The first case of note came in the 1950s, when the widow of Fort Lewis football player Ray Dennison took the college all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court in an effort to collect a death benefit after he was killed playing football. Similar measures in additional states have passed but are slated to be in effect sometime in the future. [3], California was the first state to pass a NIL (name, image, and likeness) law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Introduced in February by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the bill promises to be one of the most expansive yet in terms of getting college athletes officially recognized as employees. He is the owner of Salarship, a job search engine where less-skilled candidates can find accessible employment opportunities. Similarly, if a team improves its win total by five games in a season, alumni donations go up 28%. Looking for more debate, speech, or essay topics? [11], Additionally, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear a case (National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Shawne Alston, et al.) A handful of big sports programs would pay top dollar for a select few athletes, while almost every other college would get caught up in a bidding war it couldnt afford. Overall, the average Division I player is worth $170,098 per year with the 351 Division I basketball programs taking in more than 4.5 million in revenue on average each year. These athletes are bringing in incredible amounts of revenue to these schools why arent they receiving what is due? Paying college athletes will likely not totally eliminate corruption from college sports, but putting athletes in a less-precarious financial position would be a good step toward avoiding external influence, especially when you consider some of the players involved in the University of Toledo point-shaving scandal were paid as little as $500. The case, NCAA vs. Alston et al named for former West Virginia University football player Shawne Alston, one of several athletes who initiated the suit centered on student-athletes from Division I men's and women's basketball and FBS football. [1] As of Mar. In what's called "head count" sports i.e., Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) football and Division I basketball for men, and Division I basketball, tennis, volleyball, and gymnastics for women students receive full athletic scholarships covering tuition and fees, room and board, and books. African Americans make up the majority of college athletes at the top levels in three major sports: mens and womens basketball (Division I) and the upper FBS level of the NCAAs Division I, according to Travis Waltons HuffPost article Black Americans Support Paying College Athletes. [48], A 2019 Seton Hall Sports Poll found that 60% of those surveyed agreed that college athletes should be allowed compensation for their name, image, and/or likeness, while 32% disagreed, and 8% were unsure. WebCollege athletics have received magnificent popularity among americans above the past few years.This has resulted into improved revenues for the (NCAA) then the taking part colleges who have argued the debate regarding whether college athletes should be payed past their athletic scholarships.This informative essay on the topic Should College athletes Data analyzed from the Department of Labor showed nine out of 10 new jobs were going to employees with college degrees in June 2018. Is it because its unnecessary? Schools would not be allowed to pay students and no one could offer compensation for students to attend a particular school. [29] [30], Further, most college programs do not generate the income needed to run their athletic programs, much less pay athletes. Just because there are rules prohibiting the compensation of college athletes doesnt mean it doesnt happen, and over the years there have been numerous scandals. The opportunity cost of not working is considerable. Most players have no real amateur sport option and those who would rather not go to college have no other established feeder system to make it to a professional team. This scenario offers too many thorny questions and too few sufficient answers. WebTwo writers take opposing sides in the debate over paying college athletes [45], On June 30, 2021, fewer than 12 hours before some states NIL laws went into effect, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors issued an interim ruling stating that Bylaw 12 (the rules that say athletes cannot receive payment) will not be enforced. This would also help keep top talents playing for college teams, improve the level of competition, and potentially lead to even higher revenue. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public. In other words, it would be more prudent and more profitable for college athletes to focus on education as their compensation. Ed OBannon, a former professional basketball player, won a lawsuit in 2014 where the NCAA was ordered to pay $44.4 million in attorneys fees and another $1.5 million in costs to lawyers for the plaintiffs in the Ed OBannon class-action antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. Financial irresponsibility Amateur players receiving compensation just seems like a complete disaster. 2. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) generates eleven billion dollars annually, some of which could, and should go to college athletes. A 2011 study published by the National College Players Association (NCPA) found that an overwhelming number of students on full athletics scholarships live below the federal poverty line85% of athletes who live on campus and 86% athletes who live off-campus. Everyone Loves to Watch Zion Williamson Play. [16], In 2021, the National College Players Association (NCPA) Executive Director Ramogi Huma stated, [m]any of these athletes are Black and from low-income homes the NCAA treats them like disposable university property. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is a nonprofit organization formed in 1906 that regulates college athletics, including game rules, athlete eligibility, and college tournaments. Despite their expensive sportswear, which comes from their sponsors, they are living a financially difficult life. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law allowing college athletes in the state to sign endorsement deals with brands. A decision is expected in June 2021. And under ordinary principles of antitrust law, it is not evident why college sports should be any different. A testament to the disparate allocation of funds generated by college sports, of the $18.9 billion in athletics revenue in 2019, $3.6 billion went toward financial aid for student-athletes, and $3.7 billion was used for coaches compensation. Have you heard of the salary controversy regarding college athletes? Full athletic scholarships are only guaranteed a year at a time, meaning student-athletes are one catastrophic injury away from potentially losing their scholarship. Do you think college athletic programs, the N.C.A.A. People see fit that students get paid for their performance as they are the fundamental piece that drives external revenue to universities. WebHere are Main Pros and Cons of College Athletes Be Paid Pros of paying college athletes Motivates to be more beneficial: Rewarding school competitors and obviously, their It is no surprise that doing sports consumes a solid number of things. Of the roughly 1,100 athletic programs governed by the NCAA, only 25 had a net positive revenue in 2019. Compensating athletes for their contribution would only be fair. ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Scholarships are fair financial compensation for college athletes, especially considering the precarious finances of athletic departments. College Athletes Getting Paid? According to the same article, A majority 52% of black respondents are strongly or somewhat in favor of paying college athletes, while only 15% strongly or somewhat oppose the idea. The NCAA also does not prohibit schools from canceling injured athletes scholarships, leaving athletes without a sport or education. player was, too, even before Duke announced that Williamson had sprained his right knee in the fall. WebCollege athletes deserve to be paid because they are the only ones not being paid in the college sports industry. Historically, the debates over paying college athletes have only led to more questions, which is why its raged on for more than a century. [18] [19], Michael Sokolove, author of The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino (2018), explained, If you look at a program like [University of] Louisville, they generate about $45 million a year in revenue. In a unanimous decision issued on June 21, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled the NCAA cannot bar universities from making education-related payments to student-athletes. ProCon.org. All told, only about 1% of student-athletes receive a full scholarship. At worst, it's chaotic and threatens team morale. Very few college athletes will go pro, so athletes should take advantage of the education being offered in exchange for playing a college sport. What about scholarships though? California was the first state to pass a NIL (name, image, and likeness) law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023. According to CNBC, 60% of NBA players go broke within five years of departing the league and 78% of former NFL players experience financial distress two years after retirement. The big question is:what are the arguments for and against paid college athletes? Programs like football and mens basketball would likely benefit greatly, but smaller, unprofitable sports such as gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling could find themselves at best cash-strapped and, at the worst, cut altogether. NCAA is a non-profit organization. Its hard to ignore the racist undertones when the financial benefit to these institutions is based on the unpaid work of young Black men. [22], The NCAA requires players to have health insurance but does not pay for that insurance and can refuse to pay medical expenses for sports injuries, some of which can have life-long consequences for the players bodies and career opportunities. Many former collegiate players were compensated, but some felt it was inadequate and they were owed more. Thats a bankrupt model. [3], Zachary Kerr, PhD, Researcher at the University of North Carolinas Center for the Study of Retired Athletes, stated, I definitely think research indicates strong evidence that injuries during ones sports career can potentially be associated with adverse health outcomes later in life. [21], In 2017, 67% of former Division I athletes had sustained a major injury and 50% had chronic injuries, 2.5% higher than non-athletes. Rent-Sharing in Modern College Sports, nber.org, Oct. 2020, Tommy Beer, NCAA Athletes Could Make $2 Million A Year If Paid Equitably, Study Suggests, forbes.com, Sep. 1, 2020, NCPA, Study: "The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport" - 9/13/2011, ncpanow.org, Sep. 13, 2011, Mary Kate McCoy, Survey: Nearly a Quarter of Division I Athletes Face Food Insecurity, wpr.org, May 6, 2020, NCAA, Scholarships, ncaa.org (accessed Mar. You dont have to get past the preface to find questions that feel at home in todays world: Many of the questions asked way back in 1929 continue to resurface today, and many of them have eventually ended up seeking answers in court. Promo code: If theres money to provide college coaches with lavish seven-figure salaries (especially at public institutions), why shouldnt there be funds to pay college athletes? College athletes generate billions of dollars per year for schools, media outlets, and corporate We do have hungry nights that we dont have enough money to get food in. National College Players Association (NCPA), 52 Argumentative Essays Ideas that are Actually Interesting, 52 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging, 20 Biology Internships for High School Students in 2023, 20 High School Internships in Boston in 2023, 15 Scholarships for High School Freshmen in 2023, Coca-Cola Scholarship: How To Apply and What You Need to Know, What relation has this astonishing athletic display to the work of an intelligence agency like a university?, How do students, devoted to study, find either the time or the money to stage so costly a performance?. To the truly jaded, this is a blatant form of exploitation. The decision also opened the door for name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. The ruling changed the broadcast regulations for college football. Everyone, that is, except the players. Before we dive into the debate over paying student-athletes, let's be clear about the NCAA's position. Do you think well-established minor-league systems would be attractive to high-school graduates and college athletes less interested in (or ill-prepared for) higher education? All rights reserved. Scores of college athletes are being used to generate money for NCAA sports in a pandemic without the NCAA enforcing any COVID standards. [17], The NCAA reported over $1.06 billion in revenue in 2017 (the most recent available numbers). So they think that A look at the professional ranks bolsters Cowherds argument about athletes frivolous spending. It's not about finding the right answer because there is no right answer. A February 2020 USA Today article found that the average total pay for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football head coaches in 2020-21 was $2.7 million. 5. The highest-paid college football coachthe University of Alabamas Nick Sabanearns $9.3 million a year and is the highest-paid public employee in the country. Con Scholarships are fair financial compensation Divisions II and III of the NCAA followed suit and the changes went into effect for all three divisions on July 1, 2021. Additionally, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear a case (National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Shawne Alston, et al.) Do You Want to Find College Student Jobs? As he planted a foot to reverse direction, his left sneaker collapsed and tore apart from the sheer torque of the move. [25] [26], The study found that [t]he player-level analysis reveals that the existing limits on player compensation effectively transfers resources away from students who are more likely to be black and more likely to come from poor neighborhoods towards students who are more likely to be white and come from higher-income neighborhoods. [25], College athletes are required to make up the difference between NCAA scholarships and the actual cost of living. Managing Editor The NCAA, colleges, and universities profit unfairly from the work and likenesses of college athletes. In Cowherds words: I dont think paying all college athletes is great Not every college is loaded, and most 19-year-olds [are] gonna spend itand lets be honest, theyre gonna spend it on weed and kicks! For example, a student athlete will be compensated for the sale of a jersey featuring their name, or for a sponsorship deal in which they appear wearing a UNC jersey. WebAccording to the same article, A majority 52% of black respondents are strongly or somewhat in favor of paying college athletes, while only 15% strongly or somewhat Respondents were split 50/50 in a June 1, 2021, New York Times survey about whether the NCAA strictly limiting paid compensation is constitutional. While this is something admirable, However, in 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Fair Play Act that allows college athletes to hire agents, sign endorsement deals, and be paid for the use of their likeness. It could lower tuition rates. That adds up to about $400,000 a year. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. They dont know how to manage their money, and there wouldnt be anyone their to guide their financial decisions. And spare me the theyre being extorted thing. Athletes may never go to class Lets face it, if they give these kids money, theyll never have any incentive to go to class. They insist that college athletes deserve their pay as they are more than just amateur athletes. They will lose that hunger and passion that we see in college. Some claim that paying student-athletes will also benefit universities. [31], If students were paid, the NCAA argues, many colleges and universities would have to offer fewer scholarships and the remaining scholarships would be distributed unfairly to top football and mens basketball players because those two sports bring in the most revenue. Similarly, will compensation take into account talent? More broadly, a study showed that when a football team "rises from mediocre to great," applications increase 18.7%. Assuming a free-market system, the chasm between the haves and have-nots would widen even further. Will the All-American point guard get the same amount as the captain of the swim team? Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). The NCAA is not above the law.. Takeaway: Many college athletes are in need of financial benefits. College sports, particularly football, are a big deal and a big business. The only people not receiving a paycheck are the stars of the show: the athletes. Should they receive more because they were All-Americans? The NCAA was scheduled to vote on new NIL rules in Jan. 2021, but it then postponed the vote, citing external factors.Days before the scheduled vote Makan Delrahim, JD, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice under the Trump administration, questioned the proposed rules compliance with antitrust laws. Some argue that paying student-athletes will make way for a more transparent usage of NCAAs revenue. UNC athletes will be able to earn money for NIL marketing including UNC trademarks and logos in groups of three or more athletes. Why Are There Nine Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court? 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