Free labor is slavery. Education? Let the other students pay for it. I would agree with you 100% back in the 80’s but in 30 years time the tables have turned-no equal transaction here. There’s the 1% who make it as pros. 25 scholarships/yr I believe. NFL gets a free minor league system out of it. 18 year olds unable to make a living in the free world. It leads to the draft-a showcase of black athletes with their crying mamas showing they have family values stability. WE could go on.
What? Only black athletes are showcased? Only black kids are poor?
The education they receive for free with ‘laundry money’ & now with names, image and likeness pay many will get thousands,some millions, in income from their ‘online businesses’, social media accounts & several other ways to get paid.
The education alone is worth what people pay for it.
That is upwards of $50,000 per year for tuition, room & board. five year red shirt can make the equivelant of $250,000 in education room & board alone over a five year college career. Most athletes don’t ‘pay back’ through play the money they take in scholarship. Those that do are in one of the elite college programs & are top athletes in those.
All an elite college athlete has to do is keep their nose clean & follow the rules & they will be more than taken care of by the university after their career, even if they don’t make it to the NFL.
They also can & should get a quality degree as part of the bargain. The smart ones do.