Murray, I assume you are being sarcastic since all these talking points have been discussed at nauseum on this site and others? The Olympic model is new to me, but I’m still against it. I’ll say it again, nobody is forcing these athletes to take the scholarship. If they don’t like the sweet deal they are getting, then refuse it and pay for everything with part time jobs or loans like the rest of the students.

JMO but I don’t like pay for play in any form. I’m not a fan of players being paid by 3rd party for their images orvjersey names either, I don’t think it’s condusive to team play, some getting paid, others not. The monies earned should go in to some scholarship fund.

Also not a fan of pay for play.  Would create issues of rich get richer, such as SEC schools and their boosters.  Only concern for no pay is injuries.  What would have happened to SB if in the Fiesta Bowl he got injured and could never play again.  Yea, we talk about insurance policies, but they seldom pay anywhere near what the player is worth.  He was part of the attraction of PSU FB, thus generating income for PSU, BT, NCAA, networks and sponsors.  Why shouldn't he get something for his efforts?

I don’t recall any conversations about the taxing part of the problem

Navy, same thing that would happen if he had career ending injury in first NFL game. THAT is why the degree, the reason they go to college, is so important

Navy, You bring up a valid point, but it is not exclusive to pay vs nonpayment when related to injuries. If you pay them, everything is taxable and they would still have to purchase their own insurance policies, no? There are a million things to consider when payment begins and I don’t even think we’ve scratched the surface. If they get hurt while being paid then are they a university employee? Are they eligible for workman’s comp benefits? Can of worms doesn’t do it justice.

Once payment begins, they would be considered university employees. All income would be taxable. Health benefits would be an issue also. Do they get the same healthcare plan as the philosophy professors? Are they put on the university retirement plan/401k, etc? Are they eligible for workman’s comp benefits? Will the tax rates at certain institutions due to state tax rates entice athletes to attend one school over another? It would be a nightmare. And do we trust the NCAA to make sure it is all on the up and up or will the NCAA dissolve and it will be up to the schools/conferences and their state government to police it all?

They could be eligible for Workers' Compensation, if the state legislature decides not to exclude them form coverage.  Some states (WV) exclude professional sports organizations as requiring coverage.

Then you get into overtime, are you being paid while on the road? Are you exempt or non-exempt? just a whole can of worms. It just isn't possible and again, the value of your scholarship is just plain great. 1% of them will play in the NFL. Is it right to pay the same across the board? Is Nick Eury worth the same pay as Saquon? How do you determine who gets what amount?

Simple fact is people pay to see the name on the chest, not the name on the back.  Saying that the come to see the players is a one-sided BS argument that only acknowledges the players on the field and completely glosses over everything they are given by the University.

It's not a coincidence that the only players complaining about poverty are the ones who will make millions in the pros.  No backups on the basketball teams are talking about being poor.  Funny that all of those players seem to get by financially just fine.  No one from Wichita State is complaining about money.  No one from Gonzaga is financially strapped.

No third string long snappers anywhere are standing behind the players complaining about "having no money".  It's all BS.  I'd respect them more if they just came out and said "I want money because there's a lot going around and I am entitled to it".  Enough with the poverty BS.If you get injured, that sucks.  Not sure why being really good at football makes you any better than anyone else, so that we have to concoct ways to ensure safety nets because millions in insurance money "isn't enough".

Coaches making so much money  was always my argument about paying players, but after watching these guys sit out of bowl games because they might get hurt kinda leaves a bad taste for me, if they start getting paid they might start sitting out for more money. This stuff is way above my pay grade but one thing I do know is they better get the coaches salaries under control or it’s all going to come down one day.

roam we missed you Saturday night for the wrestling NC but we won it again lol, man was that exciting or what?

excellent point about players sitting out for more money.

Difference is the coaches making all that money earned it with years upon years of experience.  Most started as grad assistants on scholarship or grant money, just like the atheletes.  Or better yet, making next to nothing coaching High School.  They worked their way up through their profession.

Comparing those coaches to players just starting out is absolutely ridiculous.  It's like saying Tom Brady makes tons of money, so why shouldn't some kid at Kent State playing the same position get somethin too?

Roam, I agree 100%. People seem to think these guys making millions  just started. Most have been coaching for 20 years before they see those big paydays, Franklin included. Took him 20 years to see that payday. Telling me that isn't earned? There's a bunch of players will make that after just 4-5 years of college. Those who dont will have a nice degree to fall back on and start earning their way up the ladder.

It doesn’t matter if they earn it it’s a bubble that will bust one day IMO, y’all know most people are going to cry even harder when these coaches are making millions, it’s a different time today than it was 20 years ago with this he’s screwing me generation. Murray what’s the difference in a NFL salary cap vs having a  salary cap for coaches in college? I really don’t know buddy. It looks like we can have salary caps for players but not coaches? Even Joe Paterno was concerned about college coaches making so much money.

Not on subject but what the heck....

Q: why don’t they play poker in the jungle?

A: too many Cheetahs.

Thank you very much.

The difference is each school is their own entity, and the NCAA can not tell them how to spend money.  That's why there is no "salary cap" for coaches.  You can't tell separate entities (Private and Public schools) how they are and aren't allowed to pay their coaches.  The NCAA doesn't run the show, it's merely set up by the schools as oversight. The only people who can determine what they pay is their own board.  If they wish to give up that right, they can...  but that's not happening.

In the NFL, NBA, etc. each team is essentially a charter in that league.  It's not a private entity, but rather a piece of the bigger whole of the league.  If you want to be part of the league, then you must abide by their rules of entry and ownership.  Thems the rules, and because of that the league gets to dictate the guidelines for fair play.  Salary caps, profit sharing, etc.

If you look overseas to soccer in England, you'll see it's actually opposite.  Each team is their own private entity (much like schools), where they aren't beholden to the league for anything.  There's no salary cap, just an incentive to spend money to stay in the top division.  If you stink, you get dropped from the league and relegated to a lower division.  Spend money how ever you want.

lakeerie...  Those cheetahs are lion!

I don't believe there is a salary cap on the coaches in the pros. Each team can pay what they want. See Jon Gruden.

Thanks for all the responses, I just like college football the way it is and don’t want anything to happen to it, my other love nascar has made it to exspensive to keep up unless you’re a billionaire and I don’t want that to happen to college football.

I meant for the players, sorry.  Didn't mean to imply there was a salary cap on coaches.  Just the players.

Speaking of NASCAR, I'm so glad to see Danica Patrick out of the sport.  Never belonged there in the first place, and would have never hung on for so long if she didn't look good outside the car.  Crashed over 35% of her races, had a terrible overall finish average, etc. etc. etc.

I have nothing against women drivers, and hope to see more of them in the sport.  If they are good.  However, IMO she made it harder for women by getting there based solely on novelty, not talent.  Any woman who comes along now will have to work even harder to prove she belongs there.