Let’s Debate: Should College Athletes Be Paid?
The controversy over the new possible NCAA rule allowing players to be paid like employees has been around for a while, and on October 29, 2019 the NCAA responded to the controversy and stated for the first time that they will consider passing the rule to allow players to make a profit off of their name, image, and likeness. California has already passed the new rule, they are the first and only state as of now to pass a law on this subject.
Many gamers are excited about the change because it means the possible reappearance of NCAA football video games after being discontinued. The last game to be made was NCAA 14 on July 9, 2013. NCAA 14 had an overall rating of 77%. EA Sports started making NCAA 15 but it was canceled due to players suing the company for being in the game but not getting paid.
An article on CNBC states, “other priorities for the NCAA’s three divisions to address are enhanced principles of diversity, inclusion and gender equity, as well as protecting the recruiting environment going forward.”
The difficulty that the NCAA will have with this change is the distinction between collegiate athletes and professional athletes.
A big question many people have is how will they decide how much they pay the star quarterback compared to how much they pay the backup? Most likely, both of the starting and backup are on scholarship so their college is already paid for. If the NCAA is trying to create a clear distinction between college sports and professional sports, it only makes sense for the two players to make the same amount of money.
On the other hand, some people believe that the scholarships collegiate athletes acquire should count as money, like a person makes at a job and the athletes should have to pay taxes on them. Sen. Richard Burr stated on twitter, “If college athletes are going to make money off of their likeness while in school, their scholarships should be treated like income.”
Some think that since they have never paid players before they should not start to pay them now. The lawsuit that sparked this debate was started by Trey Johnson, a former Villanova defensive back. He thought that not paying the players was going against minimum wage laws. There is conflict on whether or not this law should apply to athletes.
It is a difficult subject to debate because there is no previous knowledge of this exact topic. Even though this law has been passed, there will still be controversy and more issues may pop up in the future.
What do our readers think? We invite all to debate this topic in the comments.
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Stephen L Everhart • Dec 6, 2019 at 10:15 pm
Universities should not be allowed to profit from either the names or the images of their athletes. Such proceeds should go 100% to the athletes. If no fans want to pay for your name or image, then marketplace economics prevail: fans are not going to pay for something of no value to them, so only the stars will make money.
Having said that, there are way too many American kids going to college for the wrong reasons. Unless you have the physical attributes to go professional after college, quit playing games and get an education–unless, of course, you want to play a game for the pure joy of it.
But don’t expect pay for that. Assuming that joy can be bought, it’s no one else’s responsibility but yours to buy it.
Michael Funicelli • Dec 6, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Ignoring my stance on this issue, paying college athletes would create many more problems than it would solve. How could the NCAA ever decide a fair pay scale for all student athletes? Should all athletes get the same amount regardless of the sport they play? Should all athletes get paid the same amount regardless of gender? Should all athletes get the same amount regardless of playing time or talent? Should all athletes get paid the same amount regardless of college size and classification? Should collegiate cheerleaders, dance team members, eSports participants, intramural athletes, be paid? Where would the line be drawn? The problem is, there is no fair solution to all of these questions.
Hrandon Boman • Dec 6, 2019 at 1:07 pm
No doubt players should be played but only at the Division 1 level. These players are not just playing the sport but preparing for the pros. If players get payed, especially in the NCAA sport of basketball, many will continue to pursue their education rather than go pro after a single season. Not to mention, the amount of income major universities make off of jersey sales, hats, shirts and other accessories that feature a certain player. Think of Penn State and the MILLIONS they have brought in off of Saquon Barkley all for him to receive a printed out degree and not a single dollar. Keep the amounts the same for players, keep it at the division 1 level, and keep players representing their colleges longer. These universities owe millions to their athletes for the income and recognition they bring.
Tommy • Dec 6, 2019 at 10:52 am
hell yeah they should get paid many collage athletes struggle to pay for collage
Mason D Thomas • Dec 6, 2019 at 10:49 am
Pay them. They’re getting paid anyway just make it legal.
Wade • Dec 6, 2019 at 10:42 am
Yes. It should be one set amount for every starter and then another set amount for second string and third string. If you allow them to pay whatever they wan you will just end up having all of the richest schools getting the best players.