Paying College Athletes Basketball legend, Michael Jordan once said, “in college I never realized the opportunities available to a pro athlete. I’ve been given the chance to meet all kinds of people, to travel and expand my financial capabilities, to get ideas and learn about life, to create a world apart from basketball. ” College players still do not have the same amenities that professional athletes have. Why not give the college athlete a portion of what professionals get since they are working just as hard in their respective sport?
With all the money that flows in and out of college sports, college athletes should be paid for playing for their school. Paying the amauter athlete would open up many new windows for not only the player, but the school as well. Colleges have the potential to bring in a surplus of money if they pay their athletes. The student-athlete would also be encouraged to stay and support their school for longer. Paying college athletes would increase television ratings and bring more money to the school. The star players could be marketed and shown off on television commercials to catch the viewer’s attention.
Appearing on television would help athletes promote a brand or their school, which would not only provide them with money, but could potentially lead to increased exposure for the school; this could earn the school more profit in the long run. Also, the athlete would be Favaedi 2 paid for each commercial, which would benefit the viewer because the players would be more motivated to play. Payment would encourage players to perform at their highest level. March Madness, the play-offs for college sports, had around 11. 3 million total viewers.
Imagine how much easier it would be for schools to draw in more money by showcasing their star players on commercials (NCAA. com). For the fans who only watch March Madness, seeing the players on commercials would help them put a name to a face and follow that player throughout the tournament. Sports are entertainment, and fans want to see the best players. By getting paid, athletes would be more likely to play at their best. If players are guaranteed payment in college, they would be more likely to stay in school for longer. It would be more intriguing for fans to watch the best young talent in the world for more than a year.
Having the best players stay longer would bring more excitement to the game. The teams would be stronger, which would ultimately lead to a better game. American sport radio host Grant Napear would say, “if you don’t like that, you don’t like [college sports]. ” Also, college players entering the draft early has caused a decline in television ratings (Mark Coomes). The NCAA is already a big “money-maker”, but paying their athletes would get them over the hump to build a sports entertainment empire. The star college athlete is becoming extinct because they chase the money that comes when they are professionals.
So, why not pay the student-athlete in order to bring in more revenue and keep the fans happy? The NCAA could potentially create many more opportunities if they paid the athlete. Schools could profit if they could sell player merchandise. Professional athletes and teams are making millions off their own merchandise. Selling a college player’s jerseys would bring a lot of money to the school. In 2011, Auburn University tried to auction off Cam Newton’s game worn pants for $590, but Auburn was not able too because they did not meet the school’s unknown reserve price (Graham Watson).
Player merchandise would catch the eye of many impressionable children who look up to a specific player and treat them as their hero or role model. Fans want the i of the best player, so by offering the jersey, fans would flock to purchase it. Some athletes come from very poor families so they need more money in order to support themselves. Student-Athletes need money to pay for clothing and other necessities. College athletes practice at least 40 hours a week (Peter Jacobs). When the human body is doing that much work, it needs much more food.
Also, students will wear jackets indoors because they cannot afford to pay the electric bill. A fullride scholarship does not fully pay for food and clothing. As an athlete, they need more food and clothing due to their rigorous lifestyle. Athletes do not have time to get a full-time job so it would be almost impossible for them to pay for necessities. Paying the athletes in college would encourage them to graduate to help their future beyond their sport. Money would encourage the athlete to continue their education and get the most from what they are studying.
Some players are too young to realize that athletic careers are not forever. These athletes need something to fall back on to better their future endeavours past athletics (Joel Medelson). Without a proper education, these athletes could suffer if their careers end abruptly. The athletes “go pro” for the money which is always risky, so by paying them in college there would not be a potential risk factor. Young athletes go to extremes to earn a paycheck to help their struggling families. Athletes sometimes forgo college and head to go play in another country to receive money as soon as possible.
If the athletes were paid, they would be able to enjoy college and be close to their families. The athlete could help pay for bills or other things that their family cannot afford (Dennis Dodd). Players would not feel the need to steal in order to help their family. Former college quarterback Jameis Winston, stole crab legs from a local market (John Taylor). Also, Washington State defensive tackle Austin Brown was in hot water with the police. Brown stole over $50 worth of groceries from a Wal-mart in his local area (Jonathan Bass). If the college athletes are paid, they would not have to steal and avoid bringing bad publicity to the school.
Athletes deserve money for all the hard work and dedication they put in for their school. The athletes’ persistence cannot go unnoticed. Playing for a college team is basically a job. However, athletes do not receive anything for all their hard work. A professional basketball player’s economic worth is $587,000 (Tom Kruckemeyer and Sarah Steelman). There are college basketball programs that practice and travel as much as professional teams. The student-athlete deserves to be paid. They are doing the same thing the professional’s are doing but they do not get anything in return.
Rightfully so, a majority of athletes feel that they deserve payment for what they provide for their school. Student-athletes could actually be students and put more effort into their school work instead of worrying about whether or not they can pay the electric bill or put food on their table. Also, athletes have admitted to receiving illegal payment which does help them, but puts them under stress. NFL running back, Arian Foster admitted that he received money from University of Tennessee when he played there (Darin Gantt). The money he received benefitted him but he felt like he was always hiding something which distracted him.
Some fans feel that “athletes simply should be free to make whatever money they can” (Douglas S. Looney). Paying them could relieve their stress and just let them focus on their sport. Rewarding college athletes would enhance their performance in their respective sport. The majority of schools have enough money to pay for their athletes. The Big Ten alone has enough money to pay all the players within the conference(Alex Richards). Purdue University reportedly received a payout from the Big Ten in the amount of $32 million (Kevin McGuire).
There are massive amounts of money in college sports, and it would only be fair to share the wealth with the athletes who help enhance business. Paying the athletes could hurt college sports. Some fans do not want the players to be paid because they feel that the true meaning of being a college athlete would be tarnished. A large majority of people oppose paying the athletes because they see them as students (Alex Prewitt). Also, fans want the “amatuer” label to matter (Dom Amore). Spectators believe that the players could let the money affect their game (Adriano Valente).
Student-Athletes could let all the money get the best of them which would lead them to forget the reason why they are playing in college (Adriano Valente). Their youth might cause them to make impulsive decisions as well. For example, former NFL first round draft pick, Travis Taylor, spent $40,000 in a furniture store after he received his first rookie paycheck (Tom Farrey). Athletes have a history of wasting their money by spending it on items that distract them from their sport. Young athletes are already prone to making bad choices, giving them money could make their choices lead to severe consequences.
However, paying the athletes would help the college and the athlete. Paying college athletes now is the right thing to do because it will give those who fail to be recruited by the pros a chance to buy some time, and hopefully figure out how they are going to get by with the rest of their lives and give them a little savings in the bank to work with (Steve Siebold). Athletes would also be more motivated in academics and athletics. “They are the very reason college sports fans turn on the TV and attend the games. They are what generates revenues all around” (Steve Siebold).
With all the talk about whether or not college athletes should be paid or not still being a major question in sports today, paying the student-athlete would be more beneficial for both the player and the school in every aspect. The players would feel more secure and the school would generate more business. Despite the cons of paying college athletes, the pros of paying them triumph due to all of the benefits provided. The student-athletes already provide business for their school, it is now time to get the athlete more involved by paying them what they deserve.
