College athletes should be paid

In the past decade, the debate surrounding whether or not college athletes should be paid has taken off. There are strong arguments for both sides, but I side on the opinion that they should get paid.  

One reason that I believe college athletes should receive some sort of pay is because playing a sport in college is 100% a full time job. Their only free time is for their classes as they usually finish practicing their sport until at least nine o’clock, especially at the division one level. They travel all over the country playing games, having to get a different education than the ordinary student from a tutor on their team plane or bus.

The opposing argument may be that at this level they are already receiving a free education. The opposing side should consider that while they don’t have to pay for school, over 60% of division one athletes are eligible for substantial amounts of financial aid. These kids are coming to school for free, but traveling across the country for their sport with little to no money. There are countless stories I have read in which athletes explain how unsatisfying their college life was because they had no money and were basically working two full time jobs in school and their sport. While they should be thankful for the free ride to school, in no way is it an easy ride.

Another reason that college athletes should receive an income is due to the fact that the universities are making millions of dollars off of the players backs. They practice every day and play in games throughout the week, with the best teams games broadcasted across the globe for people to watch, yet the players don’t make a dime. For example, the University of North Carolina basketball team has not been worth less than 25 million dollars in the last decade. Think about that. These players are bringing the school millions of dollars yet they can’t have any of it. It is especially unfair for the best teams because they are making it farther in the tournament at the end of the year where money incentives are in play. When you win the whole NCAA championship like Carolina did last year, the school is making a boatload of money. The coach of UNC is pulling in 6 million dollars this year. It’s just not right.

The final reason that I believe college athletes should be paid is that the schools are selling things that involve them. The schools sell jerseys, autographed memorabilia, and everything that they can get their hands on just to make some money. But, it is against NCAA policy for the players to sell their own memorabilia. Makes sense. Unfortunately there have been countless scandals involving players selling their jerseys and other items just to make a buck, and I don’t blame them because even though they won’t be dealing with college loans for the rest of their lives they still have very limited money for the four years that they are attending the school. While some may think that “It doesn’t matter because they are all going to pro anyways,” only about 3% of college athletes go on to play in their sport professionally.

I expect new developments within the near future on whether or not college athletes should receive an income. I side with the players who all believe they are working too hard (much harder than the average student who doesn’t play a sport) to not get paid. Hopefully the NCAA will move in the right direction and give the players what they deserve, as they are the ones making the coaches and universities look good and  making the schools millions of dollars. It is time for the NCAA to wake up.