Essay Why College Athletes Should Be Paid

No. I do not think it is fair that the students need to sign a contract stating that their image and likeness is the property of the NCAA. It is the students image they should be able to decide when the NCAA uses their

Nearly $1 billion dollars is what the NCAA made in 2014 off of sports events and merchandise, and they still will not provide the players with an income. Some say that given the player an education is enough, but it's not anymore because they are making too much money off theses players. Paying college athletes is the right thing to do because it is their money that is being collected, if a player is hurt during a college game then it could make it to where they can’t play professional, or they should be able to take endorsement deals.

(Solomon 1) In the NCAA there are many laws that prevent the athletes from doing certain things. These laws are called the “Laws of Amateurism”. In general, amateurism requirements do not allow salary for participating in athletics, or prize money above actual or necessary expenses (NCAA Center). However Judge Claudia Wilken partially granted class action status in a lawsuit concerning the use of college athletes' names and likenesses. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled the plaintiffs, including former and current Division I men's basketball players and Football Bowl Subdivision players, will be allowed to challenge the NCAA's current restrictions on what athletes might receive in exchange for playing sports. The ruling sets up the prospect of a fundamental change in scholarship rules and the concept of amateurism (Berkowitz 3). This would help athletes to be able to fight for the compensated pay.

During the summer of 2013 one of the biggest outrages in all sports, not just the collegiate division, was the story of Texas A&M’s golden boy Johnny Manziel. At the beginning of the football season Manziel shocked fans around the country with his remarkable abilities; abilities that would later make him the youngest Heisman winner at the time. However, a couple of months later no one would be talking about his talent or his Heisman, but the allegations surrounded around Manziel selling his signature on eBay for money. The NCAA strictly bans collegiate athletes to benefit in any way when it comes to their name and the revenue that comes with it. This shined light on one of the major controversies in college sports; the dispute of whether it is right to allow student athletes to benefit off their names. The NCAA ought to allow collegiate athletes the ability to profit off the use of their name because by allowing players to receive revenues it would ease the negative effects of playing collegiate sports for the student athletes.

    The first time this issue came up that opened eyes on the topic was in 2009.  In the O’bannon vs NCAA case where O’bannon was a former UCLA basketball star and sued the NCAA for using his name and image in broadcasts and video games.  O’bannon wanted a piece of the revenue that his name brought in and that was what he was arguing.  The NCAA stated that college athletes are amateurs and paying athletes would turn them more into professionals and hurt the business

This takes the freedom away from the athletes, exempting them to be able to negotiate their rights. Another NCAA restriction is all Division 1 athletes are required by the NCAA to sign the Athletic Statement. This statement consists a section that grants permission for the NCAA, member schools, conferences and “a third party acting on behalf of the NCAA” to use an athlete’s name or image for promotions, but not allowing the athlete to profit off their own name or image (Bernfeld). This statement is ways for the NCAA to use restrictions in order to legally avoid paying college athletes while still making a profit for the

Universities can create and sell merchandise that may have athletes faces and names emblazoned on the product without the consent of the players. Additionally, players are not reimbursed and don’t make any money from the selling of the products, and if they were to sell products that had their name or face on it they would be penalized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Colleges are making all the money and players are assuming all the risk, so they should earn a reasonable fraction of the billions of dollars institutions earn from their

This all started as a conversation about “about video game royalties”; for instance, NCAA football and NCAA basketball (USA). Both games stopped being made due to college players suing because the NCAA was using their names and pictures on the front but were denying to give them any cut. So what does the NCAA do? Use the same stats and ratings just replace the pictures and change the names. Now let's get deeper former A&M superstar QB Johnny “football” Manziel was suspended for “allegedly selling merchandise with his autograph on it” (USA). Apparently “the use of his or her name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind” is against NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.1, (USA). So colleges and the NCAA can use their names and pictures for billboards, advertisements, merchandise, etc; but the person themselves

Finally, the most important reason college athletes should not be paid because they receive a free education for playing for the university or college. “College athletes receive numerous amenities and luxuries free of charge” (Post Column 1). The athletes are students sustaining entry to a college education through their involvement in sports, which means they earn scholarships that pay for their bills; living space, committee, and other authorized payments. “Paying college athletes would diminish all the goals and morals that colleges and universities stand for” (Post Column 1). College sports is not an occupation or vocation.

Currently, a number of student athletes are of the opinion that they should receive additional monetary compensation for two reasons. First, they argue that due to their rigorous and demanding schedules they are unable to hold jobs to receive an income. Secondly, that they should receive payment because of the amount of revenue they bring into the university; whether that is through jersey sales, video game sales, or being a high profile athlete that increases ticket sales and exposure of the university. This is mainly referring to football and men’s basketball. The NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.1, forbids “the use of his or her name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind” (Clevens, 2013, Vol. 143, No. 4). “It would be unfair to other students if the university paid athletes to play college sports, although many may disagree. Scholarships

This is very illegal and could lead to expulsion of the student. A lot of these players have still succeeded in their careers but will always have to live with that over their head. There have been countless scandals against schools and their team's coaches. Not only does this look unprofessional, but it makes students not want to attend the colleges under question. This also gives a bad stigma to the organization that will stay prominent for years to come.

If student athletes could accept money from anyone, the NCAA argues, they might be exploited, cheated, or even bribed. (Nocera 2011) B. Schools organizations are raking in huge profits from merchandise sales, live events of media coverage. 1. Merchandise, jerseys, tickets, food and fan paraphernalia is sold thanks to the athlete for being the main reason the events that’s generating revenue; the players don’t see any of the money.

At a time when colleges all over the country are having to cut back on educational expenditures, justifying spending additional amounts of money on collegiate sports, as well as the players, has become a very hot pressed topic in which the collegiate athlete is losing out on much of the money generated by their performances either on the field or the court. Because many of these players help bring in money to the university, they believe that a portion of that money should be given back to them. Millions of dollars are made each year in collegiate sports but few of those dollars have been given back to the players, who are the one’s actually playing the sports colleges participate in. Merchandise with players names, video games using a player’s likeness, and all the obligations involving media interviews, as well as maintaining ones grades can cause a collegiate athlete to believe that their efforts are not being rewarded in a monetary sense. Now colleges and universities around the country are rebutting that argument by having all of the college athletes expenses paid for. They believe giving them a free education should be enough. Colleges believe that being a student should trump all other obligations, including sports, so helping a young adult pay for college is something universities hold in high regard. Universities are a place for higher learning, not a place where athletes are supposed to come and make money. Also, many colleges would have a burden paying their

Student athletes also generate a lot of money, not only for their school, but also for coaches, NCAA, businesses and TV networks. College athletes are prohibited from doing almost anything to make money for themselves because it might be a violation of NCAA

For years college athletes have not been paid for their hard work and determination on and off the field. When you buy your favorite college athletes jersey you are probably not thinking about who is getting the money for that jersey;more importantly who should be getting the money for that jersey. Imagine if thousands of people were wearing your football jersey, you would think it was pretty cool until you remembered that all of your hard work and the fame you create doesn't matter because you are not getting any profits of that jersey. While that might sound a little selfish it's not because when you decide to sign a contract you don't think about the free time you won't have to get a part time job, point being college athletes wouldn't