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Controversy of U.S. College Athletes Being Paid

History

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulates thousands of university athletes throughout the United States and Canada . It is a non-profit organization with three divisions for schools to compete in, based on their size and team skill level. Although, throughout the years the NCAA has faced controversy surrounding the payment of it's Division I athletes. To be an athlete at a Division I school means major collegiate athletic powers, with larger budgets, more elaborate facilities and more athletic scholarships than schools in other divisions . The reasons this topic has become so controversial is because athletes in the NCAA already receive some amount of an educational scholarship, along with a few other school related reimbursements.This does not take into account that there is a lack in the distribution of funds for women and international NCAA athletes. It is also a controversial topic because these same athletes are also trained more physically than they are scholarly, with their scholarships leaving an annual gap in tuition fees, even if awarded the highest possible scholarship. If athletes are unable to keep up from a scholarly aspect they lose their chance to get an education. Athlete's are not told they are about to enter a "plantation-like" system, so certain proposals have been introduced in an attempt to end the controversy of this topic, including the proposal of the NCAA rewarding academic skills.

How the NCAA Pays Its Athletes

In 2013 the NCAA distributed around $75 million to Division I athletes from their Student Assistance Fund. The NCAA Student Assistance Fund aims to provide direct financial support to players, which obtains these finances via their multibillion dollar media rights deals. The Big Ten is the NCAA’s biggest beneficiary of this money, out of all of it's conferences. The Big Ten is defined as "predominantly major flagship research universities with large financial endowments and strong academic reputations". It consists of a East and West division with a total of 14 members. The East division includes Indiana University Bloomington, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University and Rutgers University-New Brunswick. The West division includes University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Northwestern University, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin-Madison. These Big Ten institutions have a leeway in how they spend these funds ranging from athlete utility bills, family emergency travel costs, health insurance and athlete parking permits. Although, NCAA Division I rules allow institutions only to pay athletes' parking expenses only if they are associated with practice and competition, but athletes who have purchased a campus parking permit may be reimbursed through the NCAA's assistance fund . With all of this money being distributed amongst these Division I athletes they also get to take part in many other campus activities such as concerts, on-stage productions, lecture series by prominent people, foot gear and athletic attire, specialized meal plans and fitness facilities. Many schools commonly reduce the cost of campus activities for athletes by adding fees to tuition, meaning it is free for a full-scholarship athlete .

What the NCAA Does Not Cover

Due to the varying range of a scholarship that the NCAA does cover, there is often a $2000-$3000 gap per year that student athletes are required to cover on their own . This means anywhere from $8000-$12 000 needs to be covered by the student themselves, for a full four years in college . Their scholarships are also renewable annually, meaning they can be terminated at any time if certain academic or athletic requirements are not met . Student athletes also maintain extremely busy schedules consisting of study halls, practices, weight training sessions, film study, individual workouts, more practice, travel, and competition. These commitments are scheduled so the athlete can be capable of easily time-managing their sport and staying focused on their sport. Student athletes are also forced to put their sport before their studies, so if they were to get severely injured they would get set aside. Many student athletes are incapable of earning a graduate degree, and find it difficult to be independent once they have left their institution.

What the NCAA Does Not Tell Athletes

The NCAA emphasizes the extra curricular activities certain schools offer, but student athletes are not necessarily able to participate in these activities. These activities might co-inside with games or tournaments, or their coaches might stop them from participating, in fear of an injury . Depending on the sport, some athletes even miss big family holidays, such as thanksgiving or Christmas, due to game or tournament schedules. Athletes are also not told that they will not receive any share of the funds the NCAA receives from network contracts, airing their games or tournaments. They also do not see any share of the funds coming in from gaming companies, who profit off of putting these athletes into their video games. Athletes who participate in popular games or tournaments bring in millions of dollars in funds to the NCAA. The NCAA's most popular tournament, March Madness, has allowed for the NCAA to sign a 14 year, $10.8 billion dollar contract with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting, alone. This money goes directly to the NCAA, and not to it's athletes.

Equality in Pay in the NCAA

In 2006, the NCAA faced a lawsuit by four former men’s football and basketball players claiming that, "the NCAA restricting scholarships to tuition, books, housing and meals is an unlawful restraint of trade because of the billions of dollars the NCAA makes from big-tickets sports". Stated in the settlement, "the NCAA was to set aside $218 million over the next five years to help an estimated 12,000 Division I male athletes pay for basic expenses not covered by their scholarships" . The lawsuit argued that, "student athletes often pay $2,500 or more a year for basic expenses that are not covered by scholarships" .

Women in the NCAA

The issues raised in the lawsuit by these former male athletes, caused problems for women athletes of the NCAA who were at risk of being disregarded due to this lawsuit . Female athletes feared being disregarded because the lawsuit required athletic departments to move money from women’s programs, to cover the expenses for the affected male athletes . The lawsuit stated that, "the NCAA was to "allocate an additional $10 million over the next three years to cover career-development services and other educational costs for current and former Division I football and men's basketball players" . The support of women student athletes was no where to be found in the settlement . Female student athletes are treated much differently than that of male student athletes. Female athletes are fully supported by coaches and athletes who want them to strive both academically and athletically. Female student athletes find time to give back to their local community, while finding time to study academics and pursuing athletics. Many graduate from college with degrees that will help them in the future, as well as athletic memories. Males encounter a somewhat different experience. In this contrast, male student athletes are praised by coaches and other athletes more so for athletic achievements, rather than academic ones, hindering their support system. With all the praise focused on their athletic ability, many athletes begin to weaken their academic goals and focus on their athletic ones. As a result, many do not graduate from their post-secondary institutions, some even unable to read . Male college athletes may be supported more financially short-term in college, but that becomes questionable in the long run.

International Students

International students from overseas looking to play college sports in the United States must also be attentive of their athletic funding choices made prior to applying to college. Enes Kanter, an 18 year old Turkish basketball player, was declined from playing for the University of Kentucky because "an investigation by the NCAA determined that Kanter received benefits beyond those required for actual competition, from his club team in Turkey" . Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs stated that "Enes took advantage of an opportunity to play at the highest level available to him, but the consequences of receiving payments above his actual expenses is not compatible with the collegiate model of sports that our members have developed." . The situation would have differed if Kanter was born in the United States and attended a private school on a scholarship. This private school scholarship would have provided him with full-time room and board, at which such expenses would be considered directly related to competition, by the NCAA. Because Kanter played in Turkey where the system does pay certain expenses for its star athletes and their families, "the NCAA believed there was a possibility that he may unknowingly accept illegal contributions from his club team, while playing in the United States, because it it what he was accustomed to".

Proposals to Pay Athletes

A few proposals have been presented to the NCAA in regards to how it should go about paying its athletes.

The Big Ten/Work Study Proposal

Suggested by former NCAA president Miles Brand, this proposal would give athletes an extra $2000-$3000 cost of living increase yearly, to bridge the gap athletes currently face. Athletes are only allowed to spend 20 hours a week with sport related activities, so Brand believes this would be paid as more of a monthly living stipend.

The Southeastern Conference Game Pay Proposal

This proposal was put forward by University of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier, along with several other coaches, support the idea that athletes should be paid $300 per game. Because most players do not play more than 30 minutes a game, the pay could be paid by the minute, possibly at a rate of $20 a minute. This would allow athletes to profit $600 a game, and $6000-$7000 per season.

Professional League Proposal

A proposal submitted by a visiting professor at Middlebury College, this proposal would allow universities to hire players as college staff. Peter Plagensa agrees that the NCAA amounts to somewhat of a plantation system, and reinstates the fact that "big time college football and basketball maintain the million-dollar industry by making them an age 23 and under professional league". According to the proposal, players hired as college staff would receive moderate salaries, as well as room and board. Plagensa also proposes the idea that "universities could grant athletes free academic classes, until they earn their degree, even after their playing days are over".

Revenue Sharing Proposal From TV/NCAA Proceeds

Many coaches in the NCAA are paid large bonuses based on team record and ranking, as a result of player performances. This proposal brings forward the idea of "coaches sharing their bonuses, or performance incentives with the players".

NCAA Rewarding Academic Skills

With the controversy surrounding athletes being forced to focus on their physical well being rather than their academic standings, the NCAA has approved an initiative that will let athletic departments’ ability to meet one of three academic benchmarks, determine how much money they will receive from media rights fees. The money will be distributed on an annual basis, with funding coming from future increases in the NCAA's media rights fees. The fund would begin in 2019, getting 75% of the annual TV rights fees in the first 6 years. After this, around two-thirds of the Division I schools will meet at least one of the required academic benchmarks, yearly. With the academic qualification being met, one of the many conferences the NCAA hosts, will get around $460 000 per school that qualifies. Once the school receives the money, they can use it for any purpose they desire, "unlike other Division I revenue distributions that carry restrictions as to how the money can be used".

Academic Requirements to Be Met

Academic Performance Rate

"Academic Performance Rate (APR) needs to be at least 985 for the previous year. This is based on whether or not athletes maintain their eligibility and return to school for each academic term."

Graduation Success Rate

"Graduation Success Rate (GSR) needs to be at least 90 for the most recent year. This is based on the number of athletes who graduate within 6 years of beginning college, with school’s receiving consideration for athletes who transfer or leave school early, while still in good academic standing."

Federal Graduation Rate

"Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) needs to be at least 13 percentage points greater than the entire undergraduate student body, for the most recent year. If an athlete initially enrolls at one school, then transfers, the athlete is deemed to have not graduated from the initial school and counts against its graduation rate. This factor is effective regardless of their academic standing at the time, or their eventual academic outcome."