Pro compensation
Many people say that student-athletes are privileged enough to have a free education through participating in a secondary activity, and should not receive any extra benefits. Yet there are several significant reasons why we should consider compensating student-athletes. One reason for doing so is that like all college students, student-athletes need money to survive the college life. To make money, they would need to find and take on jobs. In 1997, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which is the governing body of college athletics, voted 169-150 to allow student-athletes to hold jobs during the school year (Amusement Business, 1997).
This would create a difficult circumstance for the student athletes: along with their school load, the wear and tear and travel of their sport, and whatever social life they have, they would need to add another burden to their lives by spending their spare time making wages. It's hard enough already for some student-athletes to earn good grades; having a part-time job would take away from the hours spent studying, possibly resulting in lower grade-point averages of student-athletes. The athletes might even consider cheating as a way to keep up their schoolwork; this could result in academic trouble. If the athletes were paid a stipend, they wouldn't need to get jobs and would continue to use their time studying. Finding a job is what life after college is all about anyway.
Another reason for compensating student-athletes concerns the huge problem of gambling in college sports. On virtually every big-time college athletics campus are student masterminds who web university-wide intricate and secret gambling schemes. These involve a variety of individuals, from everyday students who seek quick cash to the college athletes themselves. The bookies often seek out the players and make them an offer that they would find difficult to refuse- the chance to make some easy money. But this money might not be as easy as it seems, as it requires a huge risk: the risk of getting caught. Gambling most commonly occurs in the sport of basketball through the act of point shaving. For anywhere from thousands of dollars to incentives such as cars or jewelry, the "recruited" basketball players intently miss shots or turn the ball over to the other team to cover the bookie's spread. Student-athletes who accept gambling offers are putting everything on the line- their eligibility, their scholarship, their futures, and their reputations- just for illegal money. Making money the legal way by getting a job is too strenuous, and the illegal, although exhilarating, way to make money by gambling has more repercussions than benefits. Paying an athlete would reduce the chances of them accepting an offer to gamble.
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The third and most significant reason for paying college athletes regards the desire to become a professional athlete. At one time it was considered traditional to complete four years of college eligibility before considering any post-college career options. After four years, if you were a good enough athlete you could try your chances at becoming a professional. In the past twenty years, however, the world of professional sports has witnessed a surge of college underclassmen forego their college eligibility and the burdens therein for the extravagant lifestyle of the professional athlete. For instance, it's amazing and very convincing to a college sophomore basketball player such as JaRon Rush (left) to know that next year when he enters the NBA draft he will be making more money than he has ever seen before in his life, and that his one-season salary will be five times more than that of his peers when they graduate from college in two more years. You can't forget the fame, the fortune, the glamour, and the glory that also comes along. This is the essence of the problem: many college athletes only go to college to eventually turn professional. For them, the shorter the stay in college, the better. They don't want to spend any more time than they have to in college; even though the college years are influential and memorable, the professional lifestyle is much more appealing. In fact, as a result of this problem, the graduation rates summary of student-athletes compiled by the NCAA for 1992 show that 60 percent of division one athletes graduated. Female athletes tended to have a higher graduation rate than the men (68% for females, 52% for males), but with the creation of professional women leagues we can expect the percentage of graduating females to drop. |
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Although the percentages are not very low, a surprising phenomenon that has recently become a trend in professional sports might influence a percentage decrease: talented high school players making the jump to the professional ranks. College athletics are strict and very demanding; any violation is thoroughly inspected and punished severely. Violations can even be committed in high school, whether through unauthorized contacts with agents or coaches, or illegally accepting recruiting gifts. Time magazine noted how "St. John's University's star point guard, Erick Barkley (left), was suspended for taking $3,150 in scholarship aid from a church group to help offset his $23,500 prep-school tuition," (Time, March 20, 2000). Rush only played 9 games for UCLA this year due to suspected violations also. On top of the demands of college athletics, athletes must deal with the daily hassles of school. These high school superstars think to themselves: why endure four years of college to become a professional when you are talented enough to become one now? You don't get paid in college, but you do as a pro; why not make the leap? This phenomenon happens in such sports as tennis, baseball figure skating and basketball. Yet basketball seems to spark the most controversy when it occurs. The first high school basketball player to skip college was Moses Malone in 1975. Back then there were less than a handful of high school players to do such a thing. Scouts knew that Malone was physically ready and skilled enough to perform at the next level. In the past five years though, high school players have confidently, and successfully, been making the leap. Jermaine O'Neal, Al Harrington, and superstars Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant are former high school kids who have made a name for them in the NBA and have revolutionized the way we view athletes on all levels. High school players-especially the three who have decided to forego college and enter the 2000 NBA draft- can thank those NBA stars for extending them this possibility. |
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When college athletes see these high school kids such as Darius Miles in 2000 (left) making the leap, they may begin to ask themselves: if they are good enough to do it, why can't I? They might feel that since they have more experience against potential future professionals in college, they could be as good as, if not better than, the high school players could. Thus, they may depart college sooner, decreasing the graduation rates. If the NCAA were to pay its athletes, fewer athletes might be less likely to leave college early for money reasons, and more high school players would keep college as a priority rather than a consideration. This past February, 46 collegiate basketball players formed the Student
Basketball Council. According to Time Magazine, "their goal is simple:
get the fusty National Collegiate Athletic Association to start listening
to the athletes about a variety of issues, including eligibility requirements,
recruiting guidelines and the possibility of stipends," (Time, March
20, 2000). This instrumental step proves that the athletes have realized
the core issues behind being a student-athlete, and that the NCAA will continue
to suffer if changes are not made. With the billions of dollars that the
NCAA makes from television coverage, endorsements, and merchandise, what
would be so bad about contributing a little to the people who help make
it all possible? |
1998 NCAA Graduation-Rates Summary - Gives a detailed breakdown of graduation rates based on race, gender, and sport of NCAA division 1-3 athletes. NBA Draft early-entry candidates - This site lists the college basketball undergraduate athletes who have recently decided to forego the rest of their college eligibility and have declared themselves eligible for the 2000 NBA draft. |
"College athletes exploited during school years" - studentadvantage.com - An interesting article that details how economically successful college athletics have been and how much of this success the athletes miss out on unfairly. Do college basketball players want to stay in college? - An article which looks into the motives behind a college basketball player's decision to either stay in college or turn professional. The NCAA News -- March 13, 2000 - The graduation-rate dilemma - This article discusses the recent decrease in graduation rates among college athletes. |
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) - Visit the site of the governing body of college athletics. |
Discussion Area: should college athletes get paid to play? - Read comments or post your own suggestions supporting the compensation of student-athletes. |
