While I agree with Tim and Walty that I don't want to see Student-Athletes form a Union and get lots of money...I am not adverse to looking to see if a small amount of spending money makes sense. 

It is unrealistic for a college football player to get a regular job during their time in school.  There may be a few exceptions, but with practicing, training, studying, going to class, and sleeping, there is not much time left to work and not many employers who would want to work around a crazy and changing schedule. 

Do these athletes have enough money to put gas in their car?  I don't know how much they get currently so I don't know the answer, but if they did a realistic study and found that a few dollars a month makes sense, I am ok with that.

Student-athletes are exploited by high schools and colleges. The recruiting that goes on in high school and college is not about the students it is about the institutions. A lot of people are gaining fame and fortune off of the student-athletes in high school and college. It is not about getting a degree otherwise colleges would be held accountable to a higher standard than less than half of the college athletes on a D1 scholarship actually graduate from college. Wouldn't it be interesting if the college would lose scholarships or gain scholarships based on their graduation rate and not their bowl victories!

Guest said

Wouldn't it be interesting if the college would lose scholarships or gain scholarships based on their graduation rate and not their bowl victories!

Posted On: Jan 29th 2014, 8:17 AM #327183

I thought that was already the case??

Guest said

Student-athletes are exploited by high schools and colleges. The recruiting that goes on in high school and college is not about the students it is about the institutions. A lot of people are gaining fame and fortune off of the student-athletes in high school and college. It is not about getting a degree otherwise colleges would be held accountable to a higher standard than less than half of the college athletes on a D1 scholarship actually graduate from college. Wouldn't it be interesting if the college would lose scholarships or gain scholarships based on their graduation rate and not their bowl victories!

Posted On: Jan 29th 2014, 8:17 AM #327183

So, it's the institutions fault these scholar athletes fail out of college? They're given an outstanding opportunity at someone else's expense to better themselves with an education. If they fail, it's a personal choice and they have no one else to blame but themselves.

fauowl said

While I agree with Tim and Walty that I don't want to see Student-Athletes form a Union and get lots of money...I am not adverse to looking to see if a small amount of spending money makes sense. 

It is unrealistic for a college football player to get a regular job during their time in school.  There may be a few exceptions, but with practicing, training, studying, going to class, and sleeping, there is not much time left to work and not many employers who would want to work around a crazy and changing schedule. 

Do these athletes have enough money to put gas in their car?  I don't know how much they get currently so I don't know the answer, but if they did a realistic study and found that a few dollars a month makes sense, I am ok with that.

Posted On: Jan 29th 2014, 8:15 AM #327182

When approximately 10 athletic programs in the whole country are in the black (rounding up)…where does the little money come from…now I agree there is gross mismanagement of some major programs not to make money…the whole system is broken, and it might be the demise of college athletics.  

fauowl said

While I agree with Tim and Walty that I don't want to see Student-Athletes form a Union and get lots of money…I am not adverse to looking to see if a small amount of spending money makes sense. 

It is unrealistic for a college football player to get a regular job during their time in school.  There may be a few exceptions, but with practicing, training, studying, going to class, and sleeping, there is not much time left to work and not many employers who would want to work around a crazy and changing schedule. 

Do these athletes have enough money to put gas in their car?  I don't know how much they get currently so I don't know the answer, but if they did a realistic study and found that a few dollars a month makes sense, I am ok with that.

Posted On: Jan 29th 2014, 8:15 AM #327182

If they want spending money above all else recieved (mind you eligible kids from families without much money get a pell grant of over $5,000.00 a semester, which is a lot of spending money when all else is paid for) they can take student loans.

Lets remember FAU doesn't turn a profit, the all-inclusive stay the players recieve for 4-5 years to play football is a heck of a deal.

Guest said

Student-athletes are exploited by high schools and colleges. The recruiting that goes on in high school and college is not about the students it is about the institutions. A lot of people are gaining fame and fortune off of the student-athletes in high school and college. It is not about getting a degree otherwise colleges would be held accountable to a higher standard than less than half of the college athletes on a D1 scholarship actually graduate from college. Wouldn't it be interesting if the college would lose scholarships or gain scholarships based on their graduation rate and not their bowl victories!

Posted On: Jan 29th 2014, 8:17 AM #327183

Not about the students???  If not for college football who would be knocking on these kids doors with opportunity?

Student athletes dont gain fame and fortune on the college platform?  You think people would know Johnny Manziel if there was only minor league football???  Can you name a SINGLE minor league baseball player or hockey player right now….JUST onE?

They are held accountable for graduation rates and do lose scholarships if they fall under a certain rate.  However, these kids need better leadership and should be told they are morons for not taking thier college education seriously.  They should be told that making dollar signs to the sky after plays and dropping out of school is just ridiculous.  

There should be a gigantic sign in every locker room and in each players dorm room from the day they get there on...clearly displaying what the average college graduate earns in thier lifetime compared to someone with just a highschool diploma.  If I were a coach I would start every practice/meeting/game with that speech…its a reality these kids need to get through their heads.

I totally agree with the no pay principle.  The other question that comes to mind, however, is what is going on at Northwestern?  I haven't looked, but there may be some systemic problems with that program that need to be addressed. 

Here are a few stats to keep in mind:

•Over a work life, earnings for a worker with a bachelor's degree compared with one who had just a high school diploma increase by about $1 million for non-Hispanic Whites and about $700,000 for African Americans; Asians and Pacific Islanders; and Hispanics.


Football: 1.7% of college players play professionally, 0.08% of high school players do


High school players: 1,108,441

College players: 67,887

Draftees: 255

The real cancer of this whole pay me for play in college attitude is that while it has a good chance of working out for the all-american at Alabama, it crushes the safety at FAU.  These are young men who dont realize the reality of the situation and how thier attitude now will effect them for the next 40 years.

Its not just about the difference in pay between being educated and not, its the difference in the work you do everyday.  That cant be quantified.

walty12 said

fauowl said

While I agree with Tim and Walty that I don't want to see Student-Athletes form a Union and get lots of money…I am not adverse to looking to see if a small amount of spending money makes sense. 

It is unrealistic for a college football player to get a regular job during their time in school.  There may be a few exceptions, but with practicing, training, studying, going to class, and sleeping, there is not much time left to work and not many employers who would want to work around a crazy and changing schedule. 

Do these athletes have enough money to put gas in their car?  I don't know how much they get currently so I don't know the answer, but if they did a realistic study and found that a few dollars a month makes sense, I am ok with that.

Posted On: Jan 29th 2014, 8:15 AM #327182

If they want spending money above all else recieved (mind you eligible kids from families without much money get a pell grant of over $5,000.00 a semester, which is a lot of spending money when all else is paid for) they can take student loans.

Lets remember FAU doesn't turn a profit, the all-inclusive stay the players recieve for 4-5 years to play football is a heck of a deal.

Posted On: Jan 29th 2014, 10:02 AM #327188

Just because FAU football doesn't turn a profit does not mean it provides no value to the school.  People are taking FAU a lot more seriously than in the past, and that is a part of it.  What would be the harm in providing a small stipend for every football player each semester since they are unable to work?  I understand there is great value to what they receive (training, coaching, education, etc.), but that doesn't put gas in their car or pay for a trip home.