receives $600 or more or would these athletes be deemed employees of the university which could lead to college athletes having the ability to form or join unions and potentially go on strike? What way would colleges and universities avoid these situations with the IRS?
356 Days ago

Falconsfan4242

Anything over $600 in a year you have to file 1099. You sir are wrong^
348 Days ago

150bigdaddy

i dont think they would have to file at that rate
355 Days ago

wvtoky

Aight den.
356 Days ago

wvtoky

Ole ball coach, shut up.
356 Days ago

samerzz16

To get paid money is just ridiculous. Athletes already get compensated with scholarships. If you want to pay them like you would pay an employee, then take away the scholarships and use all that money towards building better educational programs and giving out more academic scholarships.
356 Days ago

Meesch1122

Universities are in the business of education, of at least they should be.
353 Days ago