I don't understand why they'd be *entitled* to money that they didn't earn. The real world doesn't pay NBA and WNBA players the same (for obvious reasons) why should a university give stipends to players in sports that earn no money?

It's simple.. one sport earns money and should pay players at least a part of it. The other sport looses money. Why should it have to lose more? The way the real world works (or SHOULD work) is that you only get paid if you produce.

It's not from each according to their abilities to each according to their needs.

GIVE ME A BREAK!
 

Since when does the college or university have to be the parent? And how many athletes rebel when they make rules like one? Let their families give up a little for them to live and spend money at college---just like any other college student!

The poor football players----they get a scholarship to earn an education, free room and board, travel to their "work" (games out of town), a paid vacation if they do well (bowl games) and the opportunity to make mllions the rest of their lives.

I agree that there may be some stupid rules that punish unfairly such as times when travel is wanted for funerals---but every other student has to find a way to make ends meet too. If they don't like the rules or the life, don't go to college, stay home, and work at your local conveince store!

Re: GIVE ME A BREAK!
 

Actually the NCAA does provide for players to travel in emergencies. As I recall there was a bit of a scandal when Maurice Clarett (Ohio St. RB) had to attend a funeral and was denied funding by the NCAA because he had failed to fill out all his paperwork.

A lot of that stuff is provided though.

Governor supports bill to pay college football players
 

Governor supports bill to pay college football players
Feb. 12, 2003
SportsLine.com wire reports

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Gov. Mike Johanns backs a legislative proposal to pay Nebraska football players.

"Paying the players would be above board and straightforward," Johanns said Wednesday. "College football has become a multimillion-dollar industry that should do much better for its athletes."

A bill introduced by state Sen. Ernie Chambers would require football players to be paid a stipend. It would take effect only if three other states that have teams in the Big 12 Conference pass similar laws.

Chambers contends football players are exploited, unable to capitalize on work that generates millions of dollars. He said NCAA rules governing money players can earn are too complex and easy to violate for small infractions.

The Business and Labor Committee held a hearing on the proposal Monday, but has not taken any action.

Johanns said if the bill were to pass the Legislature he would sign it into law. The Legislature passed a similar bill in 1988 but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Kay Orr.

Johanns' wife, Stephanie, was a state senator at that time who supported the bill vetoed by Orr.



AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2003, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

Bill to pay Nebraska players advances

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press


LINCOLN, Neb. -- A proposal to pay Nebraska's football players cleared a legislative hurdle Tuesday.


The Business and Labor Committee voted unanimously to advance the measure for debate before the full Legislature.


State Sen. Ernie Chambers' bill would require Nebraska football players be paid a stipend if three other states with schools in the Big 12 Conference pass similar laws. Other states with schools in the conference are Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Texas and Iowa.


NCAA spokesman Wally Renfro said the proposal was flawed.


''I don't think there are many, if any, college presidents who believe it's the right thing to do to pay their students to play sports,'' Renfro said. ''If you tried to do this, I think you would take first-rate college programs and turn them into third-rate professional programs.''


Renfro said the bill would be vulnerable to legal action from players in other sports who also want to be paid.


Chambers said he introduced the bill because NCAA rules governing money players can earn are too complex. Chambers also said he believes football players are exploited because they draw no financial benefit from work that generates millions of dollars for the universities.


Current NCAA rules afford students flexibility to earn money in addition to scholarships, or tap into a special assistance fund, Renfro said.


''A student athlete who is on full scholarship can work any time during the year, except for when they are actually playing their sport,'' he said.


Gov. Mike Johanns has said he would sign the bill into law if passed. The Legislature passed a similar bill in 1988, but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Kay Orr.


The proposal is attracting attention outside the ranks of college football.


Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy said Monday he supports paying college athletes and would contribute some of is own salary to do it.


''I think it's great,'' Eustachy said during the Big 12 teleconference. ''For some of them with their (economic) background, they hardly have enough money to eat properly. So I think they should (be paid).


''They create a lot of revenue. A lot of people get rich off them, including the coaches. To take a stipend out of a coach's check to do something like that, I don't think there would be a coach in the world that would be opposed to it. I know I wouldn't.''


Eustachy suggested $100 a week would ''go a long way'' toward helping athletes meet everyday living expenses.


''They're not a normal student,'' he said. ''They're asked to do a lot of stuff outside the classroom.''

College athletes who are on a scholarship ARE being paid. Don't believe me? Ask the IRS. Scholarships are taxable.

It is also interesting to me that the "highly selective" schools, that give scholarships on a "need only" basis MUST give full athletic scholarships (which are clearly merit based) to retain Division 1 standing. That's an NCAA rule.

And to parrot what a lot of others have said above, "student" athletes at the big sports powers seem to do very well, thank you. Look at what they drive and where they live. That's not the case at smaller, less prestigious program, by the way.

And, frankly, a fair number of these students (clearly not all of them) wouldn't be in college at all if they weren't physically gifted. They either couldn't afford it, or wouldn't meet the entrance requirements.

Finally, I think that paying athletes would widen the gap between the "big time" programs and the rest of the colleges. Smaller schools (and conferences) without the reputation of the elite programs would have a much harder time recruiting and paying if they weren't in the same income category of a Nebraska, Ohio State, etc. Unless, of course, the NCAA or someone sets an absolute salary so that Miami of Ohio could compete with Miami of Florida.

Even though the term is nearly a joke these days (see NHL and NBA players on Olympic teams), I would much prefer to see amateur atletics stay that way.