This question has been resurrected only because some university sports programs have become so profitable. The students see all the ad money flowing into the schools and the coaches pockets and say “what about me…I’m the main reason you guys are getting so rich?” The problem is that schools are trying to perform two totally different roles and the money issue proves the point. Schools were originally supposed to provide education only for those students who intended to pursue a non-sports playing career. That is their traditional role. But due to the exaggerated ad money for sports, individuals who have plans to play sports professionally accept “scholastic” grants to a school to learn how to perfect their game as they develop physically. So, it’s non-sports careers vs. sports careers. When an individual accepts full scholarship grants of tuition, room and board and other amenities like living in the sports “dorm”, he/she should realize that a school is paying them a significant amount of value because the school expects to get a monetary return. But—it’s still a school whose charter says it’s an educational facility. These “student-athletes” see their coaches making millions of dollars in salary, know that they are the main attraction and getting “only” a free education out of the mix. Many of these kids come from poverty and while they do not enjoy any of the fruits of their efforts and their families continue to barely exist the money flows right past them into the school’s treasury. It also must be recognized that not all college athletes intend to pursue a sports player career. So we need a solution that focuses on the needs of all students while realizing the difference between sports futurists and non-sports futurists.
We suggest that sports be aligned with all other majors as a course of study. Whether a student chooses biology, business, sociology or a particular sport, he/she should be accommodated as if these are all legitimate majors. Then we have 3 types of students: non-sports (biology, chemistry, business, etc), sports (football, basketball, baseball, etc.) and “middle grounders”–for lack of a better term (those students who want to play sports but either prefer a non-sporting career or haven’t yet decided). Scholarships can be apportioned equally and fairly to all major categories. Those who focus on sports should be paid for their results in a compensation plan that splits up the net “profit” they earn for the school. The coach should be limited in his/her pay by the team results. Obviously any student may switch majors any time during their college years.
More on this in future posts….
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