Month: December 2023

College football players deserve compensation for their contributions to their institutions, the NCAA, and their personal futures. The disparity in the benefits they receive compared to the wealth they generate is staggering and demands attention. Advocating for fairness and equality in collegiate athletics is not just a call for justice but a necessary step towards recognizing the invaluable commitment that these athletes make.

First of all, a Drexel University study highlighted that the average market value of a D1 football player was around $120,048. However, these players don’t receive a fraction of that in actual cash. When a team gets to a bowl game, the players can only earn a maximum of$550 in prizes, while coaches are able to make bonuses up to $850,000. This harsh difference in compensation is blatantly unfair, especially when you take into account that the players are committing and sacrificing just as much as the coaches.

In addition, NCAA research reveals that college football players often devote over 40 hours per week to their sport. This level of commitment leaves them with very little time for personal interests or academic activities. As a result, many athletes struggle to balance their athletic commitments with their studies, often needing tutors or just ignoring their schoolwork. This imbalance affects their opportunities after graduation, limiting their opportunities because of lower academic background or experience.

Speaking about an athlete’s future, another big issue is the financial security of athletes after college. For many, college is the highest level they will achieve in their respective sport. However, after putting in 4 intense years to their program, they face the harsh reality that they didn’t spend enough of their time on academics. Shockingly, an NCPA survey found that 86% of college athletes live below the federal poverty line, proving the financial struggle they have to endure once they graduate.

While the idea of paying college athletes seems fair, some may argue that it might ruin the aspect of amateurism in collegiate sports. Introducing wages might widen the gap between athletes and nonathletes, which could change the spirit of the team and how they operate. Disparities may also arise between different sports or even between players on the same team. However, these arguments don’t take into account that these players have bigger problems than a little bit of jealousy. They have to worry about their financial, internal, and overall success in the future.

In conclusion, it’s important to acknowledge the immense worth of college athletes and what they bring to both their colleges and the NCAA. Fair compensation isn’t just a moral necessity, it’s an essential step towards recognizing their dedication and ensuring their financial stability after graduation.

Works Cited

Gonchar, Michael. “Should College Football Players Get Paid?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Jan. 2014, archive.nytimes.com/learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/should-college-football-players-get-paid/. 

Kraft, Nicole. “Why the Public Strongly Supports Paying College Athletes.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/nicolekraft/2023/08/21/why-the-public-strongly-supports-paying-college-athletes/?sh=96f416d1b08e. 

Leppard, Natalie. “Should College Athletes Be Paid? Top 3 Pros and Cons.” ProCon.Org, 27 Mar. 2023, www.procon.org/headlines/paying-college-athletes-top-3-pros-and-cons/. 

“Study College Athletes Worth Six Figures Live below Federal Poverty Line.” Drexel Home, 23 Jan. 2023, drexel.edu/news/archive/2011/september/study-college-athletes-worth-six-figures-live-below-federal-poverty-line. 

“Study: ‘The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport.’” National College Players Association, www.ncpanow.org/research/study-the-price-of-poverty-in-big-time-college-sport. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023. 

“Why College Athletes Should Be (or Should Not Be) Paid.” College Raptor Blog, College Raptor Staff, 22 Sept. 2023, www.collegeraptor.com/paying-for-college/articles/questions-answers/should-college-athletes-be-paid/#:~:text=College%20athletes%20claim%20that%20their,college%20athletes%20should%20be%20paid. 

I believe that college football players should be paid because of the money they bring into the college, the time they devote to the team, and for their own financial security once they stop playing. It is very important for college institutions to change their policies to ensure that there is fair compensation for their athletes. Together, we should advocate for fairness and equality in collegiate athletics by recognizing the invaluable contributions made by these committed athletes.

College players are a huge asset to both the college they represent as well as the NCAA. A study done by Drexel University found that the average market value for a D1 football player is around $127,608. However, the players see that none of that is actual cash. If a team makes it to a bowl game, the max a player can get for participating is $550 in prizes while the coaches can make a bonus of around $850,000. This disparity in pa is extremely unfair as players contribute just as much of their time to the sport as the coach does.

According to a survey done by the NCAA, college football players often spend more than 40 hours per week on their sport. With this sort of commitment, players really dont have much time outside of school and their sport to focus on other hobbies or even school. This is why many college athletes need tutors for their classes or just don’t focus on school very much. This lack of attention to academics plays a big role in the amount of opportunities for the athletes when they eventually get out of college.

Speaking about an athlete’s future, another big issue is the financial security of athletes after college. For many athletes, college is the end of the road for them when it comes to their sport. However, this poses a pretty big issue since the athlete had just dedicated the last 4 years of their life to their sport and now have to figure out what to do with almost no money and an education they didn’t prioritize. In fact, the NCPA did a survey that found that 86% of college athletes live below the federal poverty line. So once they get out of college they almost have to restart from a blank slate given that they weren’t able to put much effort into their degrees. 

In conclusion, college athletes should really get paid for their time and dedication. They bring in a ton of money for their schools and the NCAA, they put in an enormous amount of time for their teams, and they deserve to feel financially secure for the years following their graduation. Colleges seriously need to change their rules to make sure these athletes get fair compensation. We should all push for fairness and equality in college sports by recognizing how much these players actually contribute.