Pollard on Deadspin
- Thread starter HILL
- Start date
Clothing? Shirts and shoes and a suit for travel and programs. But we've got athletes begging for a "swipe" from others at the dining halls, and for others to get them (take them) to go to a movie even. I'll admit some spend their money on silly items probably beyond their means such as Xboxes and games, but that's not all of them. Remember that many of these kids don't come from means that allow for anything extra. A scholly is the only way many would have an opportunity to go to school at all.
Who is essentially forcing them to go to college? And what means are they using to force them?
In state student yearly cost of what the athletes get for free:
Tuition: ~8000
Food: ~8000
Room: ~6000
Athletes are not the only ones who have a slew of expenses come up that are difficult to pay for while in college. Athletes can get student loans, and pay them off like the rest of us are more then likely still doing.
There are many good low income loans out there. I had a friend go to school for almost free because he came form a very low income home. There are ways out there. And if they are only getting in to school because of their athletic skills, than I would say a degree is good enough.
So they didn't have it before, but they need it now? Anything they need for football is provided, I'm pretty sure they don't show up as freshman naked.
So would you say that those students are in a position lightyears beyond not going to college, not having lodging paid for them, not having food provided for them, not having personal tutor service provided for them? You're speaking like they are somehow getting the raw end of the deal.
Wait, how many college athletes make a living after college on their physical skills? They are free to go into a trade, get skills and skip college. If they want a payoff in the end, they have a sacrifice to make up front. Again, how many hours a week are they practicing during the summer?
There are avenues they can take that offer immediate compensation. You can play arena or CFL if you want. If they are 'forced' to go to college to to make it to a more prestigious job, isnt that saying that the training and exposure that a university provides is itself worth something? Its harder to put a number on but id wager quite a bit.
Additionally very few kids are NFL-ready out of high school. What would that athlete have to pay to have someone private provide him with the physical and skills training that one receives in college that prepares him for the next level?
If they have enough skills to make a living off of, they will be able to repay their loans in a few months. It will of taken me 10 years to pay mine off, and I feel like I'm in the minority there.
You're mistaken. These are great benefits, but they don't cover all of the needs. And stipends haven't increased in several years. There's no reason why those stipends should not increase with the cost of living.
Dont confuse non-profit with poor. The NCAA sold rights to basketball tournament for $10 billion over 14 years. TEN BILLION. And you don't think they are getting rich? The IA HS Athletic Assoc is non-profit but has millions in holdings. Channel 13 did a story on it a few years ago.
The conference sell TV rights for hundreds of millions of dollars. They swap conference partners and disregard 100 year traditions for what, exactly?
And they aren't profiting?
The school isnt necessarily responsible for all of their 'needs' any more than mcdonalds is responsible for paying a $15 an hour wage like some think it is.
They are compensated very well and have avenues such as grants and loans to cover shortfalls.
Athletes on full scholarship get around $4,000 to cover food, and yet you see guys tweeting about consistently dropping $20 to eat at Applebee's. News flash: You don't always have to go out to eat. You can buy way more than one meal's worth of groceries for $20. Learn to cook. Learn how to spend money wisely. Life skills.
As the shadow posted earlier in this thread the 'stipends' are tied to what the university food service and room costs are. I would be willing to wager they have likely increased more rapidly than the cost of food and rent has off campus. At least I'm quite confident they did at ISU as I could rent an apartment for a full year what the cost was of a room in Friley.
So I'm not exactly sure how the stipends haven't increased as they are tied directly to some of the same costs which have constant news articles coming out discussing how the cost of education is on the rise.
No different than what almost everyone else has to do. And most students aren't getting full rides.
This is an area I'd say NCAA could do better at. Life skills coaching in ways of financial management. It's a problem the persists to the pros. So many have no idea how to sustain a budget and live within their means. So many kids who have had nothing have something and can't manage anything.