I don't really have a good solution or opinion on the matter. It's certainly a complex situation. Especially since only 2 sports have any chance of bringing in significant money. Hoops & football, & football reigns supreme. I do think that having separate rules for those sports might be a good option. I have no idea what those rules might be though.
You're arguing semantics.... And education is a degree. They have several schools in many cases offering scholarships, therefore, they could weigh it out as to WHICH school is giving them the "best deal" in terms of the value of that scholarship. In the end, we all know that "C's get Degrees....." And in many circles, "Degrees can get you jobs." For a professional licensure, be that law, medicine, physical therapy, education, etc, you must first have a degree, then you take the licensing exam. Once you have your MD or PharmD or whatever, no one is asking what your GPA was, and many don't care WHERE you went to school, they want to know if you can do the job.
The part that is bothersome is you hated Tressel before this went down and that you are only using this as a launching pad for you to spew your hate at the man that resurrected football and academic success within the football program at tOSU. Tressels kids had the Number 1 APR of all top 25 football programs. They were in the top 10% of the entire nation in APR. His kids went to class, got good grades, graduated and won football games. I never said Tress should get off scott free for his actions. He deserved to be reprimanded, but losing his job over it... that penalty does not fit the "crime". It is excessive. A fine and suspension should have been enough. The reason he resigned is because the immense media pressure. These clowns bashing on Tress and the program, the only dog they have in the fight is their paycheck from selling magazines and web hits. They could care less, it's all about the cash.
Here is one reason college athletes should NOT be paid: There are about 49,000 student athletes in the NCAA. How many are actually making money for his/her university? Now, how many are making more money for his/her university than they are receiving in scholarships? Answer - only a hand full. Do you actually think we should screw up the whole system because of a few students? Almost every athlete that gets a scholarship is a drain, financially, to the university. My guess is the typical students indirectly pick up the tab.
I am surprised T.P. is getting so much hate from OSU fans. He is one of many guys who took advantage of the tats and cars. OSU fans should be mad at Tressel for not nipping this in the butt when it started. If Tressel had gone to the NCAA several years ago, when he found out the first player did this, he would have never gotten into trouble. HE is in trouble because HE CHEATED, HE LIED to the NCAA that's why HE is in trouble. OSU fans should be irate at the tat parlor and the car dealership. IF, big if, OSU fans have any sense, those businesses will go have to close down because no one will go there any more.
There are many, many student athletes receiving gifts against NCAA rules on a regular basis. Free meal at a local eatery? Free pizza? Free drinks at a bar? Free admission at an event? Those were all common at the university I attended. None of it seems like a big deal, but all against NCAA rules. The NCAA doesn't have time for small fish though, so we only hear about the major violations.
The players aren't MAJOR violations. The reason OSU is Tressel knowingly allowed this to go for so long. When will people learn? Lying to the grand jury or NCAA is STUPID.
Actually, they were. Selling memorabilia in the amounts the players did, and car deals are major violations. Being suspended for almost half the season is a big deal. But lets say they just got car deals, and NCAA allowed players to receive gifts, then a coach has nothing to cover up. Obviously, there has to be a limit on what a players can and can't receive. And, there will always be players that push past those limits. I still think something is better than nothing. This is only going to get worse if something isn't done.
Don't think they should be paid. The scholarship players are getting a chance at a free education. I DO however think they should be allowed to take jobs at a reasonable salary and such salary, hours worked and all that should be available to check for overpay by those who would BUY a player for their school. Question..... are NON scholarship jocks allowed to take a job?
