Whole Article: http://www.ubbullrun.com/2011/4/6/209446...es-Be-Paid

It's become 'edgy' for pundits to promote the idea that college athletes should be paid. Hell it's down right trendy to break out the big bar charts of how much these 'evil' institutions are making at the expense of the poor, mistreated, student athlete. I'm sick and tired of it, and it needs to stop.

Some do it as a way to defend the actions of rule breaking institutions without actually saying "it's OK to break the rules". How often during them Cam Newton fiasco did a commentator or fellow fan say 'They should just pay the athletes'. Even if it was ok to pay college athletes I personally don't think paying a quarterback 50 thousand a year will stop him from trying to break recruiting rules to get some cash money up front.

There are so many tired, recycled, arguments that get puked up during these debates and whether it's PBS or ESPN, or some of my fellow SBNation Bloggers the regurgitation does not help the massively flawed idea smell better to those who like amateur athletics.

The most recent painful example of this type of thought comes straight from the desk Rich Maese. He was following up on a recent front line show. The irony of a show aired on a non profit network where executives make big money receiving government money taking shots at another no profit which funds itself through TV contracts should not be lost on anyone.

He begins:

I think the scholarship, aka free schooling, books, and board, is not pay to play as some would like to offer because these guys are so limited by the NCAA as to what they can earn on their own to pay for food, transportation, and other things.

(04-07-2011 12:59 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  I think the scholarship, aka free schooling, books, and board, is not pay to play as some would like to offer because these guys are so limited by the NCAA as to what they can earn on their own to pay for food, transportation, and other things.

I thought they were limited by *how* they earn not how much...

(04-07-2011 04:03 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(04-07-2011 12:59 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  I think the scholarship, aka free schooling, books, and board, is not pay to play as some would like to offer because these guys are so limited by the NCAA as to what they can earn on their own to pay for food, transportation, and other things.

I thought they were limited by *how* they earn not how much...

Well the how would limit how much. But a lot of it touches on NCAA violations.

They can get an honest job and work can't they?

They shouldn't be able to sell school books, athletic merchandise, rings, or stolen laptops.

Some of these kids get scholarships worth more than what I make in a year.

(04-08-2011 11:08 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  They can get an honest job and work can't they?

They shouldn't be able to sell school books, athletic merchandise, rings, or stolen laptops.

Some of these kids get scholarships worth more than what I make in a year.

to a lot of them, the sport is a full time job

They should be paid.. but no big money stuff.. no more then 950k a year.. Then there will be another thing about not being paid enough etc.

(04-10-2011 12:18 PM)Purple n Gold Wrote:  They should be paid.. but no big money stuff.. no more then 950k a year.. Then there will be another thing about not being paid enough etc.

How do you decide how much a player gets paid? Does a DL at NMSU get the same $ as a QB at Texas?

I can see them being able to sell their gear that is given to them. And I can see them being paid to have their likeness marketed. But I would put something in their letter of intent/scholarship/etc. that says the university could use their likenesses to promote the program and university. Also, if they are allowed to be reimbursed for selling their jersey, likeness, etc. then I think most schools would stop doing that, and begin selling jerseys with a # reserved for the fans.

If you don't see a scholarship as payment, then view their 4 years as an internship that allows them to get their foot into the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, etc. door. People all over the world are working hard for nothing while their "employer" is making money off their effort. All they get is the experience, and the chance to impress future employers.

Does a physical education major get paid as much as an engineering major? I'd like to see the breakdown by major...

(04-10-2011 02:41 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Does a physical education major get paid as much as an engineering major? I'd like to see the breakdown by major...

While they are in school... *yes*

Afterwords does an Engineer make as much as an NFL Linebacker? Who cares?