Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Thursday sent the strongest signal yet concerning Congressional interest in legislation relating to college athletes’ ability to make money from the use of their name, image on likeness.

Wicker sent a letter to the NCAA, each of the Power Five conferences and dozens of other college sports organizations and schools asking for responses to 20 questions related to the issue. The letter cites the Commerce Committee’s “jurisdiction over matters related to interstate commerce generally and sports in particular,” and asks for written responses by June 5.

This indicates the likelihood that there will be a hearing on the matter before the full committee and that the committee will be the launch point for any bill that originates in the Senate. A Commerce subcommittee held a hearing on this issue in February that included live testimony from NCAA President Mark Emmert.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/co...087245001/

I still think the root of the problem is that college athletes should already be getting something of tremendous value--a college education. But that isn't happening at the football factories, which include the vast majority of D-1, particularly the FBS schools.

I've thought that I'd like to see something like the number of scholarships you can give in a given year cannot exceed the average number of athletes that have graduated in that sport in the last 3 years, and the total number of scholarships you can have at one time cannot exceed the number of athletes in that sport who have graduated over the past 5 years.

(05-07-2020 03:26 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I still think the root of the problem is that college athletes should already be getting something of tremendous value--a college education. But that isn't happening at the football factories, which include the vast majority of D-1, particularly the FBS schools.

I've thought that I'd like to see something like the number of scholarships you can give in a given year cannot exceed the average number of athletes that have graduated in that sport in the last 3 years, and the total number of scholarships you can have at one time cannot exceed the number of athletes in that sport who have graduated over the past 5 years.

The ones who want an education are getting it. Most of the Rice football players are getting it. I can think of a lot of Texas players who have, notably Sam Acho now in the NFL. Honors grad in the Business honors program.

That doesn't mean all of them are.

(05-07-2020 03:26 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I still think the root of the problem is that college athletes should already be getting something of tremendous value--a college education. But that isn't happening at the football factories, which include the vast majority of D-1, particularly the FBS schools.

I've thought that I'd like to see something like the number of scholarships you can give in a given year cannot exceed the average number of athletes that have graduated in that sport in the last 3 years, and the total number of scholarships you can have at one time cannot exceed the number of athletes in that sport who have graduated over the past 5 years.

Most, if not all of the kids that are at a school for four years get at least a degree. Those that are on the squad for 5 years get a Masters. It's the ones that leave after year 3 that don't, and most of them become Millionaires. All be it for a short time. Reminds me of a guy I played with. He rarely went to class because he owned rentals, businesses etc. in town. Our counselor called him into the office because his instructors complained he wasn't going to class and had poor grades. The player told our counselor, "when you make as much money as me, you can tell me to go to class". Ended the conversation and no classes were attended as it was the last Spring of his eligibility. He hit .400+ that year and was an All American.