re: APU - where do you stand?

Sounds like the same sort of stuff unions say when they want to negotiate more benefits or higher salaries. I hate unions, btw.

Yes, the kids have a choice to play or not to play. Many of these kids probably wouldn't even go to college if they didn't get a free ride playing sports, so their prospects at a better future are improved by the mere fact that they are getting a college education (of some sort) while they play. Those that stick it out and graduate have a bigger leg-up on life than if they didn't go to school at all.

I don't buy into the Communistic argument that the players should get a share of the financial proceeds made by the university and the athletic programs just because they are helping to make the programs money. The coaches make their money because they are employees of the universities, just like the janitors and the professors. Their wages are determined by market factors, like the other positions.

Student athletes aren't getting paid because the universities don't recruit players to fill paid positions on their staff. Athletics are extracurricular activities that students can participate in while they get an education. Also, as much as people love pointing out how much universities rake in on athletics programs, the sad truth is that most programs actually lose money.

Here's an article from Friday that states that UGA had a good year, financially:

quote:

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Against the $98.9 million in revenues, the association had $86 million in operating expenses and about $9.6 million in non-operating expenses, mainly debt payments.

That left the association with a $2.2 million surplus to add to the association’s accumulated reserves.

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So with all the millions we bring in, we (a very conservative-spending program) only made just over $2 million. That sounds like a lot, but that can get spent quickly at the university level. Also, when we talk about players getting paid proportionality to the money they bring in, suddenly you're talking about deficits across the board.