Do College Athletes Deserve Compensation?

Professional sports are now a corporation, not just a recreational activity. Individuals who earn money from their talents nowadays normally receive rewards for their contributions, with the exception of college athletes. College athletes raise billions of dollars in revenue for their colleges but are never compensated for their contributions. School games have grown in popularity around the world over the years. College athletics is a significant source of income for certain colleges, and they attract students to their campuses. Universities depend on their athletes to deliver to keep their school’s reputation famous. College athletes are supposed to be the most elite on that level, so why are they not paid? The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) says that it prohibits them from getting paid to shield them from exploitation by commercial enterprises. Many contend that these athletes ought not to be paid on the grounds that they receive a scholarship. These individuals feel that the guarantee of their education being paid for is sufficient enough. However, these athletes generate enough revenue for their colleges, and their schools owe them much more than a scholarship. They also work hard and train like professionals with little to show for it. The NCAA should allow college athletes to receive a small amount of compensation for the free services they offer to their college.

Why should college athletes be paid? The regular athletic scholarship provides educational cost, food, lodging, and books. For most college competitors, that is where it ends. Many school competitors take grants in light of the fact that if it were not for the grant, they would not afford to get into school. Their families are not able to provide for them, and thus they are sent to school with a grant and expected to survive. “We do have hungry nights that we don’t have enough money to get food in,” says Shabazz Napier to reporters after a game (Sherman). With remuneration or some other type of payment, they could manage the cost of the necessities that are not provided by the grant. Without any form of income, an athlete has a life that only comprises of schoolwork and training, and they need to depend on support from teammates. Giving all college athletes a small amount of pay will reduce their financial burden. With no spare time after schoolwork and training, it becomes impossible for them to get a job like their college counterparts, and even if they could, it is unlawful for them to get one. How are they expected to sustain themselves? The NCAA does not allow athletes to get jobs since they could be paid based off of their game performance. This decision makes no sense since it leaves college athletes with no means to make money. So many athletes are struggling to make ends meet while they earn millions for their universities which does not seem fair on any level.

The NCAA does not consider college athletes as professional players simply because they are in college. Then again, college coaches receive millions of dollars in pay, similar to what professional coaches earn in sports. If the NCAA considers college coaches as professionals, then it becomes unfair for the players. The vast amount of money that the schools are paying their coaches demonstrates that there is money available that could go towards a stipend for these competitors. Last year, Jim Harbaugh, coach of the University of Michigan earned a staggering nine million dollars. Nick Saban of Ohio and Urban Meyer of Alabama also made above six million dollars each (NCAA Salaries). If the coaches are paid as professionals, then surely athletes deserve a bit of compensation for their hard work. No one is saying millions like the coaches; however, they do merit some sort of pay to help them get by and improve their college experience. Some form of compensation will make it so they do not stress over funds while agonizing over grades and their game.

College athletes should be paid because they are the only reason for the excess revenue which is not fairly distributed. The players are the sole cause of the excess money. At times, one player is responsible for over one hundred million in revenue. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M quarterback, earned his school over one hundred and twenty million dollars, from which he did not get a single penny (Terbush). To make matters worse, a couple of months later, Manziel was in trouble with the NCAA for “selling” his signature. The NCAA accused him of selling his signature; which is illegal under NCAA rules as college athletes are not allowed to be paid for anything. On the other hand, his school could make as much money as they wanted of off him. Texas A&M sold his replica jerseys, which were almost sold out instantly thus making millions. The NCAA store also sold his jerseys and related merchandise. In addition, his school got a ton of media exposure worth well over thirty million dollars (Terbush). Even some school programs profited from Manziel and auctioned dinners with him for twenty thousand dollars. Out of all this, Manziel earned nothing. The school, however, gave their football staff seven hundred thousand to divide among themselves. Personally, I think that if a school has the kind of talent that Manziel had, then they should pay him a small amount of what they make of off him; not millions, or even hundreds of thousands, just a decent amount.

Individuals who pull in cash due to their effort and talent receive compensation for their work; everyone except college athletes. This is not reasonable for these competitors who are not allowed to get jobs like a typical college student because the NCAA believes that they will get remunerated based off of their performances. Athletes on a grant are not allowed to receive any pay or get a job, but other college students can get both. This rule is unfair for them as they work harder than every other college student because, in addition to their school work, college athletes have to spend hours daily practicing. They put their bodies on the line for their schools as their schools earn so much money while all they get is a scholarship that ultimately leaves them with college debt and no money in school. These competitors merit some sort of remuneration from their college. At the least, the NCAA should allow their schools to pay them minimum wage as though they are working for them. If they cannot receive compensation, then the NCAA should allow them to get jobs like any other college student.

Works Cited

NCAA Salaries. 2017. 10 March 2017. .

Sherman, Roger. Shabazz Napier: ’There’s hungry nights where I’m not able to eat’. 7 April 2014. Web. 7 March 2017.

Terbush, Jon. How much money has Texas A&M made off Johnny Manziel? 6 August 2013. 10 March 2017.