An Inside View: Student Athletes: Pay to Play?

Should a student/athlete benefit from the revenues of sports programs? An athlete’s daily schedule is often full: morning runs, class, afternoon workouts, practice, and homework. While many college students struggle to balance academic and social life, the student/athlete has the additional obstacle of balancing a tiring workout schedule. While it is improbable an athlete could find any extra time for a job, it is of no matter. The NCAA does not allow student athletes to hold a job to supplement their scholarship funds. In addition to the hardship that participating in a college sport places on an individual’s academics, the athlete also assumes the risk of injury. According to the NCAA, 8.1% of football athletes experience an injury during spring ball alone. Then there’s the possibility of a catastrophic injury resulting in incomplete neurological recovery, which impaired almost six thousand of 1.8 million participants studied in 2001. Many athletes struggle financially through college, with little if any money, to pay for travel home and other incidentals. The Collegiate Athletics Coalition, formed in January 2001, recognizes the seemingly unfair circumstances of the college athlete and is currently recruiting members. This coalition seeks year-round health coverage (athletes are currently not covered during the summer although many still participate in conditioning and optional practices). The coalition is also seeking $2000/year per athlete to help supplement the costs that their scholarships do not cover. While athletes are struggling to make it through college, the universities and the NCAA are reaping substantial revenues. The NCAA reported revenue in 1998 of over $281,000,000. It has licensing agreements with approximately 50 manufactures, and has deals with individual companies such as the 11-year, $500 million contract with Coca Cola. The bowl season alone is a $5 billion business per year. Fully 64% of Division 1-A football programs turn an average profit of $64 million per year. The NCAA and the universities are receiving money from ticket sales, bowl appearances, and product promotions. Colleges sign contracts with companies like Nike and Reebok in which the athletes will wear the products, and the school will get paid. With all the money athletes help bring in, is it right that the same college athletes should struggle to make ends meet? Critics who do not feel college athletes should receive any additional money are concerned that the best athletes would follow the cash to the schools, which are able to offer the best loans and gifts. Critics also believe the student athlete should choose a school based on the quality of education. Collegiate athletes commit themselves to the school and their sports program. In return, often times the school commits to providing an education, food, and housing. The truth is that many times, the money provided does not go far enough. Perhaps the university could provide even a small amount more to each athlete. It could be one of the keys to keeping athletes in the school’s program that would otherwise turn professional. The money that an agent can offer an athlete may seem less enticing to someone who has been able to afford an occasional pizza and movie, or a trip home to see their family, than to a person that has been struggling to pay their phone bill. And, as for the athletes that will never acquire the salary of a professional athlete, who gave four years of themselves to the university, is it unreasonable to give to them a little of what they have helped the university and NCAA earn? If you have any comments or questions on this article, send your e-mails to jay@seymourherald.com