Pay everybody! – By Francisco Alonzo, Contributor
College sports generate hundreds of millions of dollars yearly, but none of the money goes into the athletes’ pockets, as those surrounding the athletes reap the monetary rewards.
Athletes should be paid to play because they are the ones who generate substantial amounts of money for their university. They are an essential piece in the NCAA’s economic activity, and they should receive a part of what they generate.
Many people are against paying athletes, thinking that giving them scholarships is more than enough. However, the reality is that most athletes do not get a full scholarship, and the assistance they receive is not enough to pay for all expenses in full.
Another reason why athletes should be paid is that they give their universities exposure while playing. Many people get to know a college because of its sports teams, and that can have a huge impact on a student’s decision on whether to go there or not.
While there are differences in how much money each sport generates, sports like basketball and football generate enormous amounts of money that should compensate for other sports that do not generate as much.
Even if they get paid a minimum amount, athletes deserve a salary to help them cover part of their living expenses. I support the idea that each player should be able to generate money through their image because this allows the best players to earn more money, but at the same time I think that everyone deserves a fixed salary.
Many athletes give up their free time when they decide to play for a school — time they could use to work somewhere else. Some argue that they not only give up their time but their money as well.
If professional athletes receive considerable amounts of money for doing what many college athletes do, why wouldn’t they deserve a salary as well? After all, playing equals working for them.
Name, image and likeness is only fair – by Brandon Younan, contributor
Finding a fair system to pay college athletes is going to be one of the most difficult decisions the NCAA will have to make. The fairest way to pay college athletes is based on their name, image and likeness.
There are a multitude of reasons why this system should be in place. Primarily, athletes will be able to profit off of their own name, image and likeness like never before and will not have to face consequences or interference from schools, conferences or the NCAA.
This means that the players who bring in the most money to their schools, conferences and the NCAA will be able to reach deals to maximize their value and profit. If players were just paid a universal rate, it would potentially be limiting some players from maximizing their value.
Star prospects such as Zion Williamson, for example, have the potential to generate millions of dollars in revenue for both the school and the NCAA. When players such as Williamson are featured on television as frequently as he was, it seems obvious that paying the athlete based on his name, image and likeness is the fairest way to compensate high-profile collegiate athletes.
This system also allows student-athletes to create their own work products or business activities, including digital content.
The NCAA currently places strict rules on student-athletes for compensating and profiting from their name. If a universal rate is imposed, those restrictions may not be lifted because schools and the NCAA would not want athletes making more than others. This allows student-athletes to receive the compensation they deserve for their skills and notability.
As court discussions continue, it looks as if college athletes will begin to get paid in the 2021-2022 school year. I believe college athletes should get paid, but I also believe these students should be able to maximize their value as an athlete and the fairest way to do that is through the proposed name, image and likeness system.
