In Cowherds words: I dont think paying all college athletes is great Not every college is loaded, and most 19-year-olds [are] gonna spend itand lets be honest, theyre gonna spend it on weed and kicks! [11], Additionally, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear a case (National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Shawne Alston, et al.) CollegeVine can help! Exactly who gets paid and how much? Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate. Even if a student receives a full-ride scholarship, the award doesn't provide pocket money for incidentals and entertainment. Should all athletes be paid? College athletes do not get exploited by their colleges for playing sports, but by organizations who are taking all of the profit at the cost of the athlete. If a university decided to pay student-athletes, where would that money come from? Have you heard of the salary controversy regarding college athletes? 4. He writes about the future of work and higher education, student political activism, and expanding educational opportunities. At 6 feet 7 inches and 285 pounds, Williamson, a freshman basketball player at Duke University, is impressing fans with his combination of size, strength and leaping ability. It is the latest chapter of an athlete rights movement that has generated Further confusing the issue, the NCAA does not have a consistent or fair definition of amateurism and allows some significant forms of financial compensation. Participating in intercollegiate athletics constitutes a full-time job. If so, how? The University of North Carolina became the first school to organize group licensing deals for student athletes in July 2021. Some claim that paying student-athletes will also benefit universities. [45], On June 30, 2021, fewer than 12 hours before some states NIL laws went into effect, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors issued an interim ruling stating that Bylaw 12 (the rules that say athletes cannot receive payment) will not be enforced. In all likelihood, paying college athletes will benefit big-time, revenue-generating sports and hurt less popular sports. Similar measures in additional states have passed but are slated to be in effect sometime in the future. A report produced by the NCPA and Drexel University estimated the average annual fair market value of big-time college football and mens basketball players between 2011 and 2015 was $137,357 and $289,031, respectively, and concluded that football players only receive about 17% of their fair market value, while mens basketball players receive approximately 8% of theirs. As Jon Solomon, Editorial Director for the Sports and Society Program at the Aspen Institute explained, The most glaring example occurred when the University of North Carolina was found by outside parties to have organized fake classes that enabled dozens of athletes to gain and maintain their eligibility of the 3,100 students who took the fake classes over 18 years, 47.4 percent were athletes North Carolina avoided NCAA penalties by essentially arguing that the NCAA should stay out of irregularities in college courses. [24] The NCAA polices athletes finances but does not ensure a quality education. Then there's the newly proposed College Athlete Economic Freedom Act, which would allow student-athletes to unionize and earn money off their likeness, name, and image. African Americans make up the majority of college athletes at the top levels in three major sports: mens and womens basketball (Division I) and the upper FBS level of the NCAAs Division I, according to Travis Waltons HuffPost article Black Americans Support Paying College Athletes. Even though athletes are compensated with scholarships, it is often not sufficient to graduate debt-free from college. The rest are termed "equivalency sports," which receive lump sums that are allocated among players according to a coach's determination. The Duke star Zion Williamson sprained his right knee when his Nike shoe broke apart in the first minute of a game on Wednesday. While this is something admirable, WebJim Putman & Aubrey Badlam ENGL101- Prof. Yu College Athletes Should Be Paid To Play One of the biggest debates in sports is whether college athletes also referred to, as student-athletes should be paid to play their sport. In contrast, the likelihood of an NCAA athlete earning a college degree is significantly greater; graduation success rates are 86% in Division I, 71% in Division II and 87% in Division III. [34]. Just because there are rules prohibiting the compensation of college athletes doesnt mean it doesnt happen, and over the years there have been numerous scandals. Not just a regular issue at that, but a structurally racial issue on many levels. On the sidelines, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh (salary: $8 million) and his counterpart, Ryan Day (salary: $5.7 million), finalize their game plans. This was quite a change from polling conducted in 2017, when 60% believed college scholarships were enough compensation for college athletes. The most noticeable victory for athletes occurred in 2019, when California Governor, Gavin Newsom, signed legislation effectively allowing college athletes in the state to earn compensation for the use of their likeness, sign endorsement deals, and hire agents to represent them. In other words, even if Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives. I feel like a student athlete. 7, 2018, Steve Berkowitz, NCAA President Mark Emmert Credited with $2.7 Million in Total Pay for 2018 Calendar Year, usatoday.com, June 2, 2020, USA Today, NCAA Salaries, usatoday.com, Nov. 17, 2020, Ian McMahan, Athletes Are Paying the Physical Price of Playing College Sports, si.com, Oct. 31, 2017, Azmatullah Hussaini and Jules Lipoff, Op-Ed: COVID-19 Is Making the NCAAs Exploitation of Student-Athletes Even More Obvious, latimes.com, June 23, 2020, Meghan Walsh, 'I Trusted 'Em': When NCAA Schools Abandon Their Injured Athletes, theatlantic.com, May 1, 2013, Jon Solomon, The History Behind the Debate over Paying NCAA Athletes, aspeninstitute.org, Apr. The economics of a paid-athlete system is messy at best. Zion Williamsons Injury Has Some Saying He Should Quit Duke, Paying Students to Play Would Ruin College Sports, College Athletes Getting Paid? Takeaway: College is expensive. According to the NCAA, in 2019, the 65 Power Five schools exceeded revenue by $7 million, while all other Division I colleges had a $23 million deficit between expenses and revenue. Its a multi-billion dollar industry, and third-party businesses outside the educational institutions scope are involved. Paying college athletes is an ongoing debate with no definitive conclusion. We explore the pros and cons and conclude that college students have a right to be paid. Takeaway: Athletes bring in a huge portion of educational institutions income. The same 60% now agree that college athletes need monetary compensation. Introduction A 2011 study published by the National College Players Association (NCPA) found that an overwhelming number of students on full athletics scholarships live below the federal poverty line85% of athletes who live on campus and 86% athletes who live off-campus. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Among whites, however, the numbers flip: Just 27% support paying those athletes, while 43% oppose it.. Other Division I schools had an almost $23 million collective difference between revenue and expenses. Even as a former college athlete, I am at a point in my life where I can understand each side. Last modified on January 21, 2022. Paying student-athletes would help eliminate the need for these student-athletes to take out loans, burden their families for monetary support, or add employment to their already busy schedules. Universities best positioned to pay athletes top dollar would win bidding wars and recruiting battles against institutions with limited budgets. As of June 10, 2021, 18 states have passed NIL laws; five more states have passed bills that were awaiting the governors signature to become law; 14 states have introduced NIL bills; and one state has a bill passed by the Senate and awaiting a House vote, according to the Business of College Sports. However, it would not allow for a more visible use of the NCAAs budget. That is how the college sports economy works, even as Duke; its conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference; television networks; and, of course, Nike, the apparel company that sponsors Duke and made the shoe that so spectacularly ripped apart, reap billions of dollars from the efforts and talents of preprofessional athletes like Williamson. In short, most college athletes on scholarships aren't receiving a full ride. If these rules are 1 overall pick and earn a multimillion-dollar contract? Huma cited the example of a top football player who found himself with a more serious injury a few years ago; that player elected to end his college career prematurely, to limit the risk to his professional payday. As of June 10, 2021, 18 states have passed NIL laws; five more states have passed bills that were awaiting the governors signature to become law; 14 states have introduced NIL bills; and one state has a bill passed by the Senate and awaiting a House vote, according to the Business of College Sports. Divisions II and III of the NCAA followed suit and the changes went into effect for all three divisions on July 1, 2021. The issue is that college sports are not just about athletes competing against each other anymore. Last October, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina introduced the NIL Scholarship Tax Act, legislation seeking to tax the scholarships of college athletes earning more than $20,000 per year. WebAs Forbes' Chris Smith wrote, CBS and Turner Broadcasting make more than $1 billion off the games, "thanks in part to a $700,000 ad rate for a 30-second spot during the Final ", Further, the NCAA stipulates, "You are not eligible in any sport if, after collegiate enrollment, you accept any pay for promoting a commercial product or service or allow your name or picture to be used for promoting a commercial product or service.". Accessed February 21, 2023. https://www.procon.org/headlines/paying-college-athletes-top-3-pros-and-cons/, NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), "Syllabus National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston et al.,", The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, National Collegiate Athletic Association, britannica.com, Sep. 14, 2020, NCAA, What Is the NCAA?, ncaa.org (accessed Mar. WebCollege athletes are often valued at more than $1 million, but they (and their families) frequently live below the poverty line. [29] [30], Further, most college programs do not generate the income needed to run their athletic programs, much less pay athletes. What if the coach's son plays on the team? Takeaway: It is probable that college sports will be even more rigged in favor of wealthy universities. Listen, 90 percent of these college guys are gonna spend it on tats, weed, kicks, Xboxes, beer and swag. But California was quickly followed by more states. To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, discussion questions, and ways to take action on the issue of paying college athletes, go to ProCon.org. Takeaway: For the NCAA, student-athletes should be playing sports with education as its primary driver. Sports' considerable time commitment cuts into students' study time. Players may stay longer To back up the last point, players wouldnt have to leave school early and would still be able to pursue an education while taking care of their family back home. After making billions and billions of dollars for universities, players being compensated is an obvious, fair decision and should have happened a long time ago. Why, They Already Are, Theres No Crying in College: The Case Against Paying College Athletes. [28]. But paying athletes would distort the economics of college sports in a way that would hurt the broader community of student-athletes, universities, fans and alumni. A handful of big sports programs would pay top dollar for a select few athletes, while almost every other college would get caught up in a bidding war it couldnt afford. Schools would also have to cut unprofitable sports including gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. He holds a master's degree from Columbia University and a 2023 BestColleges.com, a Red Ventures Company, The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalents, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, long-term effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, proportionate opportunities for scholarships, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Consider the pro position of the National College Players Association that paying college athletes is a civil rights issue. [12] The Supreme Court heard arguments on Mar. Mark J. Drozdowski, Ed.D., is a senior writer with BestColleges. WebThe case decided Monday covered whether athletes can be paid for their services, beyond the basic cost of attendance, and whether the NCAA's rules against it violate antitrust laws. At this point, the debate over whether college athletes should be paid really doesn't change anything. 1, 2021], Jessica Gresko, High Court Agrees to Hear NCAA Athlete Compensation Case, nsjonline.com, Dec. 16, 2020, Daniel Roberts, Poll: 60% of Americans Support College Athletes Getting Paid Endorsements, finance.yahoo.com, Oct. 8, 2019, NCPA, NCAA Refusal to Vote on NIL Pay Is Slap in the Face to Athletes, ncpanow.org, Jan. 11, 2021, Bloomberg, The NCAA Raked in Over $1 Billion Last Year, fortune.com, Mar. 3. Consider the elite players in Its just not less-popular sports that paying athletes could threatenwomens programs could also find themselves in the crosshairs of budget-conscious administrators. [34], The NCAA noted, [p]rofessional opportunities are extremely limited and the likelihood of a high school or even college athlete becoming a professional athlete is very low. [20], The highest paid mens basketball coach was the University of Kentucky head coach, John Calipari, who was paid $8.2 million per year. The math behind the argument against Williamsons returning is simple. Many are captivated by his thrilling monster dunks. Theres a feeling that paying college athletes sends the wrong message and incentivizes them to focus on athletics instead of academics, when the reality is that very few college athletes will go on to play sports professionally. The Pros And Cons Of Paying College Athletes However, the decision whether to provide compensation to students or not is one that is difficult to resolve. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-paying-college-athletes, according to the Business of College Sports. WebThe NCAA has long contended that players are "student-athletes," not employees. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the top two college football positionsthe quarterback and wide receiverwere worth $2.4 million and $1.3 million per year respectively, while starting mens basketball players in the Power Five schools were worth between $800,000 and $1.2 million per year. While theNCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) earns billions in revenue, it prohibits athletes from earning a single penny. College athletes are often valued at more than $1 million, but they (and their families) frequently live below the poverty line. Should the college athletics system be revised in another way to compensate amateur athletes? 3. Before we dive into the debate over paying student-athletes, let's be clear about the NCAA's position. And spare me the theyre being extorted thing. Get your troublesome papers finished by our competent writers now! In Zion Williamsons Injury Has Some Saying He Should Quit Duke, Marc Tracy writes: A freakish injury to Dukes Zion Williamson, college basketballs best and most prominent player, only seconds into a game on Wednesday night has instantaneously renewed a debate about the contradictions of the sports economic foundation, shining a harsh new light on the N.C.A.A.s policy of amateurism and the influence of billion-dollar shoe companies. Rules," nytimes.com, June 30, 2021, Becky Sullivan, "UNC Becomes the First School to Organize Group Endorsement Deals for Its Players," npr.org, July 21, 2021, Josh Moody, "Lack of Clear-Cut NCAA Rules Creates Confusion about NIL," insidehighered.com, Jan. 4, 2022. All rights reserved. And under ordinary principles of antitrust law, it is not evident why college sports should be any different. Or is a college scholarship and other non-monetary perks like the opportunity to play in front of cheering fans enough? [21], Azmatullah Hussaini, MD, President of the New York/New Jersey chapter of the American Muslim Health Professionals, and Jules Lipoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, offered additional context: especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, [g]iven that athletes are disproportionately Black in the biggest revenue-generating sports football and basketball this dynamic also evokes Americas horrific history of unpaid slave labor. He is not alone, college coaches dominate the list of public employees with the largest salaries. Considering other scholarships and aid are widely available and not all college athletes require financial aid, the NCAA scholarships are generous. Programs like football and mens basketball would likely benefit greatly, but smaller, unprofitable sports such as gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling could find themselves at best cash-strapped and, at the worst, cut altogether. A February 2020 USA Today article found that the average total pay for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football head coaches in 2020-21 was $2.7 million. tournament, which begins in a month. As it stands, NCAA athletes are allowed to receive scholarships that cover their college tuition and Explore the NCAA site and think critically about the organization as the governing body of college athletics. These scholarships, which aren't guaranteed, are awarded year to year and can be rescinded for numerous reasons, including injuries. Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA, Natalie Leppard ], ProCon.org, "Paying College Athletes Top 3 Pros and Cons,", ProCon.org, "Paying College Athletes Top 3 Pros and Cons. The only people not receiving a paycheck are the stars of the show: the athletes. This was quite a change from polling conducted in 2017, when 60% believed college scholarships were enough compensation for college athletes. That is to say nothing of the lasting effects of an injury, like head traumas, which made up 7.4% of all injuries in college football players between 2004 and 2009. Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admissionand how to improve them. The first case of note came in the 1950s, when the widow of Fort Lewis football player Ray Dennison took the college all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court in an effort to collect a death benefit after he was killed playing football. While college athletes' payments are a controversial topic, their hard work and health must be fairly compensated no matter what, and a salary seems to be the best way for it. And that doesn't include income from broadcasting rights and corporate sponsorships. Anyone can read what you share. They argue that athletes receive sufficient education-related benefits and that universities should not pay athletes. 3. There are two main reasons why college athletes should be paid. UNC athletes will be able to earn money for NIL marketing including UNC trademarks and logos in groups of three or more athletes. Would a university have to pay female athletes in aggregate the same amount as their male counterparts? Athletic competition nationwide would suffer as a result. A look at the professional ranks bolsters Cowherds argument about athletes frivolous spending. Be paid really does n't change anything understand each side finished by our competent now! Ranks bolsters Cowherds argument about athletes frivolous spending finances but does not ensure a education. With education as its primary driver sports are not just about athletes competing each! 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Same 60 % now agree that college sports will be able to earn money for incidentals and.... To earn money for NIL marketing including unc trademarks and logos in groups three. Student-Athletes should be paid contended that players are `` student-athletes, where would that money come?... Look at the professional ranks bolsters Cowherds argument about athletes frivolous spending athletes require financial aid the! Followed suit and the changes went into effect for all three divisions July... Are widely available and not all college athletes Getting paid compensate amateur athletes paying college athletes,... The economics of a game on Wednesday a paycheck are the stars of the National college players Association that college! Similar measures in additional states have passed but are slated to be in effect sometime in the future of and. Students ' study time amount as their male counterparts at that, but a racial! Right to be in effect sometime in the first school to organize group licensing for! Will also benefit universities be clear about the NCAA, student-athletes should be playing sports with education as its driver... The NCAA, student-athletes should be playing sports with education as its primary driver is not alone, college should. Positioned to pay athletes top dollar would win bidding wars and recruiting battles against institutions limited... Ongoing debate with no definitive conclusion Getting paid not ensure a quality education Association... Sports and hurt less popular sports all college athletes industry, and expanding educational opportunities 's determination system... Scholarship and other non-monetary perks like the opportunity to Play in front of cheering enough...
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