Pollard on Deadspin

[cyclone87]

This issue combined with the eventual decline of enrollment in traditional "brick and mortar" universities will destroy collegiate athletics within 20 years. Just my opinion.

Degrees from online-only institutions will never be worth as much as those from hand-on "brick and mortar" schools (especially science and technology schools where you need a lot of hands-on lab experience), therefore I believe there will always be a demand for degrees from traditional (brick and mortar) universities. Institutions like The University of Phoenix are already starting to take a dive now that more people are realizing their degrees are worthless. I don't see enrollment declining across-the-board at all tradition Universities in the next 20 years, at least not for that reason. Maybe something else will arise and cause a decline, but I don't know how you would foresee that.

 

[CapnCy]

He's not wrong. I love it when a former athlete talks about looking at all that money their making for the school argument.

Ever heard of an unpaid internship? No one is forcing you to play college sports. If you're good enough to get paid by all means go play somewhere that will pay you. You chose to go to the NCAA because you have realized it's the best choice for your future. I chose Iowa State because a 4 year degree led me down a career bath better than going straight into the workforce after high school. It's the same decision.

What's that? You aren't good enough to leave high school and go play pro? So you're kind of benefiting from the facilities and training you're getting in college? Kind of like an unpaid internship. Then there's the fallacy that you're entitled to what you make your company or school. There hasn't been a year since I graduated where I didn't generate way more revenue or cost savings for my employer than I was paid. Believe it or not that's the real world. Then there's the repeated lack of paying attention to the fact that the education is free. Average college student graduates with over $30K in debt. The average cost for room and board for a 4 year institution is over $20K. I guess that 80-100K you get to play sports doesn't count. Also, ask all the PHD candidates how much cash they're rolling in for their breakthroughs.

So I leave it with this suggestion. Strip all athletic scholarships, they pay for tuition and lodging just like every other student. Pay each athlete (no longer student athlete) the average cost of room and board nationwide. Then we can start having a conversation about what their play is worth. Since the athletes that are a part of the APU movement are ignoring the value of the diploma. In the meantime require they maintain good academic standing because the fact that fans have driven up revenue for the athletics departments doesn't change the mission and purpose of the institutions.

And oh by the way...I would go watch ISU play even if there weren't a superstar there slick. Iowa State as a whole is a prime example of this. Over the last 4 years fans have shown up in record numbers for a football team that over that period is under 500. If it was the players making me show and they were being paid to do what they do I'd probably expect to see a hell of a lot more empty seats. Arrowhead stadium isn't selling out when there's been 7 years in a row of .500 football. The idea that it is player talent driving revenue is whack. There were great players in the 70s, that didn't drive up the revenue. The difference has been the media outlets and the advent of technologies like DVR. The only market for live television any more that secures viewers is sports. The DVR, netflix, amazon video, hulu are more responsible for raising the revenue of athletics departments than the players. The overall talent of players hasn't changed dramatically in the last 15 years.

Very well said!

A couple additional points:
-Some schools hockey programs generate money, other schools don't. The management of that, to be fair would be a nightmare!

-What about the players that, in theory, don't generate money? Why pay them? Meaning, what if they are the third string player on scholly that never makes it in the rotation? Why should they make as much as the "marque" guys or guys that loaf the stat sheet? Everyone compares this to a job, then can they be let go as easily as it is if not performing a job? What about injured players?

-if they ever do come up with a "pay for play" type of thing, I'd only support if there were benchmarks that had to be met. You leave early, you owe that tuition back. You get dismissed for unfavorable behavior, same thing.

 

[HILL]

Decline in enrollment, decline in college sports. As far as playing players I dont know what you mean.

I meant paying players..sorry about that.

As far as decline in enrollment for traditional schools, right now I am taking a computational investing class for free online from Georgia Tech through Coursera.org. That site is only one example of many. The value of a degree is falling while the cost continues to rise. Change isn't just coming, it is here.

I agree to disagree without the need for name calling.

 

[im4cyclones]

I disagree with him on this one.. The ADs and conferences did this to themselves with realignment. It isnt about student athletes. It is about millions and millions of dollars. Coaches make millions. Schools make millions. Even though revenues are up, wages for labor remain the same.

True, no one is forcing them to play. But that doesnt mean they aren't getting taken advantage of. Why can you go buy a replica jersey with the number of a schools best player? Why isnt it just a random number? They are profiting off the athletes. Just my opinion.

 

[Wesley]

In my opinion, his tweets are far from a tirade. He is stating his long held opinion on this subject. Personally, I do not see why it is getting so much publicity today; especially on KXnO. Personally, I would be o.k. with a small monthly stipend being paid to football and men's basketball players; however, I do not think there is a way to make it work due to Title IX. Go Cyclones!

How can you then not pay the other athletes? Why stop there?

I personally think they are getting paid enough with their scholarship. If they need more money, borrow or get a job like everyone else.

 

[3TrueFans]

Perhaps if college football weren't the only viable, or maybe only way period, to move on to play professional football. People say if they don't like it they're free to go somewhere else, but the path to a career that utilizes their skills almost exclusively runs through college football. That's the way the system is set up, how many players have played in the NFL without having played college ball?

 

[Bret44]

Our old buddy Cyber is gettin' after it on twitter

 

[CyCrazy]

I meant paying players..sorry about that.

As far as decline in enrollment for traditional schools, right now I am taking a computational investing class for free online from Georgia Tech through Coursera.org. That site is only one example of many. The value of a degree is falling while the cost continues to rise. Change isn't just coming, it is here.

I agree to disagree without the need for name calling.

And thats fine but no way will a campus education disappear.

 

[alarson]

15.2.2 Room and Board.
An institution may provide a student-athlete financial aid that includes the cost of room and board, based on the official allowance for a room as listed in the institution’s official publication (e.g., catalog) and a board allowance that consists of three meals per day, even if the institution’s maximum permissible award allowance for all students represents a lesser cost figure.


15.2.2.1 Off-Campus Room and Board Stipend.
If a student-athlete lives and eats in noninstitutional facilities, the institution may provide the student-athlete an amount equal to the institution’s official on-campus room allowance as listed in its catalog, the average of the room costs of all of its students living on campus or the cost of room as calculated based on its policies and procedures for calculating the cost of attendance for all students. The institution also may provide the student-athlete an amount that is equivalent to an on-campus seven-day or 21-meal board plan or the cost of meals as calculated based on its policies and procedures for calculating the cost of attendance for all students, excluding those meals provided as part of the training table. Meals provided on the training table shall be deducted at the regular cost figure from such a student athlete’s board allowance.

So reading this and the ISU admission\dining sites, id guess ISU could give about 8k in 'room and board' compensation a year (not sure if that figure is just academic year or includes summer room\board, but assume just fall\spring). That's more than enough to pay for an apartment with roommates and for food.

 

[CYme]

I seem to remember the large meal plan covering 20 meals per week when in the dorms, on my own for Sunday night. If they don't want to work, I bet they can come up with loans for $520 a year ($10/meal, 52 weeks/year). They don't have to go to BWW or Texas Roadhouse for dinner. If they want that, they can go get a job or take out loans to pay for their extra-curricular activities. That is what everyone else had to do. The value those on scholarship are getting is very good. If they don't want it, as said, let them take their "talent" to the real world at age 18, 19, 20 and see how far they get. No one, and I mean no one, is forcing them to play.

 

[TXCyclones]

How can you then not pay the other athletes? Why stop there?

I personally think they are getting paid enough with their scholarship. If they need more money, borrow or get a job like everyone else.

Get a job like everyone else? When? They're training when other students are working PT-jobs.

 

[Wesley]

How about they lower the cost of tuition instead?

If a tree falls in a forest.......

 

[Wesley]

Get a job like everyone else? When? They're training when other students are working PT-jobs.

Summer.

 

[HILL]

And thats fine but no way will a campus education disappear.

Decline and disappear are two very different things.

25 years ago if you would have told me I could have a device in my pocket with the answers to any question I could come up with I would have called you crazy.

 

[alarson]

Perhaps if college football weren't the only viable, or maybe only way period, to move on to play professional football. People say if they don't like it they're free to go somewhere else, but the path to a career that utilizes their skills almost exclusively runs through college football. That's the way the system is set up, how many players have played in the NFL without having played college ball?

How many people end up in multimillion dollar jobs of any kind without paying their dues at other places where they gain experience, build skills, and prove their worthiness for that higher level job?

A lot of people go to school instead of taking a job out of high school or take an unpaid internship instead of a paying job because it will benefit them more long-term. An elite athlete that takes the university route is investing in their future, and receiving plenty of dividends.

 

[johnnydugouts]

I disagree with him on this one.. The ADs and conferences did this to themselves with realignment. It isnt about student athletes. It is about millions and millions of dollars. Coaches make millions. Schools make millions. Even though revenues are up, wages for labor remain the same.

True, no one is forcing them to play. But that doesnt mean they aren't getting taken advantage of. Why can you go buy a replica jersey with the number of a schools best player? Why isnt it just a random number? They are profiting off the athletes. Just my opinion.

this is the biggest bunch of BS. has anyone- you, jay bilas, some spoiled athlete crying, anyone- ever been able to pinpoint who exactly is making all this money off the student athletes? the NCAA is a non-profit entity that passes through the majority of its revenue to its members. oh by the 40% of that revenue is spent on administering championships and insurance for athletes. ISU is a public, non-profit entity that takes money from the NCAA, the conference and donors and runs a program for the benefit of....THE RECIPIENTS OF SCHOLARSHIPS, THE ECONOMY, AND THE GREATER GOOD OF SOCIETY. so who exactly is getting so rich off these students? some AD who gets paid a few hundred grand to efficiently run a program? its complete BS and the result of lawyers looking for a payday getting in the ear of folks who are too stupid to think things through.

 

[vmbplayer]

Very well said!

A couple additional points:
-Some schools hockey programs generate money, other schools don't. The management of that, to be fair would be a nightmare!

-What about the players that, in theory, don't generate money? Why pay them? Meaning, what if they are the third string player on scholly that never makes it in the rotation? Why should they make as much as the "marque" guys or guys that loaf the stat sheet? Everyone compares this to a job, then can they be let go as easily as it is if not performing a job? What about injured players?

-if they ever do come up with a "pay for play" type of thing, I'd only support if there were benchmarks that had to be met. You leave early, you owe that tuition back. You get dismissed for unfavorable behavior, same thing.

I find the APU movement humorous for this reason. All players would be drastically hurt if pay for play was implemented. Because All players includes the gymnasts, the rowers, the tennis players, the soccer players, the cross country runners. The 'All Players' of the APU movement would probably only benefit about 1% of those players. If you aren't a MBB or Football player in a top tier conference and a starter and we're making this a 'business' like the movement aims you will be worse off. Might want to take advantage of that free education and take a couple classes in economics and business to realize it may be worth learning a thing or two instead of cracking out a poorly thought through protest on your wrist tape.

 

[gocubs2118]

Pretty embarrassing way to get your point across.

 

[TXCyclones]

Summer.

So there's no training going on during the summer?

 

[Wesley]

this is the biggest bunch of BS. has anyone- you, jay bilas, some spoiled athlete crying, anyone- ever been able to pinpoint who exactly is making all this money off the student athletes? the NCAA is a non-profit entity that passes through the majority of its revenue to its members. oh by the 40% of that revenue is spent on administering championships and insurance for athletes. ISU is a public, non-profit entity that takes money from the NCAA, the conference and donors and runs a program for the benefit of....THE RECIPIENTS OF SCHOLARSHIPS, THE ECONOMY, AND THE GREATER GOOD OF SOCIETY. so who exactly is getting so rich off these students? some AD who gets paid a few hundred grand to efficiently run a program? its complete BS and the result of lawyers looking for a payday getting in the ear of folks who are too stupid to think things through.

The only millionaires is the head football and basketball coach. The rest much less.