OT: Channing Crowder comes out and basically says he sold his jerseys in college
Not too sure why ... but it seems like other athletes feel sympathy for Terrelle Pryor, and they feel they need to come clean themselves. In an interview today Channing Crowder came out and said he "hypothetically" sold his jerseys in college.
"I'll say hypothetically I don't have any more of my Florida jerseys," Crowder said Sunday. "There were some Jacksonville businessmen that really hypothetically liked my play."
Why come out and sell yourself out over things like this that are NCAA violations, and which also throw your alma mater into the spotlight.
Does this open the door to an NCAA investigation into Florida's program?
It'll be interesting to see what other players come clean on things that went on while they were in college.
Either way ... Ohio State is under the gun mainly for Tressel and his cover up, so none of this nonsense keeps the heat off Ohio State.
Link: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/15272092/dolphins-lb-cro…
On the mobile app the title only says 'Channing Crowder comes out' and I was like whaaaaa?
Not that there's anything wrong with that....
and I thought really...then after considering it a moment I wasn't all that surprised. Then I got to read the whole title.
Could have hyothetically sold them after his eligibility?
Maybe I'm a sap, but I could never see selling a jersey if I made it to big time college sports. Same goes for rings and any other trinkets. That stuff would be priceless to me.
Honestly I don't see the appeal in keeping a million jerseys. I would definitely keep rings/trophies, but I don't know what I would do with four different bowl uniforms and another dozen from regular season games, even if I wanted to dedicate a "justingoblue room" in my house.
Probably because they want the rule changed and it won't get changed until a critical mass comes out against it. We all have to keep in mind that the prohibition against selling one's own property is only wrong because the NCAA says so. They still broke the rules, but the rules could get overturned in our lifetime. There are fair arguments both for and against that happening.
That doesn't diminish the OSU scandal. I keep saying, the worst offense in that whole soap opera was not players making money. It was a coach shaming himself and destroying his public image by lying to multiple authorities multiple times. You just can't do that as a paid employee. It's probably rule no. 1.
Rule number one is, "Don't get high off your own supply."
you assume that this was his personal property. I suspect it belonged to the People of the great State of Florida. Second, a rule against profiting as a football player is a good rule. Joe Six pack cannot get the same deal.
This doesn't open Florida up to an investigation.
I think athletes feel sympathy because NCAA rules are arbitrary and because they understand what it's like to not have much money while their coaches become millionaires and thousands of people spend huge amounts of money to watch them play. Michigan can cover every single athlete's scholarship (all sports) just off of TV money. I feel some empathy.
I think biakabatuka experience has a good point about athletes wanting to see rules changed too.
I get so sick of this damn argument. Not specifically at what you posted, but the idea that these guys can't wait 3-4 years to make their damn money.
The guys are poor in college? What the hell is unique about that? Get a damn job or take out a student loan (if that is allowed when on athletic scholarship). How many people do any of us know that are loaded with cash while at university? These guys already get their education paid for which is more than can be said for many students. The university is giving them an education and a platform to showcase their abilities so that one day they can make millions of dollars playing a sport. I think universities do enough for these athletes without paying them to play as well.
I went to school for 12 years to become a cardiologist and only a very short amount of that time did I get paid (and it wasn't the salary a Dr. gets either). I got some scholarships, but had to pay a lot out of pocket as well. I would argue that Dr.'s have a far more important role in society than football players but I don't hear the outrage about them graduating with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to pay back.
I'm sorry, but I find this whole debate sickening. Put your 3-4 damn years in living like most people do while in college. Who knows, it might build a little character and teach them something about the value of money so they aren't broke two years after retirement.
/rant
I agree one hundred percent. I ripped this off the school website:
| Tuition & Fees* | Books & Supplies | Room & Board** | Personal & Miscellaneous | Total Budget | ||
| Michigan Residents (In-State) | ||||||
|
LOWER DIVISION (Freshmen/Sophomores) |
$11,837 | $1,048 | $9,192 | $2,090 | $24,167 | |
|
UPPER DIVISION (Juniors/Seniors) |
$13,343 | $1,048 | $9,192 | $2,090 | $25,673 | |
| GRADUATE STUDENTS | $17,973 | $1,192 | $12,114 | $4,142 | $35,421 | |
| Nonresidents (Out-of-State) | ||||||
|
LOWER DIVISION (Freshmen/Sophomores) |
$36,001 | $1,048 | $9,192 | $2,090 | $48,331 | |
|
UPPER DIVISION (Juniors/Seniors) |
$38,529 | $1,048 | $9,192 | $2,090 | $50,859 | |
| GRADUATE STUDENTS | $36,133 | $1,192 | $12,114 | $4,142 | $53,581 | |
You can see that the out of state players are paid almost $50,000 a year for their sports internship (because that's what it is). I don't see why this is an issue at all.
While it might come across as a grumpy old man (which I guess I am), I feel the same way. These guys get to leave college without a bunch of outstanding student loans which is worth way more than a few jerseys. Yes, they have demands of their time due to the sport they play, but also get tutoring and other support to help them manage. When you factor in those benefits, I would make that trade between a scholarship athlete or normal student without giving it any thought.
How much value did you, or I, create for the University/AD while there? I'm going to guess not much. If I'm wrong feel free to correct me. The argument isn't that they can't wait 3-4 years to make their money (if they can even make the NFL), it's that the value they create/are worth/whatever you want to call it, is greater than their compensation. Personally, I say let athletes market themselves--schools don't need to pay them but they should be free to make money in a legal way.
I am going to wager that what I (and thousands of other medical students around North America) did for our Universities was more than "not much". We essentially ran the hospital affiliated with our university. Of course we had Dr.'s overseeing us, but it was the interns and residents that made that hospital run.
Also, your point about "if they make it" is ridiculous. They choose to take this route and if they aren't the calibre to "make it" they should be making damn good use of the free education they are getting on the side.
Finally, so what if the value they create is worth more than what they are getting (at the present time). Lets not forget that the ones that make the pro's will be making far more than playing a sport is worth. I would argue that what I (and so many other health care professionals) do is worth more than what I make as well, and that is after spending 12 years in university. I'm not trying to brag in the least, there are many jobs out there that genuinely make a difference in peoples lives, but I can tell you in all honesty that I (along with the nursing staff on duty at various time) have actually saved peoples lives. What is that worth to a person? What is it worth to society?
You (and all others that share your viewpoint) can argue this until you are blue in the face but it won't change my mind in the least. These guys are given what many people can only dream of and it is given to them for free. If they can't appreciate that, make the most of their free education and do that while living like most other college students do (I would bet better than most college students do in all honesty) then I can't say I have a lot of sympathy for them.
It is 3-4 years that they have to live like real people in exchange for making millions for playing a sport. If they aren't fortunate enough to make the league, they got a free education that most other people pay good money for and should have something to fall back on if they take advantage of the situation. That sounds like a sweet damn deal to me.
Paragraph 1--We're talking about undergrads, not medical/grad students. Pointless argument there.
Paragraph 2--Let's be honest, how many of these guys, especially in basketball/football, would get into these schools without athletics. Not many. Most of the time, they're in over their heads in SportsComm or some BS major they get steered towards so they can stay eligible. UM might not be as bad as other schools but it happens everywhere.
Again it's not free. It's not like Universities are giving them scholarships out of the goodness of their hearts. They underwrite the other scholarship sports. They do a lot and bring in a lot of money for the University. Agree to disagree I suppose. College athletics, mostly football and basketball, is a big time, multi-billion business now. That's reality. It's not the fantasy land of catching touchdowns on Saturdays and curing cancer on Monday.
I get this whole argument. I do. But where's all this contempt coming from? You seem to be arguing that if one dumb kid sells an old jersey while he's still in school, he's a morally bankrupt jackass who doesn't appreciate his free education. Not buying that.
You can appreciate the hell out of your scholarship and still hate feeling broke.
How much value did Justin Turner create for the University/AD? More than $50,000 per year?
I think you could further argue that paying players would have the effect of minimizing the importance of the degree to the players. In my view, too many kids are fed the NFL dream as their one and only path (SEC, cough). It seems that hammering at how fortunate they are to be able to get a free degree would make it more golden to the kids and better position them for success in the non-football career most will be working in.
I get what you are saying.
But I think we're just talking about having some measure of understanding for an athlete who parts with a jersey for some cash.
I think back to some of the stupid-ass decisions I made in college. It makes it hard for me to come down too hard on a kid who, say, is feeling broke, has no family financial safety net, owns a dispensible piece of clothing, and meets rich older guy who really wants it and is willing to throw a couple hundred bucks at him for it. Especially when there is reasonable expectation that no one will find out he broke a rule he might think is dumb anyway.
I get that it's a rule, and agree that he shouldn't have sold it. But the fact that he did? Does it mean he lacks character, doesn't appreciate his scholarship, doesn't understand the value of money, doesn't get the concept of deferred rewards? Not necessarily, IMO.
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Inconceivable?
Irregardless
Perhaps you should enlighten us.
He played for UF in 2003 and 2004, well beyond the statute of limitations.
I like this whole trend, though. It might piss off the NCAA so much that they decide douchey punishments aren't making anyone afraid of them, and let Ohio have what they deserve.
I hope Ryan Mallet doesn't come out and say he sold his equipment while at Michigan.
He smoked it
good comedy. Thanks for the laugh.
Ryan Mallet Trades Jerseys for Meth and weed, get your facts straight!
Most of the the ncaa rules are to maintain a level playing field not only between university's but also between sports. A signed football jersey from a star player could go for alot of money where as a signed curling stick from colleges greatest ever curler would prolly go for $2.50 and a whopper.
I don't think I could sell my trophy's and jerseys , but I wouldn't keep the jerseys. I give my game jerseys to hot girls or little kids in the stands.
I would go as high as $2.50 and 3 whoppers. Maybe even through in some coupons.