Comments on: Diagnose Before Attempting To Cure

By: Christopher Cochran

Christopher Cochran — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 00:42:55 +0000

Whether you like it or not, money talks, and bulls_ _t walks. It’s a fact. Whether or not you, Notre Dame, or anybody else likes it, the title wave of paid athletes at colleges will win-out. It’s already a tilted field based on academic standards, and it’ll become more unbalanced when the $ollars pass above-board, and not just under the table. It’s gonna happen – you may not like it – Jenkins/the BOT may not like it, but … get used to it …

By: VADomer02

VADomer02 — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 04:21:25 +0000

In reply to a68domer. A requirement to graduate to earn their pay makes me cringe at the corruption opportunities. You think Alabama is bad currently about shedding scholarship players to make room on the roster? Imagine how many athletically under-performing players start "failing" out of school just to save the school money.

By: Kevin Byrnes

Kevin Byrnes — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 21:38:05 +0000

KO, very well organized and written. Thanks. I suppose the NBA and NFL could establish full-on minor leagues, and schools would convert to a club sport model. This would be quite painful for loyal alums (like me) who love their alma mater’s sporting teams, but it might help separate the financial elements of this mess.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 20:02:34 +0000

NFL and NBA need a legitimate minor league program. That would give kids who are talented enough to bypass the college process, make some money, and still get access to their respective league. NBA has D League but that is seen as a death sentence to get sent there whereas Minors in MLB is a legitimate and effective proving ground

By: Brian in Cleve

Brian in Cleve — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 14:12:39 +0000

Trust fund idea is a very good one. Has great potential, but still does not address the point another poster made about dishonest money being passed under the table during the player’s career…

By: a68domer

a68domer — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 11:58:49 +0000

If college athletes are to be paid for their services, set up a trust fund to be paid to them when/if they graduate. That way, 17-19 year olds won’t spend thousands on worthless tatoos and overpriced bling & sports cars. Go ahead and give them an allowance for pizza.

By: JTG

JTG — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 06:34:44 +0000

Good article. But really doesn’t express the difference between programs like ND, Alabama, and Ohio State that fill stadiums every week and have networks fighting to air their games, and the other 90% of schools, who don’t turn profits, and lose money annually.

I’m a good libertarian who in the real world is happy when businesses compete and pay what they can pay, but in college sports, if the 1% can pay 6 figure salaries to their players in revenue sports (how do we get around Title 9, btw…), but the rest can’t pay a dime over tuition and stipends, the competitive advantage will just continue to increase for the popular teams.

By: 2017

2017 — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 05:01:10 +0000

There was once a day when college seemed bigger than the NFL or NBA and salaries for professional athletes weren’t insane. Maybe, should have paid the athletes long ago and kept the NFL and NBA as small bit players. Now, it’s way too much cash to pass up. The NFL, NBA, and MLB are kings of the sporting world. Pro game is not nearly as exciting in many areas. Maybe, one day folks will switch to soccer, boxing, or some other game and change dynamic.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 22:21:53 +0000

Great piece. So sad but so true. It’s part of the legacy of college athletics. Don’t know how to fix the series of problems except as the University of Chicago did. But, with the millions of $ circulating and the related name recognition, can anyone make a calculation as to which bastion of higher education will go the route of the Maroons ? It’s like gun control– handwringing and talk until the clouds pass. There’s more money in college sports, or close to it,than non-military firearms spending, I’d guess, in a oven year.

By: D8NDomer

D8NDomer — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 21:49:38 +0000

Nice analysis. The cures are available.

See the proposal by super agent Donald Yee (he represents Tom Brady), now more than 5 years ago. It sets up an alternate business plan having nothing to do with the educational institutions. (The lone exception might be that stadiums are leased to various teams.)

In sum, his proposal calls for taking the current athletic programs private and allowing the free market to run it’s course; subject to all usual business and labor requirements.

This way the schools can get back to education and the boosters, networks and marketers can run their sports as they see fit.

Of course the status quo hates this. It is change. But it needs to be tried. It couldn’t be worse than what we have.