Should semipro/college players be paid, or allowed to sell their stuff? (NIL and Revenue Sharing)

[Gatorubet]

That said, Kyle's idea of a stipend has some merit.

Unethical behavior often is motivated by a sense of unfairness and differs across individuals depending on their personality characteristics (e.g., personality traits related to risk-taking).

I don't think that psychological research would support the notion that at least some players, who currently feel that the system is unfair, would not feel that a stipend would make things more fair. After all, they are acting out to restore a "more fair" outcome. Thus, their unethical behavior is intended to restore a more ethical outcome to their own benefit.

We can speculate whether a stipend would be perceived to be "fair" by every player, I think not, which would depend on the size of the stipend, of course. So, a stipend makes some sense, depending on its size and whether universities can afford it.

The real problem is the frame of fairness in which players are making their judgements of fairness. Under Title IX, universities have to use "cash cow" sports to support less profitable sports that are supported in order to achieve gender equality (primarily). Thus, universities have to look at profitability across the system. Players (and business school professors) hate being treated like cash cows, but unfortunately, it's a fact of life.

Steve, it has an obvious attraction, considering the amount of money it brings in. But the college football "haves" would be able to pay it, and the have nots would not. Do we want a different pay scale from MAC to Pac-10? How would being paid not instantly morph into a mind set of starters being worth more, given that they are now "paid" for college sports participation? I'm serious, they should have about $500 bucks a month for spending from Pell grants, as they have tutors, books, tuition, meals and housing paid for. I never had that kind of cash, being squeezed by the too much for grants and too little for much help family income level. .

 

[knapplc]

Why must the conversation be pushed to such extremes? These guys weren't acting in a black-and-white mindset when they decided to trade swag for tattoos. They're not stupid, they've been through compliance, and they knew what they were doing could harm the school.

They knew without question they were doing something wrong, just like any of us who speed or take pens home from work know we're doing wrong - the internal justification is that it isn't "that bad," or that they won't be caught, or that if caught the consequences could be mitigated. There is NO WAY they had no idea there could be consequences for their actions. NO WAY.

Pretending they were out to [censored] the school doesn't help the conversation.

 

[alexhortdog95]

Question:

Does a walk-on football player, or a non-athletic scholarship football player in general, have the same NCAA eligibility rules as a scholarship athlete?

Calling - on hold with the Indianapolis office right now. Gonna ask them for an email address too so I can email them, as well as post it here for you guys to ask your own questions if need be.

 

[Jaxbuck]

The real problem is the frame of fairness in which players are making their judgements of fairness.

I think the real problem is found when you take it one step back.

The real problem is players agreeing to be part of a system, being told the rules of said system and wanting to break them because they don't think it's "fair".

If its that unfair don't play. The rules are established, live by them or stay home and save yourself the indignity of being treated so unjustly.

Perfect preparation for the real world imo.

 

[Buckeye513]

Calling - on hold with the Indianapolis office right now. Gonna ask them for an email address too so I can email them, as well as post it here for you guys to ask your own questions if need be.

What do you do for a living that you can just say "fuck this" and start calling the NCAA at noon on a Monday?

 

[alexhortdog95]

What do you do for a living that you can just say "fuck this" and start calling the NCAA at noon on a Monday?

I'm a staffed IT Professional that can call the NCAA, talk to you, and still get his work done at the same time. For example....just found out Trump isn't running in 2012 (big surprise there, LOL). Hmm, I wonder if I should contact the AAU and see if they'll give UNL credit for this research

I credit the chicken nuggets.

 

[Zurp]

Pay the players? I think that what would happen is a lot of schools would drop from I-A to I-AA (or FBS to FCS), since they wouldn't be able to keep up with the big guys anymore. Or, in the case of the teams that already can't keep up, it would just be an insurmountable lead. The high school kids who could go to Little Town University and start by their sophomore years would rather go to Big Bad State, not start until their Senior years, and yet make more money. Maybe start a new division - so you have I-A, I-AA, and I-AAA, where only the top-tiered division can pay the players?

However, I'm told that Title IX would jump in and cause a big stink. I'm pretty sure you'd have to pay women as much as you pay the men. (I'm not trying to start an argument over whether Title IX is good for sports, or any such thing like that. I'd rather have some clarity on whether Title IX is relevant in this.)

As for selling their stuff - I think that's just a fancy way of paying the players. "I'll tell you what, kid: I can't give you $180,000, legally, but I can buy that game-worn jersey from you for $180,000."

 

[alexhortdog95]

Well, it's no wonder that the NCAA is in such disorganization. Bastards won't even answer their freaking phones, LOL.

 

[MaxBuck]

Paying players would reduce the scholarship funds available to support non-revenue athletes such as lacrosse, track and field, volleyball (Go Bucks!) and field hockey. So that is a counterproductive approach.

I still firmly believe that the most appropriate mechanism is to allow student-athletes to sell their autographs, memorabilia, bowl swag, whatever. This approach will allow the most marketable athletes (e.g., Pryor and Cam Newton) to realize their market value when it is at its peak. No detriment would result to the synchronized swimmers; they just wouldn't be able to make much money off their stuff.

One other thing: there's no valid justification to remove an athlete's NCAA eligibility just because they enter their sport's draft. Their eligibility should remain in place IMO until they accept their first pro paycheck. That would help basketball players who, for example, make a silly decision to enter the draft and go undrafted. No reason to remove their ability to continue in school and pursue a degree while continuing their collegiate athletics.

 

[alexhortdog95]

Left a voicemail for Susan Prigle at the NCAA Student Eligibility center. I believe she's either the secretary or a co-worker of Rachel Newman-Baker, who is the NCAA Director of Agent, gambling, and amatuerism activities.

She [Newman-Baker] was the one who did the research into the Oregon situation this off-season.

The number to contact (it's their switchboard) is 317-917-6222. Feel free to call and ask away.

Now, I did speak with someone a couple of years ago about the act of 'greyshirting' a player. That's basically a player who has been told he will get a scholarship when one comes available, but to get into school, he basically has to pay his way until the schollie comes available. The question that Diego posed earlier would play into this one.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

Left a voicemail for Susan Prigle at the NCAA Student Eligibility center. I believe she's either the secretary or a co-worker of Rachel Newman-Baker, who is the NCAA Director of Agent, gambling, and amatuerism activities.

She [Newman-Baker] was the one who did the research into the Oregon situation this off-season.

The number to contact (it's their switchboard) is 317-917-6222. Feel free to call and ask away.

Now, I did speak with someone a couple of years ago about the act of 'greyshirting' a player. That's basically a player who has been told he will get a scholarship when one comes available, but to get into school, he basically has to pay his way until the schollie comes available. The question that Diego posed earlier would play into this one.

Thanks for the research! I'll see what comes of my own personal google search.

 

[germ]

Here is how a feel about it.

No they should not be paid, they are getting a chance at a priceless education and a great head start in life over most college kids.

Where do we draw the line? TP draws more attention to his college then a scout team player, who is entiltled to more? This is a very slippery slope.

To me going to school for at lest 3 years, having access to the best medical care, strength training and football coaching is priceless.

Is it really that hard to stay on a college campus for at least three years, get treated like a God, and get all the strange you want?

I feel for these guys:tongue2:

 

[alexhortdog95]

Thanks for the research! I'll see what comes of my own personal google search.

I actually just placed an email to the athletic directors at UNL and UNO.

Yes, THAT guy at UNO.

My public dollars are paying for the school (not the Athletic Program), but hell, I should still be able to know what the [Mark May] is goings on.

If I don't get an email back from either of these guys, it'll be a damn shame, seeing as how I always got some kind of a return from Steve "Petey-shine" Peterson when he was the AD here, LOL.

 

[Steve19]

I'm not in favor of a stipend. I also think that these young men would have quite some time finding access to such high quality facilities and developmental resources in a major league farm system. They receive not only the high value of access to tertiary education and the other benefits that others have noted here, but also expert developmental assistance that would cost most college players a fortune if college football teams did not exist.

As for the balance between the richer and poorer college conferences, that disparity exists already in the facilities and resources at hand for the players. The simple fact is that most college athletics departments run a loss.

My point was not that I agreed with Kyle or that stipends would work, only that he had a point that I thought might have been missed.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

All other students are free to earn whatever they can with the skills they have.

All other students wouldn't be able to launder a shit-ton of money just because of who they are, which is exactly what would happen if there wasn't restrictions in place. How many fucking times do we have to explain why players cannot--and should not--be allowed to sell any of their stuff while under schoalrship? Nobody held a fucking gun to their head and forced them to sign the LOI.