The problem isn’t the rampant under-the-table payments to players, players selling their jerseys, rings, or memorabilia – the problem is the general public who are shocked and try to police what has been going on for decades.
Personally, there is a simple way to resolve this. Lets take the non-revenue sports off the table. So we’re only talking about paying Basketball and Football players. Get real about this, the only people who care one ounce about girls volleyball are the girls who are in the game and their family members. No one cares about men’s soccer or wrestling. If it doesn’t have a major TV deal it shouldn’t be considered a major sport.
Keep those kids playing non-revenue generating sports under the current model. They play for a scholarship. Life stays the same for them.
For the Basketball and Football players…The solution isn’t blank checks. There has to be an incentive program to lead these kids to graduation. There should be an increase in monthly living stipends that is realistic to their location. In addition to that, each player who makes the “Roster” for the team should be given an account – a trust fund equivalent to $10,000 per year. Upon completing their 4th year of eligibility they receive a lump sum payment for every year they made the “Roster” – this revenue is a collective of royalties from video games, TV revenue, stadium sales, and all other ancillary revenue the sports programs make.
