College Athletic Careers

SO… the ever popular debate about college athletes being paid is back and as usual….my opinion has NOT changed. I do not believe they should be paid. That is my wholehearted opinion that is based on my own experiences, perceptions, knowledge of research about the subject and a little bias which I am not afraid to admit that I have.

 

Not all athletes receive full scholarships but across the board the amounts total percentages that are substaintially larger than academic or any other kind of scholarships. While I understand that most are not able to have a job during season (and sometimes off) there is still the summer time and they usually still have more financial aid money (some of which comes directly back to them in refunds for spending and/or saving) as well as the same opportunities as others for other types of financial aid.

 

A scholarship is like a contract; a promise to pay a service to an institution in exchange for a decrease or total expense paid education. There contract should not be any different than others. If the terms of the contract do not stipulate pay such as a stipend or salary (like that of assistantships and fellowships) then the pay comes in other ways. Gaining education (which often includes room & board) is compensation.

Many people believe that institutions of higher education and athletic departments exploit athletes (I can get with that claim for sure) but even if they receive money for jerseys, tickets, other swag and paraphernalia, it is not much different than academia where the school benefits and receives money for research and accolades that students gain in their areas or field of study and expertise. I believe the racial aspect comes into play and draws many people to feel emotional and personally invested in this topic and issue (and it is a problem & issue) but….one must look at all of the factors involved and when I weigh them based on my perception, I still feel the same. An athletes compensation or “pay” should be the investment that is made in their education. They can take it or leave it but just like with all things, it is a choice and they have it to make. If there scholarship money is not enough then they need to resort to other means of financing their education just like all other students or perspective students (grants, loans, other scholarships, work study (if applicable) and working (when and if they can). Being a college athlete should not be a 4 year (sometimes plus) career for anyone.

2 thoughts on “College Athletic Careers

  1. After some thought about it the only issue that I can see with it is the vast amounts of money that are made directly off the talents of these big time university athletes, its the large discrepancy in scale. 100k scholarship given to these athletes is not on par with the millions of dollars that these athletes generate for the university and in this respect its not a fair exchange.
    One’s 100k scholarship does not equal millions for the athlete, or any student. It sounds more like the university that is making that kind of money, along with higher enrollment and increased visibility is getting the bulk of the benefit at the time the athlete is within their system.
    One of the issues is that without that large college exposure and level of competition the great athlete has no chance to be seen or be qualified to go to the next level. So in the end, the only thing that the athlete has to gain is his or her chance to be seen and prove. The universities hold all the major cards because they control the gateway to the next level.

  2. I agree in terms of the vast amount of money that is made annually, but disagree with the scale because it does not account for the non-monetary value that many people place on education.

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