The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Why do sports fans hate athletes so much. We worship every feat they achieve for our schools, but god forbid they be awarded for it. The schools have brainwashed the fans into thinking it is the athletes who are the ones who are greedy and money grubbing. It doesn't matter how much free education they receive. That value pales in comparison to how much money the schools are getting off their backs.

(04-20-2014 05:04 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Athletes are only promised "an opportunity to get an education" IF they are kept on campus for the years it will take to get it.

It's odd when you argue that this has value and when it doesn't.

(04-20-2014 05:24 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Why do sports fans hate athletes so much. We worship every feat they achieve for our schools, but god forbid they be awarded for it. The schools have brainwashed the fans into thinking it is the athletes who are the ones who are greedy and money grubbing. It doesn't matter how much free education they receive. That value pales in comparison to how much money the schools are getting off their backs.

I don't hate these kids. I pull for their success in every endeavor, be it on the field, in the classroom, or their chosen profession.

Fact is, I'm pretty conflicted about all this. I agree that what a scholarship pays for pales in comparison to what the schools make, and am frankly appalled at what a money-grab it's turned into.

Paying the kids will do a lot of things. Not least of which (at least to me) that we'll finally drop the ruse that it's amateur athletics.

I don't think the athletes should be paid by the schools. I recognize that it is an unworkable solution at most schools. However, they should be allowed to earn money based on their celebrity. Let them do advertisements or sign autographs. The argument that it gives a competitive advantage to schools with deep pocket boosters doesn't hold water. They already have a competitive advantage and the NCAA endorses it.

(04-20-2014 06:01 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I don't think the athletes should be paid by the schools. I recognize that it is an unworkable solution at most schools. However, they should be allowed to earn money based on their celebrity. Let them do advertisements or sign autographs. The argument that it gives a competitive advantage to schools with deep pocket boosters doesn't hold water. They already have a competitive advantage and the NCAA endorses it.

I wouldn't have a problem with that, but it WOULD give a (further) competitive advantage to high-profile programs.

(04-20-2014 05:24 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Why do sports fans hate athletes so much. We worship every feat they achieve for our schools, but god forbid they be awarded for it. The schools have brainwashed the fans into thinking it is the athletes who are the ones who are greedy and money grubbing. It doesn't matter how much free education they receive. That value pales in comparison to how much money the schools are getting off their backs.

Did these athletes buy their stadium? Uniforms? Practice fields? Facilities? The players help schools but the players aren't **** without schools. I don't hate the players, I just believe they are being compensated. The woe is me I can't eat athlete drives me nuts. It's a two way street and athletes want to make it seem like they are the reason a school makes money in any given year

(04-20-2014 05:27 PM)Smaug Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 05:04 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Athletes are only promised "an opportunity to get an education" IF they are kept on campus for the years it will take to get it.

It's odd when you argue that this has value and when it doesn't.

How much value is there to ANY job from which one is fired after one or two years - with no severance pay or other benefits - when a potential new employee gets the boss' attention?

NOTE: Coach Saban has had 5 consecutive classes of 25 to 30 NLOI as Top 5 nationally which adds up to 100 to 120 players in 4 years (not considering red-shirts), and he will probably sign 25-30 in 2/2015. He can keep only 85 at any one time. A few will transfer or get injured, but does anyone buy the claim that he got about 50 of the rest wrong?

(04-20-2014 07:15 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 05:24 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Why do sports fans hate athletes so much. We worship every feat they achieve for our schools, but god forbid they be awarded for it. The schools have brainwashed the fans into thinking it is the athletes who are the ones who are greedy and money grubbing. It doesn't matter how much free education they receive. That value pales in comparison to how much money the schools are getting off their backs.

Did these athletes buy their stadium? Uniforms? Practice fields? Facilities? The players help schools but the players aren't **** without schools. I don't hate the players, I just believe they are being compensated. The woe is me I can't eat athlete drives me nuts. It's a two way street and athletes want to make it seem like they are the reason a school makes money in any given year

At the bigger schools, the TV money, the donations, all the money that builds those stadiums and funds the program is money that comes from the athletes labor. They are the reason the school makes money.

BAMANBLAZERFAN ' Wrote:  How much value is there to ANY job from which one is fired after one or two years - with no severance pay or other benefits - when a potential new employee gets the boss' attention?

Well, ideally, they'd be that much closer to a degree.

My kid had to buy the meal plan, which provides not 3, but 5 meals a day.

Not optional. Compulsory.

I think one thing you have to factor in is that it is partially the school "brand" that gives the players value. For example, I yell for UAB's players because they represent UAB. If Joe Player decides to play for UAB--I'm for him. If he decides to play for Southern Miss, I'm against him. It's the UAB brand that I buy tickets for--not individual players. I think that's true of most fans.

One thing missing might be part time jobs for the athletes to earn some extra money. Other students have this opportunity somewhat, even though when I worked & went to college there wasn't too much "extra money".

The problem though is there are schools that would abuse these job opportunities to get a competitive advantage over other schools.

(04-20-2014 07:53 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  One thing missing might be part time jobs for the athletes to earn some extra money. Other students have this opportunity somewhat, even though when I worked & went to college there wasn't too much "extra money".

The problem though is there are schools that would abuse these job opportunities to get a competitive advantage over other schools.

And how would that change anything. The teams that have competitive advantages now would have them then. The only difference would fairness to the players.

Only 25 out of 1,281 NCAA schools turned a profit last year. Let thy sink in. I agree with 9911. I think they are going in the right direction with the changes. I like the unlimited meals. Now starving athletes won't go to bed hungry.
No reason for any more compensation. If they don't like it quit athletics and get a real job.

As someone who is about to dish out a bunch of money for my last kid to attend UAB I have zero sympathy.

(04-20-2014 07:39 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 07:15 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 05:24 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Why do sports fans hate athletes so much. We worship every feat they achieve for our schools, but god forbid they be awarded for it. The schools have brainwashed the fans into thinking it is the athletes who are the ones who are greedy and money grubbing. It doesn't matter how much free education they receive. That value pales in comparison to how much money the schools are getting off their backs.

Did these athletes buy their stadium? Uniforms? Practice fields? Facilities? The players help schools but the players aren't **** without schools. I don't hate the players, I just believe they are being compensated. The woe is me I can't eat athlete drives me nuts. It's a two way street and athletes want to make it seem like they are the reason a school makes money in any given year

At the bigger schools, the TV money, the donations, all the money that builds those stadiums and funds the program is money that comes from the athletes labor. They are the reason the school makes money.

If all the money comes from the athletes labor, why don't they start their own league? Serious question. Texas football will exist with or without play A. Player A may not exist without Texas football.

Welcome to BitcherTalk.

(04-20-2014 08:22 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  If they don't like it quit athletics and get a real job.

I hope our UAB athletes don't read what one of our prominent boosters really thinks of them.

"Get a real job"???

Are you for real?


Maybe hate is too strong of a word, but this thread absolutely proves there is disdain for athletes among the fans.

Keep twisting everyone's words. We are not taking your "bait". Lol.

I don't have to twist "get a real job"

Pretty clear.

Blah blah blah.