I think very few people propose flat out paying the players. But if players are allowed to make money off their likeness from outside sources, how in the hell do you regulate it? And once you allow some of it, the cat is out of the bag and it's over as far as going back. Are they still going to allow the transfer portal? Are they still going to allow graduates with eligibility to freely transfer wherever they want? How is this going to work?
I'm open to suggestions, but I've yet to see one proposal that would even have the remotest chance of not sending this thing totally off the rails where competitive balance is forever gone and never coming back. Is that even a concern for people? Don't they understand that is absolutely critical for this entire system to work?
And literally EVERYONE is much better off now than they used to be, including players. Tuition and the cost of going to college has risen like crazy for regular students over the past 20 years. It's risen exactly $0 for scholarship athletes. Not to mention the amenities they have access to while in school. Better dorms, much better food, much better training and rehab facilities, the list goes on and on. I guess I don't see what the big problem is.
i don't know what fairy tale world you have been watching, but as many have pointed out the concept of competitive balance is and has been a myth for quite some time.
second, you talk about the cost of college going up for everyone, but the athlete i think you are viewing this in far to narrow a scope
when does a college football player have an off season? two kids i know this year who are freshmen in college left to go to school two days after their high school graduation to move in and start summer classes and conditioning.
this wasn't a choice, this was a requirement.
when does a college kid work to have money in their pocket to pay for anything, the spring? hah, the college programs are year round now and why?
a college football player puts in more time than any other time in the history of college football, there is more money flowing into the ncaa, the networks, the schools, and the coaches and you are worried about the myth of competitive balance and.
i am done on this because you live in this world that there needs to be answers before action is taken, but that time is passed.
this issue started long before the obannon case, it started back when the ncaa lost control of the tv contracts and their influence has been eroded by they and the college presidents arrogance and inertia.