Student Athletes Deserve More than Scholarships
Student Athletes Deserve More than Scholarships. A Look into the Finances of Major
College Sports Programs Student-athletes at major colleges and universities do more than attend
classes, practices, and compete against other teams. They generate money. Supporters of the
play-for-pay concept believe that since major college athletic programs produce large sums of
money through television rights fees, bowl games, ticket sales and other means, student-athletes
deserve more than just a grant-in-aid for their efforts. As a result, intercollegiate sports have
developed into a highly specialized, multi-million dollar entertainment industry that rides on the
This industry has in turn resulted in substantial rewards for big time athletic programs and
the NCAA. While universities are eager to compensate coaches for the exploits of their players
they are steadfast in their abidance of the NCAA Manual. This idea would have us believe the
financial system between universities and student-athletes is unfairly balanced in favor of the
institution. A university realizes millions in revenue and all the athlete gets is a measly scholarship.
Article 12 of the NCAA bylaws provides that "a student-athlete loses amateur status along with
the right to participate in intercollegiate athletics when he is found to have received funds, awards,
or other impermissible benefits established under NCAA legislation." Schools should either stick
to this in every case, or just not at all. These prohibitions on payment include direct compensation
for athletic participation and receipt of financial aid above the cost of tuition, fees, room, board,
and books. While student-athletes directly contribute millions of dollars in revenue to institutions
they receive nothing but the minimum cost to keep them in school. Most of these young men and
...