Then there's the newly proposed College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, which would allow student-athletes to unionize and earn money off their likeness, name, and image. Should all athletes be paid? Adding insult to sometimes literal injury, college athletes are also frequently denied the NCAAs other form of compensation: a quality education. Listen, 90 percent of these college guys are gonna spend it on tats, weed, kicks, Xboxes, beer and swag. The ruling changed the broadcast regulations for college football. 1. That's why some colleges, such as the University of Southern California and Stanford University, opposed the bill. However, it would not allow for a more visible use of the NCAAs budget. In theory, wouldnt it bring problems between players, due to one teammate potentially receiving more money? No Division II or III schools revenue exceeded expenses. One of the most common reasons cited against paying college players is compensation. They insist that college athletes deserve their pay as they are more than just amateur athletes. Whatever it may be, it looks like this growing debate wont be dying down anytime soon. What possible difficulties or downsides might there be in providing monetary compensation to players? An N.B.A. WebThe average college receives around 95 million dollars per season. Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski said afterward that Williamson had sustained a knee injury, but that the joint was stable.. We explore the pros and cons and conclude that college students have a right to be paid. As he planted a foot to reverse direction, his left sneaker collapsed and tore apart from the sheer torque of the move. WebBecause so many athletic departments run at a deficit, it's difficult to make the case that schools should pay regular salaries to athletes, even football players who produce more College athletes make their schools millions of dollars, so they should naturally receive a cut of the action. In a related Opinion piece, Paying Students to Play Would Ruin College Sports, Cody J. McDavis writes: Paying student-athletes might sound like a fairer way to treat students who generate so much money and attention for their colleges (not to mention the television networks that broadcast their games). Among whites, however, the numbers flip: Just 27% support paying those athletes, while 43% oppose it.. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-paying-college-athletes, according to the Business of College Sports. Wake up to the day's most important news. When Nike sells an $80 Clemson University jersey with quarterback Trevor Lawrence's name and number on it, shouldn't he get a cut of the profits? Writing an essay on whether college athletes should or shouldnt be paid? WebThe NCAA has long contended that players are "student-athletes," not employees. It is the latest chapter of an athlete rights movement that has generated The rest are termed "equivalency sports," which receive lump sums that are allocated among players according to a coach's determination. Many of them dont want to go already, combined with the fact that some may be receiving grades without doing any work. So while a few athletes would benefit financially, a greater number of students would see their athletic opportunities disappear. Is it racial? The NBA requires players to be at least 19 and a year out of high school, while the NFL requires players to be three years out of high school. If a university decided to pay student-athletes, where would that money come from? Despite their expensive sportswear, which comes from their sponsors, they are living a financially difficult life. Some say that if it becomes a law to pay all student-athletes, thousands of universities will drop their athletic department simply because they cant afford to pay them. Athletic competition nationwide would suffer as a result. procon@eb.com, 2022 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. For example, fair market value for a University of Texas football player was $513,922. The math behind the argument against Williamsons returning is simple. The Supreme Court heard arguments on Mar. This is something that has been a growing issue in recent years. [31], If students were paid, the NCAA argues, many colleges and universities would have to offer fewer scholarships and the remaining scholarships would be distributed unfairly to top football and mens basketball players because those two sports bring in the most revenue. Ed OBannon, a former professional basketball player, won a lawsuit in 2014 where the NCAA was ordered to pay $44.4 million in attorneys fees and another $1.5 million in costs to lawyers for the plaintiffs in the Ed OBannon class-action antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. Group licensing deals in theory can allow lesser-known players to reap the benefits of appearing alongside a well-known player. Takeaway: Paying student-athletes could potentially give them an incentive to stay in their institution, as schools will probably lock them into a contract. Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate. Even though athletes are compensated with scholarships, it is often not sufficient to graduate debt-free from college. On Feb. 20, less than a minute into a nationally televised game against archrival North Carolina, Williamson injured his right knee when one of his Nike sneakers exploded. (Watch here to see what happened to the shoe.) 19, 2021, Adam Liptak and Alicia Parlapiano, "What the Public Thinks about Major Supreme Court Cases This Term," nytimes.com, June 1, 2021, Business of College Sports, "Tracker: Name, Image and Likeness Legislation by State," businessofcollegesports.com, June 10, 2021, Adam Liptak, "Supreme Court Backs Payments to Student-Athletes," nytimes.com, July 21, 2021, Alan Blinder, "College Players May Make Money Off Their Fame, Powerful N.C.A.A. On a side note, this would incentivize athletes to complete their degree, making them more employable after the end of their athletic career. Student-athletes bring in millions each year for their schools, but only recently have they begun to profit from the big business of college sports. If these rules are Players may stay longer To back up the last point, players wouldnt have to leave school early and would still be able to pursue an education while taking care of their family back home. 1. Additionally, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear a case (National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Shawne Alston, et al.) Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. Students from these institutions are given full sponsorship from enormous brands. A handful of big Everyone around them makes money, but the students responsible for generating revenue receive nothing. Not necessarily but a school would be required to ensure that female athletes receive proportionate opportunities for scholarships. In all likelihood, paying college athletes will benefit big-time, revenue-generating sports and hurt less popular sports. Everyone Loves to Watch Zion Williamson Play. [45], On June 30, 2021, fewer than 12 hours before some states NIL laws went into effect, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors issued an interim ruling stating that Bylaw 12 (the rules that say athletes cannot receive payment) will not be enforced. California was the first state to pass a NIL (name, image, and likeness) law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023. It's not about finding the right answer because there is no right answer. If theres money to provide college coaches with lavish seven-figure salaries (especially at public institutions), why shouldnt there be funds to pay college athletes? Should college athletes be paid? NCAA is a non-profit organization. 1. A February 2020 USA Today article found that the average total pay for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football head coaches in 2020-21 was $2.7 million. WebCollege athletes deserve to be paid because they are the only ones not being paid in the college sports industry. That adds up to about $400,000 a year. Respondents were split 50/50 in a June 1, 2021, New York Times survey about whether the NCAA strictly limiting paid compensation is constitutional. If college athletes were to get paid, then large, well-funded schools such as those of the Power Five would be best positioned to acquire top talent and gain a competitive advantage. 3. The ruling changed the broadcast regulations for college football. Universities best positioned to pay athletes top dollar would win bidding wars and recruiting battles against institutions with limited budgets. [20]. A seriously injured athlete could lose their scholarship (which is guaranteed only for one year at a time), jeopardize their opportunity to play professionally and potentially earn millions, or even face lifelong disability if the damage is permanent. Full scholarship itself is a misnomer; the same study found that the average annual scholarship for FBS athletes on full scholarships was actually $3,222. For example, a student athlete will be compensated for the sale of a jersey featuring their name, or for a sponsorship deal in which they appear wearing a UNC jersey. Another argument is that for the majority of athletes, a free pass to college is their way out of their financial hardship. Does this rule apply to payment structures, too, though? 5. White People? This was quite a change from polling conducted in 2017, when 60% believed college scholarships were enough compensation for college athletes. At worst, it's chaotic and threatens team morale. Consider the pro position of the National College Players Association that paying college athletes is a civil rights issue. That's just the institutional side of it. Wouldnt paying them eliminate a lot of these issues? A 2017 NCAA survey revealed that Division I athletes dedicate an average of 35 hours per week to their sport during the season. On the sidelines, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh (salary: $8 million) and his counterpart, Ryan Day (salary: $5.7 million), finalize their game plans. Introduced in February by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the bill promises to be one of the most expansive yet in terms of getting college athletes officially recognized as employees. A paid student-athlete could be free from financial distress. Removes athletes competitive nature and passion for the game Players will take on a pro mindset where the only motive is money. At this point, the debate over whether college athletes should be paid really doesn't change anything. If adopted, the rule would only apply to Division I schools and would be temporary until the NCAA or Congress acts. Promo code: College sports, particularly football, are a big deal and a big business. 23, 2018, Craig Garthwaite, Who Profits from Amateurism? former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon Jr. sits in his office in Henderson, Nevada. WebShould College Athletes Be Paid? 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