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It’s been Decades now that NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) has somehow managed to restrict paying out athletes. These athletes are directly responsible to generate billions of dollars in revenue every year for their athletics departments. “The athletes aren’t paid because the NCAA has randomly defined what it means to be an amateur: They can accept certain things, like tuition, but not others, like royalties from jersey sales. You’re an amateur because you aren’t paid. You’re not paid because you’re an amateur. That’s the essence of the argument, and it’s looking increasingly hypocritical (Bostonglobe.com)”.
NCAA raked in $ 871.6 Million in 11-12
At Beardownshop.com, Nike Replica Football Jersey of UA is available at $ 90.
At Arizona Stadium a season ticket for Club box is sold for $ 2,000.
UA annually rakes in $7.48 million through football and a well run College program for instance University of Alabama roughly earns $45.2 million.
NCAA reportedly negotiated a TV contract worth $10.8 Billion for Men’s Basketball and TV money coming in for Pac-12 is worth $3 billion.
What is player’s stake in it? ZERO!!!
Athletes are the heart and soul behind all this and are bound to put hours in training and practice on daily basis. The demands of managing and balancing school and practice schedules are part of college athletes’ life. Athletes strain their mental and physical health into their daily schedules. The only advantage they get this is a scholarship which covers their college expenses such as tuition, housing and other academic expenses but they can’t take part time work to have some income on side. In case they are found guilty of gaining monetary benefits they end up being reprimanded.
Lately, Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel has been allegedly found signing memorabilia in exchange for money. For this Johnny Manziel has been spotlighted by NCAA and has been handed with First-Half suspension for Aggies Season Opener. In case athlete finds himself in a tight financial situation and needs the money to pay few bills getting fined for signing autographs is highly hypocritical especially when NCAA itself profits by selling athlete merchandise.
Reasons Why College Students Should Be Paid
Currently the way things stand everyone involved in the system apart from the athletes stand to benefit. “Retired UConn men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun’s $1.6 million salary once made him Connecticut’s highest paid state employee. His counterpart on the women’s team, Geno Auriemma, took that honor in March, signing a five-year contract that could be worth more than $13.2 million. There are similar examples around the country” (Bostonglobe.com).
NCAA considers student athletes as professionals due to them being part of college. However, due to some reason coaches are considered professionals and are paid heavily. As per the latest trend average salary raked in by a major college coach ranges from $1.5-5 million. Why are athletic coaches getting paid over the odds if they are just training students just like any other tenured professors.
Where it all Started / Background Information
Coach: Bud Wilkinson Coach: Barry Switzer Coach: Barry Switzer
Salary: $15,000 Salary: $35,000 Salary: $35,000
Team: Oklahoma Team: Oklahoma Team: Oklahoma
Capacity: 56,000 Capacity: 62,000 Capacity: 75,000
Athletes Get: Scholarships Athletes Get: Scholarships Athletes Get: Scholarships
Let us now see what current boss at helm of Oklahoma is making in annual wages. Also consider stadium where $125 million have been invested for upgradation and renovation and currently houses 82,112 fans for home games. Stubhub.com is selling two seats about 30 rows over the 40-yard line at $650.
Coach: Bob Stoops
Salary: $4.55 Million
Team: Oklahoma
Capacity: 82,112
Athletes Get: Scholarships
The only thing that has not changed over 60+ years is students or student athletes only get scholarships.
Statistics to Prove Athletes Deserve Payday
Reasons why Student-Athletes are Not Paid/Concession
It is a raging and ongoing debate in the world of college athletics whether student-athletes deserve a payday for their efforts for generation of millions. Compensation issue for student-athletes is between athletes and colleges. As per census data, graduates from college make approx $1 million more throughout their life than students who hold diplomas from high school as their highest education degree. A college degree requires and investment of $100,000- $200,000 which a student-athlete ends up saving.
Fundamental issue involved with this topic that never creeps up is the idea of free marketplace. The reason behind why colleges don’t pay student-athletes is simple and obvious, they don’t need to. Every recruit jumps at the opportunity of free room, tuition and considers getting scholarship a privilege.
In case any system is implemented where student-athletes are paid compensation to play for their college in such scenario many unfair advantages would creep up. Athletic programs which are nationally acclaimed would end up sucking the smaller program dry. Departments of athletics are not as wealthy as claimed and most of the athletics departments of NCAA run on annual loss. As per NCAA, in 2013 out of all athletic programs only 23 made profit. Just like any other college athletics program across nation, revenue generated depends upon Men’s basketball and Football and the money generated funds other 19 programs on campus. In 2012 alone UA made profit of $1.22 million and University of Texas made $25.03 million, in case both colleges pay their athletes and split the profits, Texas can have astounding advantage over UA. This will enable them to dominate in recruiting the best talent, continuous growth and hike in profit. UA will end up losing athletes to other appealing college programs like University of Texas. In addition, paying student-athletes would bring about other issues such as whether other to pay other athletic teams of swimming, softball, golf, etc.
Treating Student-athletes as amateurs is unfair and has to be reconsidered. “The NCAA maintains its own, idiosyncratic, changing, frequently arbitrary, and often illogical definition of amateurism,” (Bostonglobe.com). NCAA can easily afford to change.
There is not much to lose as endorsements and capitalism has been part of sports and student-athletes are vital cogs in the commercial business of college sports. Bringing forward the policy of wages for student-athletes will change nothing apart from the policies which are unfair. Estimated revenue generated from merchandise sales of college athletes in 2013 stood at $4.6 million and college sports teams are now the foundation on which the universities are rated. University of Alabama is more popular for its Football than its law degree. To conclude, NCAA annually makes billions of dollars through college athletics programs and student athletes are employees which are due to be paid.
Recommendation
While I strongly believe students athletes deserve to be paid for their efforts it is also important to consider the drawbacks of having a paid student. The best way to compensate a student-athlete is to ensure some reimbursement is done for their effort to bring millions of dollars every year in the college coffers. Reimbursement should encourage students to graduate from college and monetary reward should be passed on only for students who graduate. Student-athletes willing to pursue further degrees can be funded through a college program for advanced education. All students involved in athletics program should be medically insured as any injuries incurred while playing for college team can have repercussions on the future of the student. Currently the way system is working it is designed to make revenue for the university without taking the importance of student-athlete into consideration in any way.
Works Cited
Rosendeld E, Mccourt S. Opposing views: should NCAA athletes be paid?. http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2013/09/opposing-views-should-ncaa-athletes-be-paid-091813. DailyWildcat.com. Web. 2013
Terbush J. Is it finally time to start paying college athletes?. http://theweek.com/article/index/249479/is-it-finally-time-to-start-paying-college-athletes. The Week. Web. 2013
Gregory S. College Athletes Need To Unionize, Now. http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2013/09/28/college-athletes-need-to-unionize-now/. Time Sports. Web. 2013
Zola, W. K. Personnel foul. http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2013/05/18/ware-and-manziel-reasons-why-ncaa-should-pay-athletes/CIn9k7REgZs2ei4RPeCquI/story.html. BostonGlobe. Web. 2013
Gaines, C. If You Don't Think College Athletes Should Be Paid, This Chart May Change Your Mind. http://www.businessinsider.in/If-You-Dont-Think-College-Athletes-Should-Be-Paid-This-Chart-May-Change-Your-Mind/articleshow/21026365.cms. Business Insider. Web. 2013
Lorreta. College Athletes Should Be Paid, And If You Disagree You Are Logically and Morally Bankrupt. http://www.sippinonpurple.com/2013/4/15/4219052/college-athletes-should-be-paid-and-if-you-disagree-you-are-logically. SB Nation. Web. 2013
