I have a little history with this subject, as my dad and grandfather are both (were with Grandpa) part of the education system in Wyoming. My grandpa was a superintendent during the 60-70's.
I asked my dad at a very young age, maybe 10 to 14 I suppose, about amateurism in sports. What I learned is that ALL American citizens have access to equal education. This wasn't always the case. Black Americans in the 50-60s did not have the same access to education. It's so fucked up now, that the African American community thinks that athletes should get an easier ride to a degree. But that is what we are facing.
The way equal education works, all students attending higher education would need equal pay to fall under federal law, you can't just pay athletes.
The NCAA is broken, corruption everywhere... Doesn't change the civil rights movement and accomplishments.
I think there needs to be a minor league, without education where athletes can go if the don't want to participate in higher education.
Point being, we can't alienate the greater percentage of young American's, to include the athlete that doesn't make the pro level, for the benefit of the few Americans that feel the are entitled to more benefits.
America has been down this road before, and it was not pretty. The FBI should be involved right now. Personally, I would lay a fat ass law suit on any institution that would put my son at more hardship for an equal access to education.