Paying NCAA athletes-should we?

College football over the years has become insanely popular, and talked about more than ever. Football all began in the United States and it goes back to Nov. 6, 1869, when teams from Princeton and Rutgers University met in New Brunswick, New York, for the very first intercollegiate football game. In early games, each team was allowed twenty- five players. By 1873 this number had been reduced to only twenty. In 1876 it was reduced again to fifteen, and then in 1880 it came down to the present day number of eleven.

College football is constantly changing with all the new trends and generations coming through. Some of the most impactful changes include the playing field itself. It has been reduced in length from one hundred and twenty yards, exclusive of end zones, to present day of one hundred yards, and in width from one hundred yards, to now current fifty -three and one third yards. The football players learn with each change that is made, and engage with their fans throughout everything.

One issue that should be discussed is whether or not NCAA football is becoming obsolete. This means that it could be becoming a joke, they may be taking advantage of the athletes, or that they need to be tossed out. Between pro college football (NCAA) and the NFL there are many differences and rules that can show why NCAA football may be even more strict and talked about than he NHL. We started looking into these accusations because of Cases involving the University of Southern California, Penn State, the University of Miami and UCF. These are just a few of the investigations that have led members of the media and institutions to question the NCAA’s ability to govern. One example to be discussed, is with USC. For a few years, University of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier suggested that players should receive an average pay of $300 per game to help their families pay for tickets and travel to their games. However, as long as Spurrier neglects to ask his conference commissioner or USC’s president and athletic director to push for the required legislation, his plan may never be instituted. Nowadays, there is usually some payment for the players. It varies across teams, and some still do not do it. It is a huge topic that is very opinioned from a variety of college presidents, coaches, students, and families.

Personally, I think this is definitely a debate, but it shouldn’t be too hard to decide. Yes, I think that college athletes put in quite a bit of work, and it can be hard to balance school and football at the same time. I agree that college athletes should be paid, but it shouldn’t be more than $300 a game. All athletes should be paid also, and not just football players. Everyone has work/life balance and their job is to play a college sport while still keeping up their GPA.

Sources Used:

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/news/college-football-playoff-rankings-ohio-state-buckeyes-no-6-big-ten-concerns-penn-state-wisconsin/1qtoyyub2filh1qbnrllzg962w

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/football

http://www.collegesportsscholarships.com/history-ncaa-football.htm

https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/is-the-ncaa-obsolete/