Pretty Soon, High Schoolers Will Want a Check

Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA, revealed earlier this week that the larger schools are more inclined to pay a stipend than provide student athletes with increased scholarships to cover personal expenses.  South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier has been very vocal in paying athletes as well.  Jacques Rozier, passionate supporter of college sports and the author of this blog says 'Let's just do away with the farce of "amateur" sports altogether?'  If we look at the changing of the tides, athletes in college will be getting a paycheck within the next five years.  And the main reasoning people provide is how much money the students make for the school compared to how much they need to live and survive in college.  I am sorry, but I am not sold!

College is not the end-product, and the prospect of paying athletes is not going to ensure said athletes will complete their education and graduate.  Unless the payments to those athletes match what a prospective pro career will be, they are going to constantly ask for more money.  And if colleges think there is a gap in recruiting for the big schools now, wait until you talk about which schools can pay more for a student to attend and play.

One argument is also that once the student's graduate or move on, if they do not get a pro contract, they have to settle for a job that isn't even a drop in the bucket compared to how much they made for their university.  I would be more inclined to provide the athletes with a post-education stipend to assist them while they search for a job or to help pay off student debt.  Many students who attend college rely on their parents, so they can return home while they search for a job, or if they have employment, they can use their paycheck for paying off debt as opposed to living expenses that come with the real world.  I would support this for the athletes, but to pay them to attend class?  That is quite a bit of a stretch.

College football implemented a playoff to help with some of the late season issues that come from scheduling and conference bias.  Paying athletes will defeat the purpose of ending the BCS, because these games will soon be determined well before the spring games kick off, let alone the regular season.  If I wanted to look at athletes more concerned with a paycheck than getting it done on the field, I would be a fan of the pros.  There is a reason I support and love college sports.  Perhaps I need to just go cheer on the local high school teams, before they become tainted as well.