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Pay For Play

What if I told you that there was a thief among us? This is a thief who has been
stealing from teenagers for over a hundred years. But the strange thing about this crime
is that the majority of the nation looks the other way because they enjoy the
entertainment its victims provide. This thief is the NCAA; an organization that has
been stealing deserved money from millions of student athletes. The NCAA was
originally founded to govern college athletics and protect its student athletes. However, I
am one of many who believe that the NCAA is ripping off millions of student athletes
and it is time that they receive a bit more in return. However, the one constant over all
those years has been that the student athletes have not been paid, which I believe is
criminal and should be changed in the near future.
Even though the NCAA has been around governing college athletics for over a
hundred years, it has failed to adapt to the evolution of Division I sports as we now know
it today. In 1906, the NCAA was founded by president Roosevelt to govern college
athletics which started up as an extracurricular activity by Ivy League schools (Finkel,
Ross). Back then, the NFL or NBA was not around and sports were viewed as a fun way
to pass the time. However in todays society, sports are one of Americas biggest form of
entertainment and college athletics, specifically mens basketball and football, are at the
top of that list. College athletics has become a million dollar industry for big time
conferences, television networks, and companies across the US. Just look at how much
money the television contracts are for this years first ever college football playoff.
ESPN landed the rights for the college football playoffs for $470 M a year through 2025
("ESPN."). Would you like to take a guess at how much of that money goes towards

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the student athletes? Exactly $0.00. Imagine if someone else was profiting millions of
dollars from you and you received nothing from it. You probably wouldnt be too happy
about that especially if you had some expenses you needed to take care of. I do believe
that this deal is worth every penny however it is a crime to not give some profit of that to
the athletes who bring in the revenue in the first place.
Now there is strong opposition to this idea for athletes being paid. NCAA
President, Mark Emmert and the man leading the charge, does believe that student
athletes, a term originated to protect the NCAA, are being paid in the form of a free
education through scholarships provided by the universities. Prior to 1970, these
scholarships were provided to athletes and were guaranteed for 4 years no matter how
well they performed on the field or whether they were injured or not (Frederick, Brian).
But starting in 1970, the NCAA allowed colleges to start offering one-year renewable
grants that are contingent of health and performance (Frederick, Brian). Now this is
where I believe the NCAA messed up. They should have stuck with honoring four-year
scholarships because it would show the athletes and universities that academics supersede
athletics. By converting to the renewable scholarships turns the focus of the athletes from
schools to performance in their respective sport. Some people see this new system as a
renewable contract with the players as employees, who work at their given sport for 40
hours a week, and the universities/coaches as the employers. And under the eyes of the
law, with this system, the players should be compensated for their work. I agree that
student-athletes should be compensated for their work, however they should not be given
salaries. Giving athletes salaries would have a major impact on recruiting allowing
schools with more money to attract the best players.

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Brian Frederick, a Board Member of Sports Fans Coalition, believes that student
athletes should be paid because if a student-athlete is hurt or unsuccessful, the coaches
and administrators suddenly discard the noble ideals of "education" and a player is left
with nothing. This goes back to the idea of the one-year renewable grants as a contract
based on the performance of the athlete. Moreover, Frederick states no one mentions the
lifetime of health care bills that await some student-athletes in contact sports (Frederick,
Brian). How can a "free education" compensate them for debilitating injuries caused
during their time on campus? And honestly I dont believe it does. I agree with Frederick
that student-athletes should get money from the universities for medical treatment after
there time playing their since they work so hard to market the school and bring in money
for the school, especially in football and basketball. Recently, the NCAA has
implemented The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that went into effect at the
beginning of this year. This act states that the NCAA will cover medical expenses above
$90,000 however each individual member institution is not required to cover medical
expenses for its athletes ("The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."). Even
though this is a step in the right direction, the NCAA member institutions are not required
to follow all of it but it is recommended. Requiring all universities to pay for medical
bills during the athletes time in college and after would be admirable and moral since
that athlete is competing for that school along with providing a positive image for the
school.
On the other hand, Richard Burton, David B. Falk Professor of Sport
Management at Syracuse University and former CMO of the U.S. Olympic Committee,
believes that athletes are given enough benefits for their work. He says, NCAA Division

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I athletes still receive expert coaching (that could lead to a professional career as an
athlete or as a coach), on-campus housing, frequent meals (if not elaborate training
tables), non-uniform clothing, free medical consultation, free access to state-of-the-art
training facilities and free professional development (media/public relations, life skills,
networking, etc.)( Burton, Richard). But sometimes all of that isnt enough
compensation for the student athletes. Just look at what star UConn point guard Shabazz
Napier said in an interview this past spring who spoke out and saw change right away. "I
don't feel student-athletes should get hundreds of thousands of dollars, but like I said,
there are hungry nights that I go to bed and I'm starving," he said (Ganim, Sara). This
may not apply to every athlete out there but there are definitely others like Shabazz who
do not have the money to go get food. He is exactly like an average college student who
doesnt have a job except athletes cant have a job due to their demanding daily schedule.
Right after Shabazz spoke out, the NCAA announced that all student athletes get free
snacks from the university. This is a small solution but the NCAA did listen to the
problem and form a solution. If more student-athletes spoke out then I think there could
be some serious transformations in college athletics. Now I do recognize that student
athletes are rewarded with many perks that Burton states, but I think it is not equal to the
money that they are bringing in for the schools and NCAA.
Since 2000-2001, the NCAAs annual revenue has increased every year and was
$912 million with 80% coming from television. Some of that should go to the athletes
who bring in the revenue. Most of that revenue comes from football and mens basketball
of which only 1.6% and 1.2% of athletes go pro in ("Probability."). So that leaves
about 97% of those student athletes who have to use their education to make a living. But

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how much learning can get done when they spend nearly 40 hours a week practicing,
training, and learning plays? I cant imagine the same effort is being put into the
classroom as the practice field. Most athletes are in easy majors to remain eligible and
receive a degree. They are just looking to pass the class; not to get As and excel in it.
Honestly, most fans, coaches, and teammates dont care if athletes get straight As. They
just care that a player is eligible in his classes so he can make an interception on
Saturday. So why not give that player some money so he can finish/truly complete his
degree after he is ineligible to play anymore. If universities did that, then you wouldnt
see the situation that the University of North Carolina is in right now. They have been
found guilty of academic fraud by providing athletes with paper classes, classes that
they dont need to attend and often get As in, in order to keep them eligible to play. And
that goes back a few decades.
Clearly, most big division 1 universities, like the University of North Carolina,
see college sports, specifically football and mens basketball, more important than the
education of those athletes. If athletics are pushed ahead of education, then it truly is a
contract that those athletes sign, and according to common law they should be paid for
their work. Mark Emmert testified at the landmark federal trial for former UCLA player
Ed O'Bannon's lawsuit against the NCAA regarding the payment of student-athletes.
He said if they were to pay student athletes, schools would leave Division I sports and
start cutting other, less popular sports to be able to afford the salaries. If salaries were
instituted, the camaraderie of game day, the tailgating, the atmosphere of a stadium
packed with nearly 100,000 fans and the pride of cheering for a university team are all at
stake (Ganim, Sara). And I agree that the atmosphere of game day, especially here at

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Clemson, is something that draws so many people to college athletics and why it is so
profitable.
But even with those traditions I feel like college athletics has been moving away
from that sense of amateurism for a while, a term which was instilled in the NCAA way
back when it was founded. This term of amateurism is why Mark Emmert and the
NCAA have so much control over student athletes. More college athletes are becoming
household names and are having jerseys and videogame icons made in their likeness
without being able to profit from that. I think college athletes should be able to market
themselves and make some money for themselves. The only reason that it is considered
bad/selfish to do that is because the NCAA said it was. This would eliminate the NCAA
investigations and suspension of athletes who are looking to sell memorabilia and
autographs just to make some money. If they were to allow that then star running back
Todd Gurley of the Georgia Bulldogs would not have missed four games this season.
Because he was paid for his autograph, the NCAA has tarnished his image and probably
prevented him from winning a Heisman Trophy this year.
I also think athletes should get a couple thousand dollars a semester to
compensate for their work done to pay for food and other college expenses. This seems
somewhat logical and it would be a small step in the right direction but I dont see this
happening in the near future. College athletics is nothing without its athletes. And the
only way that the NCAA would agree to drastic change would be if the players decided
not to play. Too many people love and live for college sports for that to happen. The
power that Mark Emmert and the NCAA possess is too much to overcome. So until that
day comes, this debate will certainly continue.

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Works Cited
Burton, Richard. US News. U.S.News & World Report, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
"ESPN Lands Rights to College Playoff for $470M per Year through 2025."
CBSSports.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21083692/espn-lands-rightsto-college-playoff-for-470m-per-year-through-2025>.
Finkel, Ross, Trevor Martin, Jon Paley, Andrew J. Muscato, Taylor Branch, Domonique
Foxworth, Sam Rockwell, and Taylor Branch. Schooled: The Price of College
Sports. , 2013.
Frederick, Brian. US News. U.S.News & World Report, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014.
Ganim, Sara. "Paying College Athletes Would Hurt Traditions, NCAA Chief Emmert
Testifies." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
Ganim, Sara. "UConn Guard on Unions: I Go to Bed 'starving'" CNN. Cable News
Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/07/us/ncaa-basketball-finals-shabazz-napierhungry/>.
"The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." (n.d.): n. pag. NCAA Public Home
Page. NCAA. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/PPACA%2BInfo%2BGuide%2B2.13.
pdf>.
"Probability of Competing beyond High School." NCAA Public Home Page. N.p., n.d.
Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

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