Student-athletes are employees now?

[Professor]

[Saz]

Nah, this is a good decision man. These athletes deserve a slice of the pie.

[The Dude]

I think the ruling was correct. They aren't students when they spend more time with their teams.

It's about time the NCAA's grip on exploiting youth athletes is over.

[Spider]

I despise college athletics generally. Universities are meant to be institutions of higher learning. Not regional meccas for the celebration of running and bouncing balls and shit.

They are heavily exploited and ruin their bodies for the entertainment of others. They deserve every dime they can scratch out of the eyes of that monster.

[Indy]

Considering the billions that pour into universities for college athletics I'm surprised it took this long.

They're basically a quasi-professional sports league--virtually the minor league for most major pro sports--so I quickly grew "tired" of scandals where a star athlete's career was threatened because he accepted a free dinner or new clothes while the university was making millions off his back, and that of his teammates.

[Saz]

[Professor]

So, now these kids are going to be employees of the college, who also happen to be getting an education? Kind of like any professor or janitor who takes courses on the side?

That's a pretty major shakeup of the system.

[Philly]

I generally dislike college sports but after reading Spider's post I think I'm now on the market for a college football team to be a fan of. Holla at me.


And these kids should definitely get a paycheck. A college student can work 10 hours a week at the campus bookstore and get a paycheck, but these athletes who put in way more time in a much more intense environment can't be paid or the integrity of the game will be destroyed? They shouldn't get huge paychecks like the pros or anything, but keep in mind that a lot of these kids come from big time poverty, and while they're generating millions for the school they should at least be able to help the family out with a little money if nothing else.

[fstarcstar]

I don't agree with the ruling, but Indy does bring up a good point.

For instance, in the 30 for 30 documentary about the Fab Five (on youtube if you want to watch it) The Michigan State merchandise royalties totaled some 10 million the two years they were all together. The players tho, never received a dime from it. There probably is a way to determine how players can make money or receive certain benefits etc, but I don't think student-athletes should be considered employees.

[The Dude]

The schools profits off their labor. They are employees.