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On Paying College Football Players.

Posted on 9/9/15 at 6:34 am
Posted by Coeur du Tigre
It was just outside of Barstow...
Member since Nov 2008
1486 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 6:34 am
Ok, while we wait for Saturday, here's a piece on growing up poor and paying college football players. Can't make the connection? Read it. It's the best piece of writing you'll see in a long time.
quote:

"I can't explain what it is, but something in you, once you're convinced of your own broke-ness, believes in nothing but that. I didn't have a fraction of what real, survival-level, street poverty inflicted on people -- the real physical danger, the effects on health and cognitive development, the lifelong scars -- but I did and always will have the sense of being totally and completely alien from the concept of security, of stability, of deserving anything.

---

To extend that point to its logical conclusion: Either what is going on is a vast confusion of what constitutes capital, or it is theft from every single football player that plays this stupid game to enrich a coach, athletic director, and the university. This is a system that willfully commits one of the greatest insults possible: making someone poorer, and then claiming that poverty as a necessary, virtuous and good thing.

That's a lie, and anyone who's even been broke for a short time knows it. Pay them. Pay them their goddamned money."

This post was edited on 9/9/15 at 6:42 am
Posted by chattabama
12essee
Member since Jun 2012
19315 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 6:45 am to
quote:

Pay them their goddamned money


Agreed. I'm glad that the University of Alabama is ahead of the curve in this social issue.
Posted by Crimson Legend
Mount St Gumpus
Member since Nov 2004
15478 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 6:47 am to
quote:

Agreed. I'm glad that the University of Alabama is ahead of the curve in this social issue.

Brilliant. You beat me to it.
Posted by allin2010
Auburn
Member since Aug 2011
18150 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 6:54 am to
To defend Alabama, they let Auburn set the market and then beat it.
Posted by logjamming
Member since Feb 2014
7823 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 7:08 am to
quote:

This is a system that willfully commits one of the greatest insults possible: making someone poorer, and then claiming that poverty as a necessary, virtuous and good thing.


So he claims that he grew up on a fraction of a livable amount of money. A school gave him food, housing, education, clothes, stipends, etc. and he is now poorer? Hmmm...


quote:

I didn't have a fraction of what real, survival-level, street poverty inflicted on people


The argument shouldn't center around one individual, or many individual's personal situation. So we should give you money because you grew up poor? Why not give kids raised in poverty more money as a starting salary at any job based on this argument.


I've seen how the athletes are treated at SEC schools. Sorry, no sympathy. You want to get paid, go get a job, or spend your own resources for three years of training, nutritionists, PT, housing, etc. and then see how you fare in the draft.
Posted by pvilleguru
Member since Jun 2009
60453 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 7:19 am to
quote:

Pay them their goddamned money
Posted by victoire sécurisé
Member since Nov 2012
4819 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 7:21 am to
quote:

spend your own resources for three years of training, nutritionists, PT, housing, etc. and then see how you fare in the draft.


This MIGHT be an alternative if the NFL and NCAA weren't involved in illegat collusion to squeeze out any competition that could provide this alternative.

You'll see this argument play out in court now that O'Bannon's case has lifted the shroud of "amateurism."
Posted by Coeur du Tigre
It was just outside of Barstow...
Member since Nov 2008
1486 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 7:30 am to
I've got no dog in this fight, if I did I might mention the name Curt Flood... I just wanted to point out a nice piece of writing. Same guy wrote this. Don't read it if you own a dog.
Posted by RD Dawg
Atlanta
Member since Sep 2012
27297 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 7:54 am to
Whos stopping anybody from starting up an alternative to either?

USFL and the XFL both tried and failed.The CFL is still viable.

There are several semi pro leagues all over the country.

Collusion arguement is nonsense.
Posted by Tridentds
Sugar Land
Member since Aug 2011
20349 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 7:56 am to
Don't like the idea.

They are all going to want Ole Miss type of money.

Posted by Crimson Legend
Mount St Gumpus
Member since Nov 2004
15478 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 8:05 am to
quote:

Don't like the idea.

They are all going to want Ole Miss type of money.


Are we still able to print confederate money? There may not be enough left for the whole league.
Posted by tylerdurden24
Member since Sep 2009
46421 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:30 am to
quote:

So he claims that he grew up on a fraction of a livable amount of money. A school gave him food, housing, education, clothes, stipends, etc. and he is now poorer? Hmmm...


For a finite period and without advancing their skills beyond preparing them for the world's greatest temp job as a professional athlete.

I have always held the opinion that things have to change and they can do so in two ways:

1.) (and this is what I personally prefer) Universities and the NCAA can actually make good on the opportunities and degrees they offer to student-athletes as fair compensation for their play on the fields. Instead, players are actively encouraged to participate in "easy" majors in order to maintain eligibility and are all but shut out from networking opportunities necessary for advancement in a given career beyond college. As it stand, NCAA rules prohibit students from networking due to interaction with boosters and because of the time constraints placed on student schedules for practice and academic support. Universities, as well, are failing not only the student-athletes but the general student population as well by failing to make a serious financial effort and return on the investment students put in via their tuition. A third party to this clusterfrick is the NFL in that they have the power but lack the conviction to restrict players from entering the draft until they have obtained a 4-year degree. As it stands, the "fair" compensation for a student's play is a college degree and yet a large percentage fail to ever obtain that degree. It's a broken system but I doubt it gets fixed due to the interests of the three main parties involved, so...

2.) Pay them via a trust. Build them a nest egg of sorts that accumulates a set amount that factors in a base pay rate dished out per year that they remain at the university and their use in promotions for the school. Some players will leave with a larger trust than others waiting for them when they get out but I think that's fair given the exposure that individual provides and the amount of time they remain as an athlete and student at the school. Furthermore, have students participate in required financial literacy courses operated through a Continuing Education program or through a school's academic support unit. A lot of teams already do this, but make completion of the program a condition in order for students to access their trust upon leaving the school.
Posted by Crimson Legend
Mount St Gumpus
Member since Nov 2004
15478 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:38 am to
quote:

Pay them their goddamned money


LINK
Posted by pvilleguru
Member since Jun 2009
60453 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:42 am to
Or, you know, just let them make money off their name.
Posted by StopRobot
Mobile, AL
Member since May 2013
15384 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:46 am to
quote:

Pay them their goddamned money."


Don't play goddamned college football if you think you are not getting what you deserve. You can walk away and go earn as much money as you like waiting to get drafted by the NFL, playing in Canada or doing something completely different
Posted by scrooster
Resident Ethicist
Member since Jul 2012
37595 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:50 am to
quote:

To defend Alabama, they let Auburn set the market and then beat it.


Monty Means vs Cammy Newton payments?

I dunno, you sure about that?

I think Cammy might have gotten more.
Posted by 5thTiger
Member since Nov 2014
7996 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:51 am to
quote:

spend your own resources for three years of training, nutritionists, PT, housing, etc. and then see how you fare in the draft.


This. Take away scholarships and pay them minimum wage like other student workers. Make them pay for everything. Then we will see how many are complaining.

No one forced them to go to college. It isn't a requirement for the NFL. If they don't like it, don't go to college. Simple.

Although. They should be able to trademark stuff, make money off their likeness, things like that.

Universities and the NCAA don't hold rights on your life.
Posted by Hardy_Har
MS
Member since Nov 2012
16285 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:53 am to
quote:

Pay Tunsil his goddamned money
Posted by SoFla Tideroller
South Florida
Member since Apr 2010
30038 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:55 am to
I can't wait for the IRS to show up once the pay starts flowing. Nevermind the mountainous Title IX issues to be dealt with.

Plus, I wonder if these geniuses have thought out the long-term ramifications of what they're asking for. Once they are termed employees, then they can be terminated at any time. Fumble three times and cost your team a conference title? Here's your pink slip, son. Shooting 38% from the free throw line? Clean out your locker. You want to put a definitive dollar value on your services? Then live with all that comes with it.

Also, if I'm a major university, part of my contract with these athletes (since it is no longer a scholarship) is to charge them for al the professional services the athlete receives during is stay at State U. "For room, board, medical services, professional development (coaching), access to training facilities; the undersigned agrees to repay State University 5% of all future earnings in the professional ranks of the sport at which Undersigned competed here at State U."

Bet that might cool their jets a tad.


ETA: Above already beat me to it
This post was edited on 9/9/15 at 9:56 am
Posted by bgator85
Sarasota
Member since Aug 2007
6021 posts
Posted on 9/9/15 at 9:55 am to
How are we supposed to determine how much to pay college football players? Outside of jersey sales, how do we know how much revenue they are responsible for generating?

The Florida Gators is a top revenue producer because it is a powerful brand supported by one of the country's largest universities with a huge fanbase and alumni network. Are the athletes owed more than they already receive in value from athletic departments? I don't know. I believe they should be paid for their likeness, but don't support anything beyond that.
This post was edited on 9/9/15 at 10:20 am
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