Shabazz

[oldman]

I used to feel that way. In reality my feelings deal more with the growing inequities in a billion dollar business. And let's face it, if people didn't demand the product, we wouldn't be talking about it. But society demands Division 1 men's basketball and football, so that's why the money is there. I also understand that major college athletes are forced to make a choice, school or sports. Were I in that position I'm sure I wouldn't have been allowed to pursue engineering because it would've taken too much time away from practice or working out. Just look up the stuff about Coach K at Duke forcing his players to study certain majors so that he can control their time. (NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

The situation is much more gray than to pay or not pay the players like in the Pro leagues. But, people have a hard time understanding an issue if there are more than 1 side, so people determine a couple and then dig in on either one.

Personally, I feel like the biggest issues are the fact that the schools and the league can make money off the likenesses of their players but the players themselves can't.

And you admit, the system needs to have some changes made. Unfortunately, unless the players speak up (deemed as "complaining" by some), nothing will ever change -- because why would the people who run things want it to? They're making TONS of money!

I had two starting linemen for the football team in my Calc III class. I'm guessing they weren't there for a Phys Ed degree.

 

[mattyice]

I had two starting linemen for the football team in my Calc III class. I'm guessing they weren't there for a Phys Ed degree.

I helped Troy Davis cheat on tests in i think it was FSHN 110 or 115 or something.

Your Welcome Cyclone Nation.

 

[carvers4math]

I had two starting linemen for the football team in my Calc III class. I'm guessing they weren't there for a Phys Ed degree.

Offensive linemen always seemed pretty smart to me. Used to tutor Poli Sci 215. Don't remember tutoring any o-line types. Always thought it was sad so many students got out of high school without understanding the basics of their government, it wasn't one of those rocket science courses.

 

[isufbcurt]

I used to feel that way. In reality my feelings deal more with the growing inequities in a billion dollar business. And let's face it, if people didn't demand the product, we wouldn't be talking about it. But society demands Division 1 men's basketball and football, so that's why the money is there. I also understand that major college athletes are forced to make a choice, school or sports. Were I in that position I'm sure I wouldn't have been allowed to pursue engineering because it would've taken too much time away from practice or working out. Just look up the stuff about Coach K at Duke forcing his players to study certain majors so that he can control their time. (NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

The situation is much more gray than to pay or not pay the players like in the Pro leagues. But, people have a hard time understanding an issue if there are more than 1 side, so people determine a couple and then dig in on either one.

Personally, I feel like the biggest issues are the fact that the schools and the league can make money off the likenesses of their players but the players themselves can't.

And you admit, the system needs to have some changes made. Unfortunately, unless the players speak up (deemed as "complaining" by some), nothing will ever change -- because why would the people who run things want it to? They're making TONS of money!

Did you play college sports?

I did. Started as a walkon (no help from parents used student loans and pell grant) then earned a scholarship (and still received pell grant). As an undersized LB that needed to gain weight I had no problem being able to pay for the food I needed to gain weight.

If I would have spent that money getting full body tattoos yeah I might have had a problem paying for food but I knew my priorities (for the record I do have a tattoo).

I have no problem with coaches making millions while players only get the scholarship money. Why? Because coaches are professionals and have advanced thus earned their way to that money. The athletes are amatuers and are RECEIVING the OPPORTUNITY to play college sports. They aren't forced to do it. If they don't want to do it they can quit anytime, take on student loans and finish school on their own.

 

[wonkadog]

Did you play college sports?

I did. Started as a walkon (no help from parents used student loans and pell grant) then earned a scholarship (and still received pell grant). As an undersized LB that needed to gain weight I had no problem being able to pay for the food I needed to gain weight.

If I would have spent that money getting full body tattoos yeah I might have had a problem paying for food but I knew my priorities (for the record I do have a tattoo).

I have no problem with coaches making millions while players only get the scholarship money. Why? Because coaches are professionals and have advanced thus earned their way to that money. The athletes are amatuers and are RECEIVING the OPPORTUNITY to play college sports. They aren't forced to do it. If they don't want to do it they can quit anytime, take on student loans and finish school on their own.

You're making way too much sense here.

 

[Skyh13]

I had two starting linemen for the football team in my Calc III class. I'm guessing they weren't there for a Phys Ed degree.

If you're responding to my comment about some players having to choose between athletics and academics, I did say that I understand it isn't the case with everyone, but that it exists:

(NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

 

[VeloClone]

If you're responding to my comment about some players having to choose between athletics and academics, I did say that I understand it isn't the case with everyone, but that it exists:

(NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

Recruits (and their parents) should make sure that the academic side of things is investigated just as rigorously as the rest of a school. If recruits make bad choices by going to programs that "guarantee" that they will keep an athlete eligible that should be a red flag that the academics are not a legitimate part of the program - rather treated as a hinderance that must be circumvented. It is reprehensible for programs to do that, but if the recruit and their family are not doing their due diligence in that part of it, then frankly, that is on them.

My unintentional wording above really hits the heart of the problem. Too many scholar-athletes are going to a program rather than going to a school. The athletic program should only be one piece of the equation.

 

[Skyh13]

Did you play college sports?

I did. Started as a walkon (no help from parents used student loans and pell grant) then earned a scholarship (and still received pell grant). As an undersized LB that needed to gain weight I had no problem being able to pay for the food I needed to gain weight.

If I would have spent that money getting full body tattoos yeah I might have had a problem paying for food but I knew my priorities (for the record I do have a tattoo).

I have no problem with coaches making millions while players only get the scholarship money. Why? Because coaches are professionals and have advanced thus earned their way to that money. The athletes are amatuers and are RECEIVING the OPPORTUNITY to play college sports. They aren't forced to do it. If they don't want to do it they can quit anytime, take on student loans and finish school on their own.

I re-read my post, and I can see it wasn't terribly clear. I mentioned "were I in that position", meaning no, I didn't not play college sports. I was barely good enough to play basketball in junior high and anybody was allowed to run cross country and track in high school.

Just to be clear, I don't get Shabazz's comments about not having food. When you know you have a certain amount of money, you should be smart and budget it. I don't disagree with that at all. By the way, I also took on loans for school and had a job on campus for money.

That being said, this thread sort of swerved from that specifically to more general things about athletes and the discussion regarding benefits outside of a scholarship and I admittedly hijacked it from there.

I have to admit, I'm a little bit surprised by your opinion. I guess my only issue is the "they aren't forced to do it" argument. As you well know, yes, people don't "have" to play college sports.. but there isn't another option if someone wants to play in the NFL, right? Maybe someday there will be, but right now there isn't and won't be any time soon.

I do want to reiterate, though.. I'm not necessarily advocating to pay a salary to players. As many have said, it would be difficult to coordinate, and smaller budget schools would be pushed aside (not that they haven't necessarily already..). I do, however, have an issue with the wrong people profiting off of the likenesses of individual players.

 

[Skyh13]

Recruits (and their parents) should make sure that the academic side of things is investigated just as rigorously as the rest of a school. If recruits make bad choices by going to programs that "guarantee" that they will keep an athlete eligible that should be a red flag that the academics are not a legitimate part of the program - rather treated as a hinderance that must be circumvented. It is reprehensible for programs to do that, but if the recruit and their family are not doing their due diligence in that part of it, then frankly, that is on them.

My unintentional wording above really hits the heart of the problem. Too many scholar-athletes are going to a program rather than going to a school. The athletic program should only be one piece of the equation.

Oh, I agree. There needs to be true minor leagues for basketball and football so that people who have no interest in school can go there and still further their careers in professional sports. Hockey and Baseball do it, Basketball and Football just need to get on board.

 

[Wesley]

D League is minor league ball.:wideeyed:
Arena ball is minor league ball.

They just do not get as much exposure.

 

[oldman]

If you're responding to my comment about some players having to choose between athletics and academics, I did say that I understand it isn't the case with everyone, but that it exists:

(NOTE: I'm not saying this is the case for everyone, but it does exist, especially for the top tier programs and recruits)

I stand corrected.