Another take on paying players

[MrTitleist]

This one comes from a former U of Miami football player. Thoughts?
http://ncaastrategies.com/2011/ncaa-football-news/on-snakes-rats-weasels-and-hurricanes/

 

[cowboyz]

I agree with the author of this article. I see the other arguments that some of the posters make in their replies. But if I had to make the decision, black or white, I'd say give more to the players that are helping to generate the revenue.

 

[Asmodeanreborn]

I say hell no. Yeah, they already have to work hard to keep up with everything, but academically they're already being babied more than enough. I have a degree from the College of Engineering at UW. I had one D thanks to a group project that was 60% of the final grade. First guy in my group dropped the class, which wouldn't have been bad if the other kid hadn't been a certain (then) senior star DE who shall remain unnamed. Guess how much work he did on our project despite all the stuff he was assigned to do? ZERO. He showed up to ONE meeting all semester. I'm assuming he retook the class - something I couldn't do, since I was graduating. And no, the professor said "no excuses," so I had no choice in the matter.
As a transfer student who only had like 80 credits at UW, 4 credits' worth of D will affect your GPA quite a bit. Good thing I decided against grad school against my advisor's wishes.

Was this an isolated incident? No.

I seriously don't believe for a second that a football player works harder than the average student in Engineering (the only department I have real experience of). I knew plenty of kids who had to put in 40-50 hours a week of studying just to pass their classes. Then they had jobs on top of that to try and pay their way through school. The part about students not pulling in money to the schools is BS as well - plenty of students participate in research projects sponsored by companies like GE, HP, Intel, etc., and those are worth millions per semester for a single department.

Seriously, it's voluntary to play sports in college. I played club sports and loved just doing it for the team experience. Sure it was a million times more relaxed, but on the flip side, my academic life was way more intense than certain football players'.

 

[cowboyz]

I say hell no. Yeah, they already have to work hard to keep up with everything, but academically they're already being babied more than enough. I have a degree from the College of Engineering at UW. I had one D thanks to a group project that was 60% of the final grade. First guy in my group dropped the class, which wouldn't have been bad if the other kid hadn't been a certain (then) senior star DE who shall remain unnamed. Guess how much work he did on our project despite all the stuff he was assigned to do? ZERO. He showed up to ONE meeting all semester. I'm assuming he retook the class - something I couldn't do, since I was graduating. And no, the professor said "no excuses," so I had no choice in the matter.
As a transfer student who only had like 80 credits at UW, 4 credits' worth of D will affect your GPA quite a bit. Good thing I decided against grad school against my advisor's wishes.

Was this an isolated incident? No.

I seriously don't believe for a second that a football player works harder than the average student in Engineering (the only department I have real experience of). I knew plenty of kids who had to put in 40-50 hours a week of studying just to pass their classes. Then they had jobs on top of that to try and pay their way through school. The part about students not pulling in money to the schools is BS as well - plenty of students participate in research projects sponsored by companies like GE, HP, Intel, etc., and those are worth millions per semester for a single department.

Seriously, it's voluntary to play sports in college. I played club sports and loved just doing it for the team experience. Sure it was a million times more relaxed, but on the flip side, my academic life was way more intense than certain football players'.

Did you make a complaint to the administration that your grade was affected by a non-caring student and an idiot professor? If the players are bringing in entertainment money and the academics are bringing in research money and the other students are paying tuition, why aren't the colleges all rolling in cash? To make it fair, don't pay the players more than their scholarship but let them sell their personal items or get slap-on-the-back freebies or let them get jobs of their choice. These other students that you mention, did they have to check with their professors if it was okay to work the jobs they had, or was it pretty much up to them? I know the FB and BB players have to have all jobs cleared with the coaches. Better yet, stop all scholarships for any team that can't finance themselves. Sure the non-FB and non-BB teams will pretty much all be glorified club teams and the FB and BB teams would probably take a big step backwards in level of play, but it'd be fair.

 

[MrTitleist]

One thing to consider... for every Texas, Miami, Ohio State, and Michigan, there's a Ball State, Bowling Green, Middle Tennessee State, and Idaho.

And one other thing to take from all of this.. how many of these guys that play college football were too dumb to get into college on their own academic or financial merit? The SEC and SWAC immediately spring to mind when thinking of players that are good at football but probably can't read past a 4th grade reading level. A college scholarship is worth possibly millions to a dumb guy that can't read but is really good at football and goes to the NFL. Would he have had that opportunity to play in the NFL if it wasn't for his scholly? Hell no. Sometimes these scholarships are worth far more than anyone could imagine. If college football players want to be really pissed off, they should be pissed at rules like Title IX that fund non-revenue sports for gender equality.. full ride scholarships for gymnastics, or golf, or ...? The money that's earned by the football teams (at probably every D1 college) helps pay for the scholarships for the non-revenue teams.. and the NCAA has a rule that you have to have 18 sports to be a FBS/D1 member (FCS has less sports requirements). So the next time you're enjoying a college tennis match.. that's being funded by the football program.

I will end this fragmented thought and go to bed and get ready to leave for my weekend getaway now!

 

[laxwyo]

I say hell no. Yeah, they already have to work hard to keep up with everything, but academically they're already being babied more than enough. I have a degree from the College of Engineering at UW. I had one D thanks to a group project that was 60% of the final grade. First guy in my group dropped the class, which wouldn't have been bad if the other kid hadn't been a certain (then) senior star DE who shall remain unnamed. Guess how much work he did on our project despite all the stuff he was assigned to do? ZERO. He showed up to ONE meeting all semester. I'm assuming he retook the class - something I couldn't do, since I was graduating. And no, the professor said "no excuses," so I had no choice in the matter.
As a transfer student who only had like 80 credits at UW, 4 credits' worth of D will affect your GPA quite a bit. Good thing I decided against grad school against my advisor's wishes.

Was this an isolated incident? No.

I seriously don't believe for a second that a football player works harder than the average student in Engineering (the only department I have real experience of). I knew plenty of kids who had to put in 40-50 hours a week of studying just to pass their classes. Then they had jobs on top of that to try and pay their way through school. The part about students not pulling in money to the schools is BS as well - plenty of students participate in research projects sponsored by companies like GE, HP, Intel, etc., and those are worth millions per semester for a single department.

Seriously, it's voluntary to play sports in college. I played club sports and loved just doing it for the team experience. Sure it was a million times more relaxed, but on the flip side, my academic life was way more intense than certain football players'.

Did you make a complaint to the administration that your grade was affected by a non-caring student and an idiot professor? If the players are bringing in entertainment money and the academics are bringing in research money and the other students are paying tuition, why aren't the colleges all rolling in cash? To make it fair, don't pay the players more than their scholarship but let them sell their personal items or get slap-on-the-back freebies or let them get jobs of their choice. These other students that you mention, did they have to check with their professors if it was okay to work the jobs they had, or was it pretty much up to them? I know the FB and BB players have to have all jobs cleared with the coaches. Better yet, stop all scholarships for any team that can't finance themselves. Sure the non-FB and non-BB teams will pretty much all be glorified club teams and the FB and BB teams would probably take a big step backwards in level of play, but it'd be fair.

I agree with you but.....how many professors have employers lined up that are willing to pay you at an inflated salary and possibly not care if you come in or not while still cutting you a check? Unless you are a "Goodwill Hunting" Smaart (boston), I don't think that would happen.

I do think it is pretty insane that they can't get regular jobs or sell any of their own stuff. I assume it's the ole slippery slope issue. Huh, what did you say? That guy gave you $200 for a plain white tee? kind of thing.