Oklahoma State in trouble [Sports Illustrated]

[MrTitleist]

This is just part 1 to the series: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130910/oklahoma-state-part-1-money/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[fromolwyoming]

I hope our new President was unaware of this happening there, all things considered.

 

[Asmodeanreborn]

If it happened under Les Miles at Oklahoma State, you BET it happens at LSU.

 

[BeaverPoke]

I hope our new president has nothing to do with this, and there are no sanctions that carry over to him here, and really hope it doesn't affect UW sports program.

 

[Bryoming]

This is going to be big. The question is, does it help or hurt paying players, like the big programs in the NCAA want to do? I can see the side of the argument that you need money to eat and such, but that's nothing a part time job couldn't take care of. I know of a ton of athletes that work for the Brown & Gold in Laramie, and they've never been paid for work they didn't do. Paying college players is bullshit. If they want money, they can work like the rest of us.

 

[BeaverPoke]

This is going to be big. The question is, does it help or hurt paying players, like the big programs in the NCAA want to do? I can see the side of the argument that you need money to eat and such, but that's nothing a part time job couldn't take care of. I know of a ton of athletes that work for the Brown & Gold in Laramie, and they've never been paid for work they didn't do. Paying college players is bullshit. If they want money, they can work like the rest of us.

Most college players are allowed an allowance anyways. Not technically being payed, but they get a certain amount of dollars to spend.

 

[jarhead]

This is going to be big. The question is, does it help or hurt paying players, like the big programs in the NCAA want to do? I can see the side of the argument that you need money to eat and such, but that's nothing a part time job couldn't take care of. I know of a ton of athletes that work for the Brown & Gold in Laramie, and they've never been paid for work they didn't do. Paying college players is bullshit. If they want money, they can work like the rest of us.

As the father of a kid who is playing college football I can tell you that there is no way in hell he could work, go to school, and meet the demands of a division one college football program. I am not real sure where I stand on this issue but my son, a non-scholarshipped athlete, could not hold a full time or even a part time job. Sure he works a little in the summer but there is no way during the academic school year that he could work. Bottom line....there isn't enough hours in the day to do all three! So here is the debate: colleges make millions of dollars a year and they are going to force their players, the means of this income, to live in poverty? doesn't seem right does it? Even a scholarshipped athlete who gets the allowance has a hard time making it. I don't know what the answer is but I do know it is next to impossible to work and play football in college.

 

[jarhead]

The next issue is there are institutions in this country that have such large endowments that they could provide free tuition to all students and still make money! Yet they are classified as a "non-profit organization". It all becomes very convoluted because not only are they making money hand over fist on their athletic programs, but they get a huge tax break because they are "non-profit"!

 

[McPeachy]

As the father of a kid who is playing college football I can tell you that there is no way in hell he could work, go to school, and meet the demands of a division one college football program. I am not real sure where I stand on this issue but my son, a non-scholarshipped athlete, could not hold a full time or even a part time job. Sure he works a little in the summer but there is no way during the academic school year that he could work. Bottom line....there isn't enough hours in the day to do all three! So here is the debate: colleges make millions of dollars a year and they are going to force their players, the means of this income, to live in poverty? doesn't seem right does it? Even a scholarshipped athlete who gets the allowance has a hard time making it. I don't know what the answer is but I do know it is next to impossible to work and play football in college.

You bring up some great points.

I feel student athletes should be paid, while going to college, yes. But I also feel that the pay, needs to be equal (and regulated) from one institution to the next. Wyoming, Notre Dame, U$C, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Idaho, etc., all pay equal amounts - say $2000 a month during the school year. By not enforcing such, the gap widens (as your last post infers) and the haves become even more "having" and the have nots go out of business. Further, similarly as to what you mentioned, the profitability of certain schools needs to be evaluated.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

As the father of a kid who is playing college football I can tell you that there is no way in hell he could work, go to school, and meet the demands of a division one college football program. I am not real sure where I stand on this issue but my son, a non-scholarshipped athlete, could not hold a full time or even a part time job. Sure he works a little in the summer but there is no way during the academic school year that he could work. Bottom line....there isn't enough hours in the day to do all three! So here is the debate: colleges make millions of dollars a year and they are going to force their players, the means of this income, to live in poverty? doesn't seem right does it? Even a scholarshipped athlete who gets the allowance has a hard time making it. I don't know what the answer is but I do know it is next to impossible to work and play football in college.

You bring up some great points.

I feel student athletes should be paid, while going to college, yes. But I also feel that the pay, needs to be equal (and regulated) from one institution to the next. Wyoming, Notre Dame, U$C, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Idaho, etc., all pay equal amounts - say $2000 a month during the school year. By not enforcing such, the gap widens (as your last post infers) and the haves become even more "having" and the have nots go out of business. Further, similarly as to what you mentioned, the profitability of certain schools needs to be evaluated.

If athletes are allowed to be paid, Wyoming will NOT be in the top division and the gap will certainly widen. Remember that Title IX will require that female athletes be paid as well. Payments will be required not only for revenue generating sports but for many non-revenue generating sports (there is no other way to balance out the payments). Let's say 75 football players receive approx $15,000/year. In order to balance the equation, 75 women athletes will also receive $15,000/year. The TOTAL COST: 2.25 million per year. While that number is insignificant to the PAC 12/Big 10, that number is massive compared to our athletic budget/revenue.

Honestly, I don't know where I stand on the issue because I don't think it is fair that some schools make so much money off of their players. But, it is clear that payments to players will mean a move down for Wyoming.

 

[McPeachy]

If athletes are allowed to be paid, Wyoming will NOT be in the top division and the gap will certainly widen. Remember that Title IX will require that female athletes be paid as well. Payments will be required not only for revenue generating sports but for many non-revenue generating sports (there is no other way to balance out the payments). Let's say 75 football players receive approx $15,000/year. In order to balance the equation, 75 women athletes will also receive $15,000/year. The TOTAL COST: 2.25 million per year. While that number is insignificant to the PAC 12/Big 10, that number is massive compared to our athletic budget/revenue.

Honestly, I don't know where I stand on the issue because I don't think it is fair that some schools make so much money off of their players. But, it is clear that payments to players will mean a move down for Wyoming.

Maybe it should be pay during season versus annual pay? And yes, you are correct, all athletes would "get" it, female golfers would get the same $2K that football players get.

That said, Wyoming could afford it. Hell, the state gives away more than twice that in Hathaway every year. (Wish I could find a link to that claim).

 

[OrediggerPoke]

If athletes are allowed to be paid, Wyoming will NOT be in the top division and the gap will certainly widen. Remember that Title IX will require that female athletes be paid as well. Payments will be required not only for revenue generating sports but for many non-revenue generating sports (there is no other way to balance out the payments). Let's say 75 football players receive approx $15,000/year. In order to balance the equation, 75 women athletes will also receive $15,000/year. The TOTAL COST: 2.25 million per year. While that number is insignificant to the PAC 12/Big 10, that number is massive compared to our athletic budget/revenue.

Honestly, I don't know where I stand on the issue because I don't think it is fair that some schools make so much money off of their players. But, it is clear that payments to players will mean a move down for Wyoming.

Maybe it should be pay during season versus annual pay? And yes, you are correct, all athletes would "get" it, female golfers would get the same $2K that football players get.

That said, Wyoming could afford it. Hell, the state gives away more than twice that in Hathaway every year. (Wish I could find a link to that claim).

We could afford it as a State but almost guarantee that we wouldn't.

 

[TSpoke]

When the there was talk of the stipend around a year or so ago(which was for around $2000 or so a year a so i beleive) The MW came out and said all the member institutions agreed to pay it if it passed. So I wouldn't be so sure that we wouldn't pay up.

 

[thirtyseven]

College Athletes are paid already!!!!

Tuition, Books, Food, Shelter, Tutors, ect...

I had to pay for all of that out of my pocket and the athletes want to complain they don't have money to go buy a video game? Cry me a river. Get a job in the summer if you want some spending money. Don't bitch that you are not getting spending money when you get more than all the other college students.

I do think that some money should go to the athletes for merchandise b/c we know many times the player is the one moving the merchandise so they should get a cut of it.

 

[WYCowboy]

If athletes are allowed to be paid, Wyoming will NOT be in the top division and the gap will certainly widen. Remember that Title IX will require that female athletes be paid as well. Payments will be required not only for revenue generating sports but for many non-revenue generating sports (there is no other way to balance out the payments). Let's say 75 football players receive approx $15,000/year. In order to balance the equation, 75 women athletes will also receive $15,000/year. The TOTAL COST: 2.25 million per year. While that number is insignificant to the PAC 12/Big 10, that number is massive compared to our athletic budget/revenue.

Honestly, I don't know where I stand on the issue because I don't think it is fair that some schools make so much money off of their players. But, it is clear that payments to players will mean a move down for Wyoming.

Maybe it should be pay during season versus annual pay? And yes, you are correct, all athletes would "get" it, female golfers would get the same $2K that football players get.

That said, Wyoming could afford it. Hell, the state gives away more than twice that in Hathaway every year. (Wish I could find a link to that claim).

We could afford it as a State but almost guarantee that we wouldn't.

This is true! When Wyoming can afford to put near a half billion dollars on most years into a rainy day account, they can afford to support The University of Wyoming the way it needs to be supported. Instead, we have many professors that are leaving because they can do better elsewhere. I will say it has gotten better recently, but only marginally. All I can say is find out how your legislators and our governor have supported UW and vote accordingly.

 

[jarhead]

College Athletes are paid already!!!!

Tuition, Books, Food, Shelter, Tutors, ect...

I had to pay for all of that out of my pocket and the athletes want to complain they don't have money to go buy a video game? Cry me a river. Get a job in the summer if you want some spending money. Don't bitch that you are not getting spending money when you get more than all the other college students.

I do think that some money should go to the athletes for merchandise b/c we know many times the player is the one moving the merchandise so they should get a cut of it.

Did you play football in college? The point is they don't have time to be a part of the football program, go to school, and work. College football today does not have an off season. My son was in Laramie all year! Fall season, winter conditioning and workouts, spring camp, and summer weightlifting conditioning and seven on seven workouts. Not to mention he was taking a full load of classes at the same time. Do they buy a video game now and then? Probably, but more often than not they are living off of Ramen noodles because they don't have a dollar to their name. But they bleed brown and gold for our entertainment and so the school can finance all of the other activities that generate zero revenue.

 

[zappinpoke]

I talked to a couple players after a game a few years back and was told they got around $1100 per month stipend

 

[jarhead]

I talked to a couple players after a game a few years back and was told they got around $1100 per month stipend

I think it is $1200 now but they have to pay their rent, buy food, and pay all of their utilities. It is difficult, but the smart ones live together so that they can reduce their overhead.

 

[Subcanis]

College Athletes are paid already!!!!

Tuition, Books, Food, Shelter, Tutors, ect...

I had to pay for all of that out of my pocket and the athletes want to complain they don't have money to go buy a video game? Cry me a river. Get a job in the summer if you want some spending money. Don't bitch that you are not getting spending money when you get more than all the other college students.

I do think that some money should go to the athletes for merchandise b/c we know many times the player is the one moving the merchandise so they should get a cut of it.

Did you play football in college? The point is they don't have time to be a part of the football program, go to school, and work. College football today does not have an off season. My son was in Laramie all year! Fall season, winter conditioning and workouts, spring camp, and summer weightlifting conditioning and seven on seven workouts. Not to mention he was taking a full load of classes at the same time. Do they buy a video game now and then? Probably, but more often than not they are living off of Ramen noodles because they don't have a dollar to their name. But they bleed brown and gold for our entertainment and so the school can finance all of the other activities that generate zero revenue.

I double majored in 2 seperate schools at UW. 20-22 hours/semester. For four years I had my tuition (only) paid on the understanding that I commit 14 hours per week in classes that netted me 3 credits/semester. I had no time for a job and certainly didn't expect a paycheck. I took out out loans, same as everyone else.

Did I generate money for UW? Maybe a little. Did I bust my ass and put in the time on my own dime because I was following my passions? Yup.

I lack compassion for athletics on this one.

Back to OSU: as much as I hope something comes of this, assuming the allegations are proven, I fear the NCAA will show how inept they are yet again.

 

[NowherePoke]

College Athletes are paid already!!!!

Tuition, Books, Food, Shelter, Tutors, ect...

I had to pay for all of that out of my pocket and the athletes want to complain they don't have money to go buy a video game? Cry me a river. Get a job in the summer if you want some spending money. Don't bitch that you are not getting spending money when you get more than all the other college students.

I do think that some money should go to the athletes for merchandise b/c we know many times the player is the one moving the merchandise so they should get a cut of it.

It's a tricky question no doubt. I agree about the merchandise. The problem is that it is currently a rigged market. It operates as a non-profit with amateur athletes. However, due to demand (primarily in FB and Men's BB) for live sports content these properties can generate significant revenue. Since there is no incentive to return the money to a group of shareholders (non-profit, usually public entities) and there is no competitive market for talent, the money ends up going to coaches and administrators.

A larger stipend is a nice idea, but I think the train has left the station. The NCAA needs to return to amateur athletics and let the revenue generating sports (FBS Football and high level D1 Men's BB) operate as the minor league professional sports they are, including using the money generated by TV contracts to pursue talent.

The question for us is: which side of the line should Wyoming be on? Common sense dictates that we should end up on the amateur side. We lack the media market to ever begin to compete in funds with top schools. However...if enough schools stick with FBS/Pro football in that scenario that I don't see why Wyoming couldn't stick around. We don't beat out Texas for recruits now, so why would it matter if Texas paid a LB recruit $50,000/yr and we paid them $5,000/yr? In fact, if the big schools constantly got into bidding wars over players maybe it would reduce their advantage in other resources (coaching salaries, etc.).

I don't know, I will probably have a completely different opinion tomorrow, so don't hold me to any of that. Ha!