College Athletes Should Not Be Paid - 1844 Words

There has been much scrutiny over college athletes receiving illegal benefits over the years. What should be looked at more closely is why these benefits are illegal in the first place. The NCAA has such a stranglehold on college athletics that college athletes are not allowed to do what many other college students do. Many recent scandals have sparked the debate of the payment of college athletes. There has been controversy as to whether college athletes should be paid, or whether they should be happy with their scholarships. The NCAA has relied heavily on the age-old characterization of college athletes as â€Å"amateurs† who are first and foremost â€Å"student-athletes† (Sanderson and Siegfried). Because they are considered students and†¦show more content†¦At the professional level, there are safeguards regarding how long a coach can work his players, however there is no comparable Although the NCAA limits practice to 20 hours per week, there are c ountless ways coaches can maneuver around the limit (Sanderson and Siegfried). The NCAA also does not consider that athletes are not only recruited for their grade-point average and test scores (Rose 48). They are recruited to help boost visibility of the university and its program (Rose 48). If they help the team become successful, it might attract larger donations from state legislators (Sanderson and Siegfried). The median voter in virtually every state is not a college graduate, so they may be more interested in the university’s football team than its library (Sanderson and Siegfried). The NCAA has gone to the extreme by forcing insane rules and regulations on all universities and players within its grasp. The result is an 800-page book of NCAA rules and regulations for limiting recruiting expenses and player compensation, accompanied by a seemingly perpetual stream of scandals (Sanderson and Siegfried). Up until last year, the NCAA allowed schools to provide athlet es with bagels, but not spreads like butter or cream cheese (Smith 14). The NCAA also does not have a student-assistance fund to help athletes cover expenses not covered by an athletic scholarship (Sander, Wolverton, and Fuller A22). Examples of these expenses are personal, family, and medical