Northwestern players file paperwork to unionize...

[TSpoke]

Yeah. What I read is this isn't really about getting money for the players-at this point. More to do with safety and dealing with health issues, some that might not show up till later in life.
I also read something about getting grad school paid for. For example, if a player red-shirts and graduates in 4 years they get a year of grad school paid for when they are playing their senior year but if someone doesn't red-shirt they don't get the chance to have grad school paid for because they will have used up eligability during undergrad. So they are looking to get some of those types of rules changed.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

Despite the massive costs of operating a football team, most (if not all) FBS schools football (and basketball) programs turn a large profit. However, once you use that income to pay for your other 12-20 sports, many athletic departments run in the red even with student fees.

Actually, the article linked above states that about 43% or 51 football teams in FBS do not make money--if I understand that correctly.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

On a different note (than I was discussing above), another scenario I find interesting will be how these "students" are labeled. If they are paid, then does that technically make them a University employee? If they are a university employee that takes classes, then are they eligible for "special admission" policies--the policies that often let student athletes in despite not meeting the academic requirements?

If they are paid and they are unionized, then are they no longer amateur? If they are no longer amateur, then legally can they be bound by the current NCAA rules of amateurism? If not, then are agents, autographs, etc. the next domino?

I could go on and on, but I doubt we can even grasp what the long-term impacts of this will be.

 

[PokeOLoco]

I think as TsPoke pointed out it's not necessarily they want huge pieces of the pie and to be paid big salaries, it's more about benefits, and their requests to the NCAA have been very simple and ignored for a long time. "Scholarships guaranteed even if a player is no longer able to continue for injury or medical reasons. The group has also called for a trust fund that players could tap into after their NCAA eligibility expires to finish schooling or be rewarded for finishing schooling." I see nothing wrong with either of those two things. And so far, that is what they're asking for.

 

[VisorHair]

Despite the massive costs of operating a football team, most (if not all) FBS schools football (and basketball) programs turn a large profit. However, once you use that income to pay for your other 12-20 sports, many athletic departments run in the red even with student fees.

Actually, the article linked above states that about 43% or 51 football teams in FBS do not make money--if I understand that correctly.

Correct. It's a massively misunderstood concept

 

[WestWYOPoke]

Despite the massive costs of operating a football team, most (if not all) FBS schools football (and basketball) programs turn a large profit. However, once you use that income to pay for your other 12-20 sports, many athletic departments run in the red even with student fees.

Actually, the article linked above states that about 43% or 51 football teams in FBS do not make money--if I understand that correctly.

Sorry, I should have said that the majority of football programs in BCS conferences turn a profit. I'm sure that there's not much money coming in for the Eastern Michigan's of the D1 world.

 

[Kougar78]

As a former union member and division rep, I wonder if they realize that the sole tool they have if they do not agree to terms as member of a union is to walk. When the school decides to raise costs for any item for the student body-it will have to be in a contract year or the players union will be exempt from the increase. That will make them popular.

I'm sure it has been planted in the their mind that it will be modeled after the NFLPA, which is only a union by name because it doesn't do the one thing every every other union does, negotiate wages. The only thing they negotiate is what share of a dollar amount will be directed at the players. Granted the NFLPA also addresses conditions of work (were talking 'bout practice), minimums, etc,, but it is chiefly about money.

I can see the headline now, "Northwestern Local 001 Votes to Strike-Conference Scrambles to Remove Northwestern from Schedule"

Enjoy college football while you can because it will cease to exist in 15 years in its current form between movements like this and class action lawsuits for concussions.

 

[SnowyRange]

Enjoy college football while you can because it will cease to exist in 15 years in its current form between movements like this and class action lawsuits for concussions.

Yep, as it's currently configured, it's unsustainable.

 

[PotatoCreekPete]

As a former union member and division rep, I wonder if they realize that the sole tool they have if they do not agree to terms as member of a union is to walk. When the school decides to raise costs for any item for the student body-it will have to be in a contract year or the players union will be exempt from the increase. That will make them popular.

I'm sure it has been planted in the their mind that it will be modeled after the NFLPA, which is only a union by name because it doesn't do the one thing every every other union does, negotiate wages. The only thing they negotiate is what share of a dollar amount will be directed at the players. Granted the NFLPA also addresses conditions of work (were talking 'bout practice), minimums, etc,, but it is chiefly about money.

I can see the headline now, "Northwestern Local 001 Votes to Strike-Conference Scrambles to Remove Northwestern from Schedule"

Enjoy college football while you can because it will cease to exist in 15 years in its current form between movements like this and class action lawsuits for concussions.

This is a pure and unadulterated greed, all about the All Mighty Dollar...nothing else. The unions are the ones who initiated this and these same unions couldn't care less about the athletes and their plight. Unions, especially in the private sector have seen a drastic reduction in their numbers and they see a glory hole of "untapped" riches, pure and simple. These stupid kids who obviously haven't added everything up are being taken in by the BS spread by the unions. When these kids start to having to pay dues and taxes on the "wages" of their employment and having to figure in the medical insurance costs....they are going to say, wait a second what horrible mess did we start? The problem is, is that greed by these unions and players will kill the game for many thousands and thousands of other athletes....these kids at Northwestern haven't given this any thought past the ends of their noses. It will be the small schools and the athletes that go to those schools that are going to lose out the most, schools that are barely making it are going to cut out programs and these selfish kids at Northwestern will have ruined it for all of these other young men and women (and OH yes it will affect women's programs as well) who have no other way to pay for their education except with the physical talents. This has to be one of the stupidest movements that I have seen in years and years......and it shows you how little unions actually do care, and how the ONLY thing that they care about is MONEY. In addition, there are many lawyers that are licking their chops on this one as well....in the end the biggest loser will be the athletes and the next biggest losers will be the fans!

Thank you Northwestern!

 

[SnowyRange]

Nice anti-union rant...but it has little to do with what's going on in college football.

Players are slowly figuring out how to make themselves part of the picture in this behemoth college football has become. They'll get there, through litigation probably (can't imagine the union thing catching fire), and it's going to change things drastically.