OK, here is my 2 cents, as if anyone really cares.
College sports is a multibillion dollar enterprise that has allowed the university system to get filthy rich from sea to shining sea in America.
There is not a medium sized city in this country that does not have some sort of higher education entity in its area. Whether it be a community, state University.
These education entities are raking in big bucks off the talent of athletes. Usually basketball, football, and baseball, are the sports that rake in the big bucks.
These big bucks allow the higher education system to buy up properties at a rate far higher than the civilian sector in the areas. In Chico, where I live, Chico State University is the largest property holder in the are, just above Enloe Hospital.
These university systems use their tax free money to influence the politics in every city and town they reside in. Ever wonder why all these college towns are so liberal when the surrounding areas are conservative? Well it all goes back to the money.
We all bitch and complain about the way these so called higher education entities do more to propagandize our children to get them to vote against their parents then they do teaching them anything worth using. After all, a good 85% of college graduates never ever get a job in the field they studied in college.
So, back to the athletes. I think each and every kid who is playing any type of sports that the higher education entity is making money off, should get paid. Then, if the kid wants to go to class, let them pay for it out of their salary.
Then, we can eliminate the charade that is played and accept the fact that college Basketball, Football, and baseball, are nothing more than a minor league training system for professional sports.
This will reduce the money the university systems are making and maybe just maybe reduce the amount of money these tax exempt entities use to influence politics in cities and towns across America. Along with maybe just maybe they will discontinue teaching students propaganda and get back to educating them on how to actually get a job from what they are learning.
The get paid now - it's called a scholarship, which includes part or all of room & board, books, tuition, and tutoring (as required).
Then, if the kid wants to go to class, let them pay for it out of their salary.
So, they could play sports and not go to class??? They are called student/athletes for a reason.
Everything you said about the problem is true….I don’t agree with your solution, but it’s a very interesting post. What will happen, if the players unionize, is the entire relationship between players and fans will change….and it will not be good for college football in general.
Now, would that be the worst thing in the world? Maybe not, but it’s something no one is thinking about. If players are paid, there will be about 20-30 huge universities in a new Division One, and it will be much like a 30 team pro league. That’s about the tolerance the nation has for “pro” teams in a given sport.
Northwestern will itself become irrlelvant compared to Michigan, Ohio State, etc….in a very short time.