re: Saban addresses question about players union...

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If the only concern is health care then why not just provide that for them if necessary? 99% of the time, kids are gonna be kids and spend that money on silly stuff. It seems naive to me to think otherwise. If one says "who cares what they do with the money" then I don't see how that individual is truly concerned about their long term health care knowing how they're going to spend the money.

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Two separate issues. They should have adequate healthcare but not in lieu of appropriate compensation meaning the scholarship model is no longer adequate in the current market of billion dollar television contracts, endorsement deals, ect. Will the players spend the money indiscriminately, yes. Do you spend every cent of your paycheck as you should, no. It's the American way so they may as well learn it early.

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As suggested above, the player is provided with a lot more than a scholarship. They're not property IMO - I think it's an equal trade. For football - they are not ready for the pros. Free education, housing, and meals aside - the university provides the instruction, mentorship (not just as a player), training, and exposure that will allow them to have a shot at the pros. That sort of training would cost a fortune if done privately, right?

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The argument that can be made here is that the NFL and NBA benefit the most from this system and if the collegiate model were to disappear they would be forced to reinvest in their developmental leagues or watch their sports become irrelevant. Many players come to college because they don't have a choice. I don't think they would be disappointed if they could be paid a couple thousand playing arena football for 3 years vs receiving a scholarship that has no value to them

I don't think players should be considered employees nor do I think they should be provided with salaries. I think full cost of attendance scholarship, NCAA athlete representation/membership, and depending on outcome of O'Bannon, some type of trust or royalties check should be awarded to players once eligibility has been exhausted. There's not going to be a perfect solution both sides will have to compromise

The kids want the best of both worlds.

They need the protection of 120+ D1 schools with amateur compensations.
But they want to be 'professionals' and paid as such even though there is no such market for 18 year olds.

Just because you think the college education is so great doesn't not mean the players feel the same. What's a Bama recruits favorite signing day line, "It's a business decision"

What do you think the ratio would be for guys who were going to school for the education or to get to the NFL? Look at the all that has happened with UNC and tell me how much we really care about athletes getting an education

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If they ever did start paying, the NCAA would have access to the players financial info. They would be able to use that to help catch cheating. Plus the IRS would look harder at what players got. The top players that get "paid" now, would to be worse off.

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You know who else's financial info the IRS would have access to? THE NCAA's whose currently considered a non-profit and therefore receives their billions tax exempt.

You guys aren't thinking this thing all the way thru

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How would the collegiate model disappear?

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I based that off the reactionary statements from many that schools should eliminate football and basketball rather than pay athletes

I don't have a solution for all D-1 schools paying athletes because the current rate of spending is likely unsustainable. For even the schools that are making a profit. Alabama could eventually be paying Saban 10 million per year to coach football. Now is the time for the NCAA and member institutions to come up with a realistic plan to appease "student" athletes and find what shreds of their dignity that still remains

I just don't like people saying NO! without at least considering all sides

You can't perform a cost-benefit analysis with only tangible numbers. That's not what Saban is saying.

How much money is Saban willing to give up to pay for the medical bills of his players?

Doesn't Saban have an $11 million vacation house, paid for by the work of college students?

Heis referencing the ncaa rules.

Bama has the money and would.
But there are only a handful of programs in that position.
And that is why the 2k stipend didn't pass in the ncaa.

If we were to pay them, I assume it would be contract based. If it is a 4 year contract, how much would most players actually get as unproven talent?

If it is less time than that can they be kicked out of school or I guess have their scholarship pulled.

If we are going to pay the student athletes as employees do they even have to go to school anymore or be enrolled to play football?

As employees do they pay taxes on their scholarship and other benefits?

Really just an enormously complex issue that is going to take forever to sort through everything once the ball gets rolling, as it appears to have.