The world of college sports is filled with many complicated issues. College football is a prime example of this. College football is widely considered the most popular college sport and is definitely the most profitable. These profits are the center of college football's biggest issue: whether or not these athletes should be paid. At first glance this issue seems relatively straightforward, but there are many complications and negative repercussions. College athletes should not be paid because of the other compensation they receive, the consequences for colleges, and that they are students first.
College athletes already receive many other forms of compensation and thus do not need to be paid. Although players are not compensated monetarily, …show more content…
Paying athletes would be expensive which would give rich schools an advantage: “The largest, most profitable athletic programs would offer athletes more money than less-wealthy schools” (“Compensation for College Athletes” 2). Many argue that richer schools already have a competitive advantage over smaller schools They also worry that if players were to be paid, this problem would become much worse. It would create a permanent advantage that the poorest schools could not overcome. Many colleges would have to find additional funds to pay athletes: “Programs might have to cut non-profitable sports, reduce scholarship funds for lower-profile athletes, borrow money from other parts of the university, and raise ticket prices and student fees”( “Compensation for College Athletes” 2). By paying athletes, colleges overall would face financial difficulties. This would force cuts to take place affecting large portions of the student body. This would aid relatively few students while burdening the vast majority with many other problems. Eventually, these problems could become even worse if the popular sports become unprofitable. Another large worry is if athletes are playing for financial gain, this will corrupt the spirit of the game and drive many fans away from the sport (“Should College Football” 2). College athletes are considered amateurs, meaning that …show more content…
Despite other claims, the primary job for college athletes is to be a student and earn a degree: “ Athletes went [to college] to get a college degree. They just happen to be playing sports” (Cooper 2). The primary job of any student is to earn a degree, whether or not they are an athlete. Most students have other commitments such as hobbies, clubs, jobs, or sports. So while athletes have a more extreme commitment, they are not the only ones who have to juggle responsibilities. While college athletes face many difficult problems in their quest to receive a degree, they also have many resources not available to other students (Cooper 3). Athletes juggle many responsibilities, but they also have many ways to deal with their problems. The bottom line is that paying them will not help them manage their
College athletes already receive many other forms of compensation and thus do not need to be paid. Although players are not compensated monetarily, …show more content…
Paying athletes would be expensive which would give rich schools an advantage: “The largest, most profitable athletic programs would offer athletes more money than less-wealthy schools” (“Compensation for College Athletes” 2). Many argue that richer schools already have a competitive advantage over smaller schools They also worry that if players were to be paid, this problem would become much worse. It would create a permanent advantage that the poorest schools could not overcome. Many colleges would have to find additional funds to pay athletes: “Programs might have to cut non-profitable sports, reduce scholarship funds for lower-profile athletes, borrow money from other parts of the university, and raise ticket prices and student fees”( “Compensation for College Athletes” 2). By paying athletes, colleges overall would face financial difficulties. This would force cuts to take place affecting large portions of the student body. This would aid relatively few students while burdening the vast majority with many other problems. Eventually, these problems could become even worse if the popular sports become unprofitable. Another large worry is if athletes are playing for financial gain, this will corrupt the spirit of the game and drive many fans away from the sport (“Should College Football” 2). College athletes are considered amateurs, meaning that …show more content…
Despite other claims, the primary job for college athletes is to be a student and earn a degree: “ Athletes went [to college] to get a college degree. They just happen to be playing sports” (Cooper 2). The primary job of any student is to earn a degree, whether or not they are an athlete. Most students have other commitments such as hobbies, clubs, jobs, or sports. So while athletes have a more extreme commitment, they are not the only ones who have to juggle responsibilities. While college athletes face many difficult problems in their quest to receive a degree, they also have many resources not available to other students (Cooper 3). Athletes juggle many responsibilities, but they also have many ways to deal with their problems. The bottom line is that paying them will not help them manage their