Let's Chat About the Merits & Deficiencies of College Athletes' Amateur Status

[Belvis Noland]

Everybody, in their brains, knows NCAA players should be paid just like any other free market industry.  NCAA is a billion dollar empire built off of the work of mens football and basketball.  Everything would be cool if the NCAA was a "non-for-profit" and these pawns were really "student athletes."  This isn't reality.  Logic dictates that these employees be paid.   

But, in our hearts, we don't want to start paying players because we all know that this will be the beginning of the end of the college athletics era.  Stipends are fine.  I'm talking about free market, pay for play, supply and demand, salaries.  Jay Bilas was on 610 advocating for just this scenario.  Deregulate the NCAA and let the free market go to work.  BMW said it's a slippery slope.  It's not a slippery slope - it would be a monsoon induced avelanche.  As soon as we start paying players, college athletics becomes semi-pro sports.  semi-pro sports suck.

Logically these dudes should be paid money.  But, from an emotional, nostalgic standpoint, college sports fans don't want to deregulate the NCAA and start paying these guys salaries. 

[yoga-like_abana]

i think allowing NCAA players being allowed to make money off their likeness while in school would open up a can of worms that would make NCAA sports a lot worse in the long run.

if the want to get paid go play cfl or arena league.

says the poorest university in the big 12

[Rage Against the McKee]

Everybody, in their brains, knows NCAA players should be paid just like any other free market industry.  NCAA is a billion dollar empire built off of the work of mens football and basketball.  Everything would be cool if the NCAA was a "non-for-profit" and these pawns were really "student athletes."  This isn't reality.  Logic dictates that these employees be paid.   

But, in our hearts, we don't want to start paying players because we all know that this will be the beginning of the end of the college athletics era.  Stipends are fine.  I'm talking about free market, pay for play, supply and demand, salaries.  Jay Bilas was on 610 advocating for just this scenario.  Deregulate the NCAA and let the free market go to work.  BMW said it's a slippery slope.  It's not a slippery slope - it would be a monsoon induced avelanche.  As soon as we start paying players, college athletics becomes semi-pro sports.  semi-pro sports suck.

Logically these dudes should be paid money.  But, from an emotional, nostalgic standpoint, college sports fans don't want to deregulate the NCAA and start paying these guys salaries.

The problem is that college athletics are the highest level of participation that these kids are allowed to participate in. College athletics doesn't need to change just because these kids are really too good to be unpaid. The professional sports leagues need to change so these kids can go get paid. College sports are supposed to be for kids who aren't good enough to play professionally.

[Belvis Noland]

Everybody, in their brains, knows NCAA players should be paid just like any other free market industry.  NCAA is a billion dollar empire built off of the work of mens football and basketball.  Everything would be cool if the NCAA was a "non-for-profit" and these pawns were really "student athletes."  This isn't reality.  Logic dictates that these employees be paid.   

But, in our hearts, we don't want to start paying players because we all know that this will be the beginning of the end of the college athletics era.  Stipends are fine.  I'm talking about free market, pay for play, supply and demand, salaries.  Jay Bilas was on 610 advocating for just this scenario.  Deregulate the NCAA and let the free market go to work.  BMW said it's a slippery slope.  It's not a slippery slope - it would be a monsoon induced avelanche.  As soon as we start paying players, college athletics becomes semi-pro sports.  semi-pro sports suck.

Logically these dudes should be paid money.  But, from an emotional, nostalgic standpoint, college sports fans don't want to deregulate the NCAA and start paying these guys salaries.

The problem is that college athletics are the highest level of participation that these kids are allowed to participate in. College athletics doesn't need to change just because these kids are really too good to be unpaid. The professional sports leagues need to change so these kids can go get paid. College sports are supposed to be for kids who aren't good enough to play professionally.

On-field performance and athletic performance is just one aspect of these athletes' employment, though.  Bilas brought up a good point.  When Manziel goes to alumni events, the University auctions him off at alumni tables for +$20K.  Manziel isn't free to say, "nah, I'm gonna sit with my friends."  Manziel sits where he's told.  Collin Klein sat where he was told.  It's the name of the game.  Billions of dollars are made off of these kids. 

But, again, start paying them salary commensurate with their worth, and college athletics are over. 

[michigancat]

I like Belvis' honesty about the situation. "Yeah, the kids are getting mumped over royally, but it just wouldn't be as much fun if we didn't eff them over."

It's so much better than the tired "THE EDUCATION IS THEIR PAY" bullshit.

[Belvis Noland]

The problem is that college athletics are the highest level of participation that these kids are allowed to participate in. College athletics doesn't need to change just because these kids are really too good to be unpaid. The professional sports leagues need to change so these kids can go get paid. College sports are supposed to be for kids who aren't good enough to play professionally.

Also, America loves today's college athletics, the industry that has become a billion dollar empire.  Today's NCAA isn't merely a collection of amateurs "not good enough to play professionally."  Today's NCAA isn't just the final level kids are allowed to participate.  There's better baseball talent in the NCAA than there is in many independent leagues.  There's better NCAA basketball talent on some teams than in the NBA D-League. 

The NCAA is richer than it's ever been, the Execs and Coaches are richer than they've ever been, the Conferences are making more money than they ever had, and schools like K-State are building $100million clubs for millionaires to splash their money around for the very reason that the NCAA is littered with athletes who are good enough to play professionally. 

People don't want to pay money to watch matchups between the MWC and Sunbelt.  People want to see Arthur Brown tackle RGIII - not Alex Hrebek tackle whoever's behind center for KU. 

[SabiNation]

Should Kip Daily have gotten paid a percentage of the 2012-13 sales of KSU #7 jerseys?

[Rage Against the McKee]

Also, America loves today's college athletics, the industry that has become a billion dollar empire.  Today's NCAA isn't merely a collection of amateurs "not good enough to play professionally."  Today's NCAA isn't just the final level kids are allowed to participate.  There's better baseball talent in the NCAA than there is in many independent leagues.  There's better NCAA basketball talent on some teams than in the NBA D-League. 

The NCAA is richer than it's ever been, the Execs and Coaches are richer than they've ever been, the Conferences are making more money than they ever had, and schools like K-State are building $100million clubs for millionaires to splash their money around for the very reason that the NCAA is littered with athletes who are good enough to play professionally. 

People don't want to pay money to watch matchups between the MWC and Sunbelt.  People want to see Arthur Brown tackle RGIII - not Alex Hrebek tackle whoever's behind center for KU.

You are probably correct about the casual fan. I think most alumni will continue to watch their college play on tv, regardless of the overall level of play in college athletics. The Big 10 is turning their product into something worse than the MWC has been in recent history, and I'm sure tons of people will still watch them play.

[EllRobersonisInnocent]

Nothing better than watching Northwestern dominate Iowa 10-7 on ESPN, 11am kickoff

[Rage Against the McKee]

Nothing better than watching Northwestern dominate Iowa 10-7 on ESPN, 11am kickoff

It's awful, yet enough people tune in to somehow warrant the Big 10 getting the best tv contracts.