I am a fan of college basketball, NCAA Division 1 men’s
basketball, specifically, the Maryland Terrapins and the Georgetown Hoyas. I
was such a fan of the Terrapins growing up that sometimes my mom, after working
a very long day, would take me to the Colefield House (the Terrapins’ home
arena) to see the men’s team play. This was the team that consisted of Walt
“The Wizard” Williams. My love affair with college basketball was forever
cemented. As I followed the NCAA, one of
the oldest debates about their athletic program centered around if the players
should be paid. This conversation comes up every few weeks as someone is found
to be in violation of the NCAA rules. It could be an athlete, a coach, or even
the school itself. The core issue for most of these violations tends to be
money related and the fact that these athletes aren’t being paid for their
services. Like most fans of the sport, I was saddened when players started
leaving college early to enter the NBA. I enjoyed watching a group of players evolve
from their freshman year to their senior year and dominate during March
Madness. I agreed with those who wanted to put a restriction on when a player
could leave college for the NBA.
And then, I did some homework.
The NCAA made close to 1billion dollars in their 2014 fiscal year and ended with a surplus of 80
million dollars! I recall my own college days of being a struggling college
student living off of Ramen Noodles and Little Debbie cakes. I remember the
excitement of finding the ATM machine near campus that would let me withdraw $5
instead of the standard $20 minimum. I didn’t have $20, but I knew I had at
least $10 until mom sent me money or I received my Work Study paycheck from one
of my two campus jobs. This is where the issue lies with college athletes; they
do not have the time to have a Work Study job. When they are not practicing,
then they are training. When they are not training, then they are watching film
on their upcoming opponent. When they are not watching film, they are doing their
homework and attending class. The money they may have received from their
scholarship only provides for their education; not food outside of school, not
to pay their cell phone bill to stay in touch with family, not to buy a new
t-shirt or toiletries, things we all purchased in college. Most of them do not
have a parent that is able to send them money from home. While the NCAA will
argue that compensating student-athletes would destroy
competitive balance in college sports, I believe that athletes leaving school early
to enter the pros, destroys the competitive balance in college sports also. Eighty-six percent
of college athletes live below the poverty line. Students are
leaving school because they are poor, need to provide for themselves plus their
families, and feel used by the current NCAA system. I can’t recall the last
time I saw a starting line up of seniors play during March Madness. Now I
understand, from a financial stand point, why athletes leave. I doubt I could
handle reading that I am worth millions to a team, yet I’m hungry and expected
to function on the three meals a day provided to me through my scholarship. I
am the furthest thing from an athlete, but when I work out, I’m eating more
than three meals a day. Maybe their commitment to a school’s athletic program
could also be used as their Work Study pay.
As a crisis manager, I would implore student athletes to tell
their stories in their own words. Use photos to show where they grew up and
where they are trying not to go back to. Have their friends and family
interviewed. Tell the whole story. If such a program were in place, maybe you
wouldn’t hear stories of boosters, lavish gifts or even drug dealers getting
intertwined with a college athlete’s career. My recommendation wouldn’t necessarily
be a salary, but would be comparable to what they would be paid on a Work Study
job. I’m a fan of NCAA college basketball. I am not a fan of it’s system, it’s
athletes’ struggles, and how their athletes are not compensated nor benefit
from the billions they bring in for the NCAA.
