RE: 3 Cheers for O'Bannon and Northwestern Football Players
I also think that there are some tweaks that can and should be made for these athletes, but I scarcely think that they're "exploited" and get nothing in return. They get:
1. Tuition, room and board, and focused tutoring. Let's face it, most of these kids won't go pro in their sport, so a degree is important. Even if they get ushered through the system with cushy courses and get a little "help" in getting the needed grades, there are a lot of jobs out there for which having a college degree is a minimum requirement.
2. Specific to their sport, they get (particularly at the "factories" that are most accused of "exploitation") practice and training by highly qualified coaches.
3. Specific to their sport, they get physical training from qualified coaches, and access to very well-equipped weight facilities, massage and other therapies, and nutrition that is geared toward improving performance.
4. Specific to their sport, they get the opportunity to compete against other high-level athletes. This provides multiple benefits - first of all, it's a feedback loop to assist coaches in training. Second, it's an avenue to showcase their skills to pro scouts.
5. They get a stage on which to build a brand. For those lucky and skilled enough to get to the next level, it means that Gatorade or Nike already has them on their radar. For those who aren't that lucky, it's a chance to make a name for themselves that can be handy with employers who are big fans of Ol' State U, who remember that Johnny caught a big touchdown pass against rival State U. Sure, Johnny couldn't make it to the next level, but when he sends in his resume (if he even has to do so, rather than having a call made on his behalf) it can get him in the door for an interview in a time when it's often not what you know, but who you know that counts.
The money that flows from revenue-generating sports also subsidizes non-revenue sports. Since it would be "unfair" (particularly in Title IX instances) to insist that those sports support themselves, here's where the university gets the money to fly the volleyball team cross-country. While many facilities are also funded at least in part by private donations, all that cash also comes in handy to build the fancy athletic dorms and sports facilities that top-level recruits factor into their decisions on where to go to school.
Should there be changes? Yes - I would have no issues with small stipends to allow kids to bypass the training table to go out for a pizza once in a while, and I deplore running off kids who do what they're asked but just aren't good enough to compete and get run off after a year or so. But I think that these athletes do already get a lot in return for playing a sport for 4 years, and the notion of big-time exploitation is something that's also been largely built up by people who want to get their hands on a piece of the pie.
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