Big Ten considers pay proposal for athletes

[Southpaw]

No good can come of this.

LINK

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 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..........


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

 

[Russ Smith]

The proposal is not backed by TOSU whose athletes don't want the paycut.

I'm actually not sure what to make of it. Anthony Stover's mom posted something like this on a UCLA basketball board about how scholarships don't actually cover the full amount of expenses. I forget the number she used but it was enough that you could see where a kid without money would take money under the table.

The problem is even if you do pay them, there will always be people looking to offer more money to get better players and there will be kids willing to take it. Paying them a stipend won't stop the problem of schools and boosters paying players against the rules.

 

[Southpaw]

Agree. The wealthier programs will possibly gain yet another competitive edge in the recruiting process. I swear that Gene Smith, OSU AD, just doesn't know when to STHU. He has a pile of violations on his table and now he wants to open another can of worms, so it seems.

 

[Dback Jon]

Step one of separating out the well-funded colleges from the rest.

They are pissed that two of not their own crashed the final four - the nerve of VCU and Butler. And Butler has made it to the championship game two years in a row. Can't have that.

 

[Russ Smith]

I actually wonder if the TOSU guys aren't just pushing this almost to distract if you will from what happened there? Like if we talk about pay for play and how unfair it is to student athletes people won't think what was going on here is so bad.

that seems to happen everytime someone gets caught. Hell Renardo Sidney's family was paying a lawyer to basically do that for months trying to shame the NCAA into clearing him. They even used the race card to no avail.

 

[Southpaw]

I actually wonder if the TOSU guys aren't just pushing this almost to distract if you will from what happened there? Like if we talk about pay for play and how unfair it is to student athletes people won't think what was going on here is so bad.

that seems to happen everytime someone gets caught. Hell Renardo Sidney's family was paying a lawyer to basically do that for months trying to shame the NCAA into clearing him. They even used the race card to no avail.

Sounds like a distinct possibility. Deflect, diminish and distract.

 

[Russ Smith]

Wow more dirt on TOSU.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6592185

Ex players admitting everyone was selling rings and stuff to get money and everyone knew it was against the rules because the coaches told them the rules.

 

[Stout]

I favor it, simply because the kids get screwed in the deal we currently have. Sure, they get their free education--and that's great, something that a lot of kids don't get. The problem is, the NCAA puts them in a no-win situation after that. 'Well, you can go to school, but we will give you absolutely no legitimate way to earn a little bit of money. You will therefore not be able to get an apartment, buy yourself a burger now and then, or ever go to a movie. Other college students will be able to do this, but you won't...but don't you dare take any under-the-table money! Don't you dare! That would be wrong!'

The current system is a sham and a joke.