|
 College football coaches in the Southeastern Conference have discussed possible scenarios in which the student-athletes could be paid for play. One scenario that has received the most attention was introduced by Steve Spurrier of the University of South Carolina. He proposed that each head coach should pay each scholarship player $300 dollars from their own pocket. Ouch. That is $252,000 per coach for all 120 FBS teams. I'm sorry, but that is not likely without a split between the six major conferences and the non-automatic qualifying conferences like the WAC and Conference USA.
It is a little ridiculous to assume that because a football player has a full ride, he has everything he wants. Sure, no one can have everything they want, but we should all be allowed to earn money for our extra hard work. In the state of Georgia, there is a scholarship that pays full tuition for any resident student that has a GPA above 3.0—future students will have to have and maintain a 3.5 GPA. The HOPE scholarship, paid for by the Georgia Lottery, pays for many students tuition that otherwise would not be able to afford an education at a major university. With the HOPE Scholarship and a full Pell Grant, a student can receive as much as $2,000 cash per semester. With additional scholarships and a job, the number can really be surprising—but that is a normal student. Without HOPE, students-athletes that play in other states look for means to make life a little easier. A job, even part time, is not an option. Student-athletes are not allowed to have a job. A student-athlete without additional grants would have to take out loans to pay for school. So I couldn't help myself, I have to chime in. As a college student who pays my own way, without help from anyone except the government—grants, loans and scholarships—I couldn't imagine having to play football on top of my already busy schedule. Then on top of everything else, I would not be allowed to have a job because I play football!
I couldn't do it. If you ask me, it is ridiculous to think a football player in college doesn't need money for expenses that all other students, who can squeeze in a job because they don't play football, can afford. Sure they have their room and board paid for, but so do I. Why should I be allowed to work and they shouldn't be?
I will tell you why: They already have a job, and it is called football. They should be paid for their work just like I can be paid for mine. I'm not proposing that a school pay for its own schools football players though. I am suggesting that those who make money off my school's football players should have to pay my school's football players.
Take for instance CBS. CBS makes money by playing SEC football games. CBS should have to pay SEC players, or all NCAA Div. I players. NBC should have to pay Notre Dame players, or all NCAA Div. I players. Maybe CBS and NBC could even pay all NCAA Div. I basketball, soccer, baseball, golf, lacrosse and hockey players as well—including all female teams.
Any entity that makes money off student-athletes should have to pay those same student-athletes.
What is wrong is when a coach lies, covers it up, lies some more, gets caught, lies more and then apologizes for lying but justifies covering it up. It's wrong when a player receives money and his teammate who works just as hard gets nothing.
Pay them all or enforce the rules. Where is the consistency? I'm missing it. If those who broke the rules were treated equally there would be no argument here. The problem is that there is no consistency with the NCAA and how they handle pay-for-play. Green, Dareus, Newton, all the UNC players and anyone else that has received pay-for-play should have been removed from their respective teams and given an agent. There should be no gray area. If you knowingly break the rules involving pay-for-play, then you are no longer an amateur athlete. The second you take cash or gifts you have become professional and should be treated as such. Any games that ineligible players played in should be forfeit. Any agents involved with amateur college athletes should be banned from the NFL. The hammer needs to be brought down as to create fear in the hearts of players, coaches and agents. The integrity of college football is what is most important to most fans. It is about the pride. The pride to play for a school that you have always wanted to play for. Look at Andrew Luck. I'm a Dawg for life, but I personally like Andrew Luck more than Matt Stafford because he stayed to finish school when he knew he would have been the No. 1 pick in the draft. Players like that should receive special treatment. I'm not suggesting we pay them like we pay a mechanic who fixes your car. Maybe add a special senior scholarship for All-Americans that return for their senior season. Most fans won't care how you do it, they just want to keep the integrity of the game. Who can blame struggling student-athletes for taking guaranteed money in amounts that could make anyone happy? Those that do want to finish their degree should be given some kind of monetary help for staying that final year. No freshman or first year junior college transfer should ever receive special treatment before they have proven themselves on the field and in the classroom. The NFL is about the money, with each player trying to meet his bonus requirements. That is what makes college football so special. Ten sacks is worth the glory of 10 sacks, not a bonus check. It's the pride of the fan that separates college football from the NFL. We love college football as it is. Let's just ask for some consistency.
source: |
