by kseabrook | September 25, 2013 1:45 pm
By KEVIN SEABROOK
When football player Jonny “Football: Manziel, quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies was suspended in a direct violation of the NCAA’s code of conduct for college athletes, it sparked a debated topic on whether or not college athletes should be paid.
The story seems to regenerate with each NCAA scandal that occurs.
According to the NCAA rule book: You are not eligible for participation in a sport if you have ever:
(1) Taken pay, or the promise of pay, for competing in that sport. [Bylaw 12.1.2]
(2) Agreed (orally or in writing) to compete in professional athletics in that sport.
Exception: Prior to collegiate enrollment, in sports other than men’s ice hockey and skiing, you agreed to compete on a professional team provided the agreement did not provide for more than actual and necessary expenses and you did not receive more than actual and necessary expenses. [Bylaws 12.1.2 and 12.2.5.1]
b. You are not eligible in a sport if you ever have accepted money, transportation or other benefits from an agent or agreed to have an agent market your athletics ability or reputation in that sport. [Bylaw 12.3.1]
c. You are not eligible in any sport if, after you become a student-athlete, you accept any pay for promoting a commercial product or service or allow your name or picture to be used for promoting a commercial product or service. [Bylaws 12.5.2.1 and 12.5.2.2]
“If schools are making money off of our performances than we should get something out of it” said Josh Danielle, small forward for the Ramapo Roadrunners. “It just isn’t fair for them to make billions off of athletes, especially the ones in poverty.
For every fan who supports student-athletes getting paid some sort of a wage, there are opponents to the subject. People want to see sports at the collegiate as something pure. Most people who take this perspective of the argument most likely had to pay their own way through school. They understand the value of a college education, the hard work required to achieve it and how higher education sets them up for life.
But college athletes face different challenges that some say justify a wage. College athletes are recruited, 1. To get a higher education, 2. They are put it a spotlight to perform on a higher level in a spotlight most can’t compete on to give them a chance to play on the next level.
Those few diamond in a rock chippers, the ones who make a difference between a .500 season and a Championship are in school only because some professional leagues such as the NBA and NFL rules require them to play at least a year after high school to possibly get drafted and play in the professional football league.
Walk in their athletic shoes for a day to truly understand what it is like to be a college athlete.
Many student athletes come from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are not gifted students. The college experience is a grind for them. Some are brought to campuses with full knowledge they will never graduate and are only there simply for their athletic abilities.
And yet still, colleges ask them to acclimate themselves to new surroundings under a rigorous schedule.
No normal student has nearly as rigid a schedule. It’s basically equivalent to two full-time jobs.
“They lift weights early each morning – before class. They take care of their coursework in the morning, followed by practices that are physically demanding of the athlete. Team meetings come next, which are followed by dinner and study hall said Chuck McBreen, head coach for the Ramapo Roadrunners basketball team.
Those athletes enrolled in a ranked State, University are brought upon to seek a national championship which awards the programs millions.
Yes, millions!
There was a time when athletic scandals were not under supervision. Student-athletes only had to go to school, most graduated and the school looked successful for the education.
That all changed when the NCAA along with the universities started getting ridiculous amounts of money from the main television network. Money started to grow out of control when merchandise sales grew to a seven-figure annual number.
“The NCAA model is broken” said big time ESPN analyst Stephan A. Smith in an interview on ESPN. The money that is rolling in is turning head coaches and college presidents into millionaires.
“Back before television money polluted the college athletic landscape, I would have agreed with the fact that student athletes should be taking care of post-graduation, college athletics should get some type of reward for their hard work and dedication.
According to Stephen A. Smith, long time sports journalist for ESPN “Television networks pay billions of dollars to the NCAA. That more than covers the operating expenses and high-dollar salaries.” There’s enough money to provide the student-athletes with a couple of dollars so they can make ends meet and stay above poverty line.
Source URL: https://class1.ramaporecord.org/?p=14255
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