Big Ten looks at aiding athletes' living expenses

[MotionMan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6564134

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Big Ten considers pay proposal
By Brian Bennett
ESPN.com

CHICAGO -- Big Ten officials discussed a proposal that would pay athletes to help cover living expenses on top of their scholarships during the league's spring meetings this week.

The 2011 Big Ten spring meetings are in the books. ESPN.com's Brian Bennett and Adam Rittenberg take a look back at some nuggets coming out of the Palmer House. Blog

The idea, which is backed by current NCAA president Mark Emmert and was favored by late NCAA president Myles Brand, is to bridge the gap between what athletic scholarships pay and other expenses like transportation and clothing. That difference has been estimated at between $2,000 to $5,000 per player.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said league athletic directors and officials have seriously discussed whether they should use some of their growing TV revenue to pay athletes more.

"Forty years ago, you had a scholarship plus $15 a month laundry money," Delany said. "Today, you have the same scholarship, but not with the $15 laundry money.

"How do we get back more toward the collegiate model and a regulatory system that is based more on student-athlete welfare than it is on a level playing field, where everything is about a cost issue and whether or not everybody can afford to do everything everybody else can do?" Delany asked.

Delany stressed that the Big Ten was merely at the discussion stage, but he added the league is interested in talking to other conferences to see if they also favor such a plan. He acknowledged many schools and conferences across the country couldn't afford to cover those additional expenses, which could run about $300,000 a year just for football and men's basketball players alone.

But some Big Ten officials say if they can help out their athletes, then the concept of using the same rules for all teams should be abandoned. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said the stakes are simply higher for schools like his than for those in the MAC or Sun Belt.

"The reality is, if there's cost of attendance and you can't afford it, don't do it," Smith said. "The teams you're trying to beat can't do it either. Don't do it because Ohio State's doing it. That's one of the things schools at that level get trapped into thinking."

If they are not going to allow the players to work for alumni and/or boosters (not that they have time for pay-work with their (theoretical) classwork and sports-work), and they don't want them stealing stereos from the dorms anymore, I am not sure there is any other option than to give them a clothing and transportation stipend.

(And thank you in advance to those of you who think that scholarships for sports should be abolished or that college sports should be abolished. Your thread-crapping is always appreciated.)

MotionMan

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Most of them are going to make a living stealing steroes when they get out anyway. Might as well get practice while they're in college.

 

[Farmer]

Pay that man his money!

 

[ZOOYUKA]

What about tattoos? The should get a stipend for tattoos!

 

[Blackjack200]

(And thank you in advance to those ...be pay them? Yeah, I know, fucking insane.

 

[Dirigible]

Thread crap:
NCAA is full of it. Either abolish athletic scholarships and have them be students or pay them.

Got no more issue with this proposal than I do with the current state of affairs.

 

[Gibsons]

Thread crap:
NCAA is full of it. Either abolish athletic scholarships and have them be students or pay them.

Got no more issue with this proposal than I do with the current state of affairs.

The problem with paying the football and basketball players, (who generate, I dunno about 90% of the income) is you'll get hit with title IX, and have to pay the women's soccer team the same amount. Plus the swim team, the golf team....

 

[Dirigible]

Yeah the whole college sports thing is bs.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Every college should build a super dope dorm building just for the ballers and maintain a fleet of pimped out rides that they can use, and of course provide a non stop supply of super hot coeds to service their needs all free of charge.

 

[ichy]

Why do we even pretend that these guys, most of whom are barely literate, are in school to be students?

 

[theknight571]

Will the schools then also aid the living expenses of other students on scholarship?

Perhaps the professional leagues can pitch in... college is a lot of these sports minor leagues.

 

[polarmystery]

Why do we even pretend that these guys, most of whom are barely literate, are in school to be students?

This.

I have yet to meet a college athlete that played one of the major sports to have a plan B. Most were borderline retarded, if not completely so.

 

[preslove]

Is the semi-prostitution practiced at most big schools going to remain? That shit right there has got to be worth a couple grande a year.

 

[ghost recon88]

http://www.michiganrejects.com

 

[Dirigible]

This.

I have yet to meet a college athlete that played one of the major sports to have a plan B. Most were borderline retarded, if not completely so.

When I was in school the QB of the football team was an engineering major. He was in a few of my classes, worked hard, was not dumb, got grades as good as mine. He was even good enough to kick around the NFL for several years and started a few games.



Not really a good counter example though. I went to a small school with no athletic scholarships.

 

[BoomerD]

Just put an end to the whole "athletic scholarships" ruse.

Very few college athletes are actually there for college...it's just a nearly mandatory stepping stone to professional sports.

Put that money into academic scholarships instead, and quit pretending that the jocks are really students.

 

[Blackjack200]

Will the schools then also aid the living expenses of other students on scholarship?

Perhaps the professional leagues can pitch in... college is a lot of these sports minor leagues.

The NHL and MLB don't "pitch in" to help their minor leagues, as far as I know. AHL and AAA teams are self supported. I'm not sure how it works when a player is rehabbing or sent down but is still under contract at the top level - Perhaps that's a bit of a subsidy.

 

[Farmer]

Just put an end to the whole "athletic scholarships" ruse.

Very few college athletes are actually there for college...it's just a nearly mandatory stepping stone to professional sports.

Put that money into academic scholarships instead, and quit pretending that the jocks are really students.

If you're talking about DI, you'd be right.

But there are tons of schools outside of D1.

 

[classy]

I have said this before, a Reggie Bush is more valuable to a university than the smartest kid on the planet. They make money. And some will generate 50 to 75 times more than they will ever recieve. Great athletics is superior to great brains when you factor in economics. They should get many economic perks.

 

[Via]

The problem with paying the football and basketball players, (who generate, I dunno about 90% of the income) is you'll get hit with title IX, and have to pay the women's soccer team the same amount. Plus the swim team, the golf team....

I still think the title IX issue is an excuse to not reward athletes from high revenue sports.

As long as you're not taking away scholarships from women I don't see the problem.

 

[Drako]

Very few college athletes are actually there for college...it's just a nearly mandatory stepping stone to professional sports.

Reality would suggest otherwise.

What percentage of College Football players do you think actually make it to the pros?

 

[Fingolfin269]

Good move.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Since college football is basically just a business on campus, separate it as such, and pay the employees (football players, coaches, grounds keepers, cheerleaders, etc.) their fair share. Education is just a by product.

 

[BoomerD]

Reality would suggest otherwise.

What percentage of College Football players do you think actually make it to the pros?

Obviously, very few ever make it to the pros. Duh...but 99+% of those drafted every year come from college teams. VERY few are hired "off the street."

It's like the lottery...if you don't buy a ticket, your odds are even less than if you do...

 

[Blackjack200]

Reality would suggest otherwise.

What percentage of College Football players do you think actually make it to the pros?

And how many are trying?

Look at the major junior leagues in Canada. Thousands of kids that will never make the NHL, but they're all in on the pot.