Players are organizing to protest the NCAA
September 22nd, 2013 at 2:37 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 2:56 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 3:25 AM ^
No shit. With the problem so many have in this country with student debt, I am sick and tired of hearing about the plight of these players. They are receiving substantially more in the form of tuition, room and board (if they live in the dorms), food, and tutoring than they would if they tried to get a job out of high school (they made a choice to go to college and play football rather than getting a job and making money, just as every other college student does. Admittedly, regular college student can get a part time job, but that generally is to pay for stuff that players either get from the university or can pay for through Pell Grants). Not to mention the massive improvement in earning potential they will get by graduating from college. The NCAA is annoying with many of its rules, but it is also ridiculous to claim that these kids don't have a pretty sweet deal as is. The day college football turns into a semi-pro league where schools get into bidding wars for players will be a sad one indeed, and when/if that day comes, then any reference to The Team speech should be removed from anything dealing with our beloved football program, as it will no longer have any relation to college football. (If you don't know why, then listen to the speech again).
/rant over, still upset about the game today
September 22nd, 2013 at 3:36 AM ^
Most students aren't risking severe injuries for their colleagues' entertainment. Nor are most students generating millions of dollars for the school and seeing none of it for themselves beyond the lack of debt.
September 22nd, 2013 at 5:19 AM ^
Grants for the medical department far exceed the budget for the athletlic department. True for Michigan.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
The millions of dollars that are generated are almost exclusively plowed back into investing in other students. Namely, all the other athletes.
People always act as if the money stops at the coffers of the school. It doesn't.
If someone wants to point out that coaches make bazillions of dollars, then put a cap on their salaries, I'm fine with that.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:21 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that tennis players, golfers, swimmers, soccer players, baseball players, etc. were risking injury. The argument MUST be defined as paying FOOTBALL PLAYERS or PAYING ATH-O-LETES. There is a discussion to be had about paying football players, but if I see a G-d damn tennis player getting a full ride, tutoring, easy access to getting into school, free room and board, AND a salary I'll shit myself. Sorry, take out a loan like 75% of normal college students. Stop your bitching. No one is forcing you to get a free education, play a game, and add NOTHING to the University.
September 22nd, 2013 at 4:10 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 7:19 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 7:47 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 7:43 AM ^
Just saying.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
The number of athletes who are actually worth the millions, and who are always held up as shining examples of the evil oppression of the NCAA, compared to the number who don't even bring back the worth of their scholarship, is utterly miniscule.
September 22nd, 2013 at 4:45 PM ^
Just because there are more John Smiths than Johnny Manizel's makes it okay?
That's a very poor argument.
Why should anyone in this country be held back because others don't have what they have?
I'm not saying I'm for or against players receiving compensation. Personally I think it's a stupid discussion because not one person on this thread truly umderstands how athletics works. But if there was a "right" answer... we'd have it by now. The fact is, it's the structure of CFB...and when that changes, then you'll see this topic progress. But as long as Michigan/ND/OSU/Texas etc. are in the same structure as UTSA/ULM/EMU... we'll be arguing on message boards.
Nontheless...horrible argument.
September 22nd, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^
The problem with your assertion is that the people who will be hurt the most if teams begin paying football players more are the ones who contribute nothing. There are lots of sensible ideas, but the ideas that are actually most likely to be put in place are ones that will hurt people like swimmers, wrestlers, gymnasts, soccer players, tennis players.....etc.
"Pay them what they're worth" is a much worse argument than what you claim mine is, because it only ever looks at the tiny, select few who get less than they're "worth" and ignore the vast majority who get far, far more than they're "worth."
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
Key word: SOME.
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:08 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 2:44 AM ^
Players organized for months, utilizing social media and conference calls amongst themselves, and got a grand total of a small handful of guys from, what, about three schools to do this.
How many of their coaches knew what these guys were doing when they wrote APU on their wristbands? Now knowing what it means, how many of those coaches will still let them do it next week?
I guess I'm skeptical that this lasts beyond this week in any meaningful way. At the end of the day, the NCAA is an established (though flawed) body with a lot of money and clout, and these players are kids who signed on the dotted line for a free education from top universities, fulling knowing the score of what they were getting into. They know the risks of playing football, and I bet every single one of them were playing EA Sports games with someone else's likeness for years before they set foot on campus.
I'm not saying I disagree with all of their sentiments, but playing devil's advocate for a minute, what exactly will this accomplish in the long run?
September 22nd, 2013 at 2:57 AM ^
I would not belitte their organizing efforts. Organizing takes a long time and starts with a small group determined to make a difference. I read an article recently (trying to find the URL) where there was mention of a plan by a NCAA tournament basketball team to come out in a Final Four or Championship game and just sit instead of playing.
No one can make them play at that point. Obviously the school did not make and the plan never went through.
We are going to see a sea change soon in college sports... not necessarily semi-pro, but a system that takes advantage of students so blatantly will not be allowed to stand for much longer. Watch this group... folks in charge of the NCAA are also says "what will the accomplish? pshhhh nothing"... until the day that the students use the power they have to make the system change - their talent.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:33 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 2:59 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^
Perhaps it is splitting hairs but while I would have a problem giving players a paycheck, I would have no problem at all giving ALL OF THEM 20 hr / week (or what ever the NCAA says is the limit for required practice hours per week) work study at the going rate for work study jobs on campus.
I don't think it's that radical of an idea. A student that works in the library does a service for the school and can get work-study for it. A football player does service for the school...
September 22nd, 2013 at 5:12 AM ^
admitting taking money. Easy Bowl ban for this years team. Want to talk about how cool you were when you broke the rules. Everyone else after you suffers. ASSHOLE!!!
September 22nd, 2013 at 7:02 AM ^
ESPN fills this in a little more - HERE
The NCPA - the group behind the protest - is looking for things such as:
- guaranteed scholarship renewals for injured players
- assurances that players will not have to pay medical bills
- establishment of a trust that would help players continue their education past eligibility
- per annum raises in scholarship amounts ($3,000 to $5,000 up to the cost of attendance)
September 22nd, 2013 at 7:57 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:21 AM ^
Some of this even mirrors the reforms Emmert continues to hint at but has not implemented to date, typically because the smaller schools keep shooting down the effort. Point taken, however.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:16 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:18 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:25 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:44 AM ^
IMO.........Like most people, athletes need to go to college to get a job, NFL or otherwise, but it's still a choice. They can choose to sit out, not play for 3 years after high school, and enter the draft. Most of these kids are using college athletics just as much as the schools are using them.
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:57 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:24 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
Why the fuck should a wrestler be compensated? For doing what exactly? And I'm sorry, I can't hear these athletes bitching over the sounds of creditors calling about my $10,000s of student debt. These whiners don't even value their education. What, 90% of football players are general studies majors (or whatever they call it this year to make it sound more presentable). Good luck getting a job with that. Why not just eliminate college athletics all together and let Michigan field a team of professionals who don't have to "waste" their time in school and won't drag down a schools overall academics (I know at Michigan they are a small blip, but schools like Wake Forest have a significant % of their student body playing sports)? (Sorry that sounded harsh, I know some/many/most college athletes value their education, but the ones complaining about not getting paid are most likely the ones who don't.)
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:30 AM ^
For every Michigan with money, there are three more schools without it. It would create a caste system and destroy the opportunity for a free college education for many at the smaller DI schools.
Once Pandora's box is emptied, there is no going back.
Maybe they can make a royalty off of things that contain their likeness, i.e. jerseys, games and others?
No good answer. When it comes down to it, the players know the deal when they sign. Kind of like if you sign a mortgage, and the market drops, and you can't just walk away from your mortgage........well......
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:47 AM ^
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:13 AM ^
No one made you play college football. I would give my left nut to go back a decade and be the starting quarterback at Michigan for one game (a win) and be happy to have that story for the rest of my life
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
So many people will give their left nut but not the right.
I agree nobody is forcing anyone to play college football. Also as a graduate student I had to sign a contract that basically said if anything I create makes a profit (patents etc) it goes to the University. Further, as someone has mentioned research brings in a ton of cash and as a grad student I realize I am just cheap labor. However, I wouldn't trade it for anything because I love science.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:35 AM ^
No it wouldn't. The value of a college degree for some of those kids who aren't college superstars and still want a chance at the NFL still outweighs the opportunities they would have if they would be allowed to profit from their fame.
There's already a caste system. It's not like Temple is pulling in 4 stars or some shit.
September 22nd, 2013 at 4:27 PM ^
Not to nitpick, but this is totally a nitpick
September 22nd, 2013 at 8:46 AM ^
Their demands don't seem too crazy. I just believe that compensating athletes from schools will make it very unfair for all the lower D1 schools not generating as much income as the larger schools. Also, major protesting like this won't lead to change until players start sitting out games and refusing to play
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:47 AM ^
...screw the players "demands." They are compensated for their play, and it's not the NCAA's fault if they don't value the education for which they are compensated.
I'm so sick of the entitlement attitude that permeates our society. It's a sickness.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
Your closed minded attitude and contempt for people's positions and experiences whom you've never experienced is sickening.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:21 AM ^
Your attitude that every complaint is valid because nobody has experienced the lives of the complainer is not much better.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
Never said each one is valid -- but I don't think shouting down other people's experiences as being entitled and comparing it to a disease is any good. Shows a lack of critical thought in my opinion.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
Are you also sick of the fans sense of entitlement? A look at the typical fan reaction to a poor performance seems to indicate they expect a lot from amateur athletes.
September 22nd, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
Oh this is nothing compared to what it would be like if our players were turned into "pro" athletes and officially getting paid for their efforts.
I think there could be a lot of unintended consequences if college football becomes a minor league for the pros. I'm not sure interest will remain as high. It is interesting that as the experience becomes more like the NFL fan passion and participation has been going down. I'm not sure if this is just correlation or causation but based on what people have bee saying on this blog both trends exist.
I hope all parties in this issue tread carefully and think about all the potential consequences of any actions taken.
September 22nd, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^
I just saw a Sportscenter segment on the best 3 college performers from this week and something directing you to go to a sponsered website to vote. I think this is where my cognitive dissonance...it's a multi-billion dollar industry and their faces are plastered all over the media. Who gets hurt if Manziel sips on Gatorade and pretends to work out, who really gets hurt?
I guess my argument is that people seem to want to have these pie in the sky notions about amatuerism and whatever....that's fine , take the money out of the sport. Get them off TV, get them off video games, T-Shirts and gear should be made and printed by the university and sold for cost or profits should be sent back to the university.
You can't have it both ways. If you wanna have money in the game, you can't really complain when players complain about their lack of a cut. When there isn't money in the game, then I think your argument is more valid.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
...your argument, I just find it indefensible that student-athletes complain about not getting money when their fellow students and their families sacrifice mightily to get educated by the very same institutions they attend.
If I am a student athlete electing to major in a more lucrative engineering or pre-med curriculum vis-a-vis the easier and less lucrative "kinesiology" major, that's my decision and I reap the rewards (or the lack thereof) from it.
Taking advantage of educational opportunities is the responsibility of each student and student-athlete. No one is holding a gun to these kids' heads forcing them to play and, more importantly, learn.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
What do you provide to the university other than a tuition check? You think athletes don't mightly sacrifice? Between classroom obligations and athletic obligations, they work 100Xs more than you. When you bring in the money and clout that some of these athletes bring to Michigan, this argument might have a leg to stand on -- as of now it doesn't. No one prevented you from making money off your talents while you were in school.
No one put a gun to your head and forced you to attend Michigan, much less any college. You chose to attend, deal with it -- your entitlement attitude of expecting people to pat you on the back or compare you to athletes is sickening.
And the engineering argument is BS. Most of these guys are barely qualified to get into the Kines school without football, much less the engineering school.