Northwestern football players seek to join union

Why are schools across the country giving so many of these guys full scholarships now if they're not providing a value worthy of that level of compensation? Are the schools just throwing money away when they could, according your thinking, attract the same level of player with half or quarter scholarships?

 

Just one man's opinion on the subject.
http://ronclements.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-college-athlete-union-is-good-idea-in.html

 

Because that's the agreed-upon trade-off under the current system. That's how it works right now.

My point is, if you blow up that system, don't assume the new one will be a windfall for the student-athletes. If we decide that the scholarship is not a fitting "payment" and players should get whatever they're worth, many will be worth less than they're getting now. The current system is working very well for them.

 

Curious as to when it was the athletes agreed to this trade-off.

 

Very good points, but fairly context-specific because UVA's ridiculously competitive and (relatively) small. Nevertheless, they underscore just how unlikely it is that UVA's athletic programs (and others') are unprofitable. To echo cranberry's point, why would UVA do such things if it was such bad business?

 

When they signed their letter of intent.

Seriously, if it's not worth it to them, why do it? If the student-athletes at Northwestern believe they're being cheated, why don't they walk away? No one goes to Northwestern as a stepping-stone to a pro career. They play there to get the scholarship. If it's not worth it, don't do it.

 

You are worried about a level playing field and possible corruption? Good point, I would never want to see the day the NCAA becomes dirty. I'm glad that people like yourself are looking out for the best interest of these athletes and protecting them from themselves. I think a scholarship is fair compensation from the Universtity but you shouldn't lose the rights to your name because you decided to accept that scholarship.

I will never understand why people would want to begrudge people from making money, especially off their own damn name. I guess your Saturday afternoon entertainment may be compromised, that seems fair to prevent some kid that came from nothing to not be able to profit.

 

They do it because there would be an alumni revolt (and a cataclysmic drop in donations) if they killed football or men's basketball, and to keep football and men's basketball they have to keep the other sports (at least the women's sports).

 

Not even in the ballpark of my argument. Let me simplify it for you.

The system as it stands now works very well for 98% of student athletes. People want to change the rules to benefit the other 2%. I believe that change has the very high potential to screw things up for the other 98% who are quite happy to get the scholarship.

My Saturday afternoon entertainment is a non-factor here. College football could go away tomorrow and I would be just fine.

I am not moved by the oppression of Johnny Football. Your mileage may vary.

 

Well, no, schools are under no obligation to provide valuable athletic scholarships to anybody. They offer scholarships in an effort to attract the best caliber talent.

Football players and basketball players (if, in fact, they are found to be employees as defined under the National Labor Relation Act, which is far from a certainty I'm told), would benefit greatly from the ability to collectively bargain. There is little question about that.

Football and basketball players who generate earnings of hundreds of millions of dollars for the NCAA and their schools don't believe they are being fairly compensated or that there is adequate concern for their health and futures.

Please explain the "high potential to screw things up for the other 98%" of collegiate athletes that you see? Are they going to be punished because football players and basketball players exercise their (not yet settled) right to organize a union?

 

The idea that the scholarship is more value than most kids are worth makes no sense. If that's all they're worth, why don't schools bargain down from that point and attract the elite football players with half-scholarships or quarter-scholarships?

They give the scholarships now because the scholarships are the maximum they can give. If the maximum went up, they sure as hell would give more.

 

I'm not moved by the oppression, either, but I have no patience with the idea that because the 98% are happy the 2% should have no say in the arrangements, especially since it's the wealth created (perhaps "furthered" or "maintained" would be better words) by the 2% that drives the whole show. And let's be clear here, these "People [who] want to change the rules" to whom you refer are those 2%.