True Student Athletes

[olddog]

The Northwestern Players attempt to unionize has brought out many non sport reporters talking about the issue and the topic has bled into many business shows. It is obvious major college football is a huge money maker for the universities, coaches, athletic directors and endowments. However benefits to players has stayed almost fixed for the last 40 years.
I really think those that argue or do not recognize this is a big time business and it is not linked to academics is unbelievable. I think the explosion of wealth to universities has caught many by surprise over the last 15 years but clearly the athletes are closer to employees of the university than students. Clearly this is a monopoly on young and mostly minorities backs.

I find it ironic the reference to "student athletes" by reporters today when most of the kids on UCLA or USC would not even be able to get into these schools if they were not highly touted football players. My opinion is the true student athletes are kids playing D3 sports, and the majority of the D2 and NAIA programs where full scholarships are not the norm and some but little consideration is given to their admittance to the school based on their athletic skills.

This is what I enjoy about D3 football, it is so pure. Unless you have been to a game one does not understand how competitive and well played it can be. Go to a UR/CLU game and see how about 80 young men are putting on the line and when the game is over the next morning most will need to be back into their books. Most that read this board understand what I am saying, but every time I bring a sports fan (many old D1 athletes like myself before big bucks) to a game they walk away impressed and want to see another game soon. I sure hope some reporters circles back recognizes and compares what a D3 kid goes through to stay on the field versus a PAC 12 kid....Then you would see the next level of a student athlete.

Long Term I eventually see some form of change happening. The NCAA needs to do something so this issue looses steam. Maybe up the stipends and long term medical  etc...However eventually some schools may leave D1 sports and the greatest impact will be on the net number of scholarships in the market place and the reductions of sports programs scale. The top 50 to 75 schools may stay in big time sports while others drop down or drop the program. Women sports benefit by big time Football and basketball, they will be impacted equally since Title 9 requires like sports spending, opportunities, etc.. and if these schools scale back women programs will be equally impacted.

[cawcdad]

Well said. The huge amounts of money spent in D-I athletics as one of the main reasons I don't really follow them much and love the true student athlete in D-III and NAIA.

[Ron Boerger]

Very true ... unfortunately if the D1 money train dries up (or is shared with the athletes, leaving less for the AA), the future of D3 athletics is questionable since it totally underwrites our championships.    D3 will continue but in a different, reduced form.   And if the schools from the big D1 conferences that make all the money take their ball and play in a new, non-NCAA model as has been proposed from time to time, look out everyone else.

[olddog]

Maybe championships are more regional, but before the big time TV money their was small school championships. It will be would be different but would not go away.