Like the poor quality of education provided, the NCAA’s tradition of regarding its athletes as amateurs needs changing. That is to say, college degrees should not be the sole reward student-athletes receive for their services to schools. Having a college degree is not nearly as valuable as it once was (Siebold, par. 4). Bachelor’s degrees are now quite common, which devalues them dramatically. For too long, the NCAA has refused to regard sportsmen as employees of schools. College leaders dismiss the idea of classifying student-athletes as employees by saying it would ruin the educational experience (Staples, par. 8). The educational experience is already in shambles, so how will this change anything? Also, players must be differentiated
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In a broad sense, student-athletes have a restricted ability to take advantage of their elevated statuses. When speaking about the NCAA’s suppression of players’ earning abilities, Steve Siebold, a self-made millionaire and public speaker, says, “It’s a flawed equation because everyone wins except for the very people responsible for it all” (Siebold, par. 3). Siebold’s words illustrate the viewpoints of many people who think the NCAA’s policies are ridiculous. An example of these ludicrous policies: players’ most innocent money-making schemes are punished by suspensions and by other consequences. Todd Gurley, one of the country’s best college football players in 2014, was given a four game suspension and forty hours of community service for taking three thousand dollars to sign autographs (Staples, par. 1). Three thousand dollars is only a tiny fraction of the millions of dollars the University of Georgia, where Gurley played, undoubtedly made because of him. On top of that, college athletes, who are usually prone to deception, are not allowed to access sports agencies. Future regulations could possibly give athletes access to sports agents, but for the time being, it is illegal for players to receive counsel (Gregory, par. 3). Without the assistance of agents, it is difficult for player to figure out how to deal with the pressures of fame and popularity. Teaching these young men and women …show more content…
Policies prohibiting colleges from paying their athletes need to be lifted. Student-athletes are denied the high-level education which they are promised, the policies in place today are severely outmoded, and the changes that have been made recently have not been liberal enough to correct the issues. It is extraordinarily important that these problems are addressed and solved in the near future to ensure the survival of college sports. Players are not being treated fairly, and they will not be content forever. Colleges and the National Collegiate Athletic Association must answer for themselves this question: are they are willing to lose their lucrative sports over a relatively insignificant amount of
In a broad sense, student-athletes have a restricted ability to take advantage of their elevated statuses. When speaking about the NCAA’s suppression of players’ earning abilities, Steve Siebold, a self-made millionaire and public speaker, says, “It’s a flawed equation because everyone wins except for the very people responsible for it all” (Siebold, par. 3). Siebold’s words illustrate the viewpoints of many people who think the NCAA’s policies are ridiculous. An example of these ludicrous policies: players’ most innocent money-making schemes are punished by suspensions and by other consequences. Todd Gurley, one of the country’s best college football players in 2014, was given a four game suspension and forty hours of community service for taking three thousand dollars to sign autographs (Staples, par. 1). Three thousand dollars is only a tiny fraction of the millions of dollars the University of Georgia, where Gurley played, undoubtedly made because of him. On top of that, college athletes, who are usually prone to deception, are not allowed to access sports agencies. Future regulations could possibly give athletes access to sports agents, but for the time being, it is illegal for players to receive counsel (Gregory, par. 3). Without the assistance of agents, it is difficult for player to figure out how to deal with the pressures of fame and popularity. Teaching these young men and women …show more content…
Policies prohibiting colleges from paying their athletes need to be lifted. Student-athletes are denied the high-level education which they are promised, the policies in place today are severely outmoded, and the changes that have been made recently have not been liberal enough to correct the issues. It is extraordinarily important that these problems are addressed and solved in the near future to ensure the survival of college sports. Players are not being treated fairly, and they will not be content forever. Colleges and the National Collegiate Athletic Association must answer for themselves this question: are they are willing to lose their lucrative sports over a relatively insignificant amount of