Should college athletes be paid? / LJWorld.com

Asked at Target, 3201 Iowa on March 31, 2011

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“Yes, they can’t really have jobs because of the time they have to spend practicing so I think they should get paid.”

— Jason Rusovick, finance major, Lawrence

“It would depend on what they got and how much.”

— Justine Brown, interior design major, Lincoln, Neb.

“Yes, because of the Fab Five.”

— Max Stept, pre-business major, Lawrence

“Yes, they make so much money for colleges.”

— Matthew Weisberg, business major, Lawrence

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kujmom 2 years, 8 months ago

Well, if you want to be technical about it, it WAS the first no. There were 3 that said yes and one that wasn't sure!

Chris Ogle 2 years, 8 months ago

“It would depend on what they got and how much.”

What an answer.........Maybe she should change her major.

Newell_Post 2 years, 8 months ago

Of course they should. Students get paid for all kinds of part time jobs. This is just another part time job.

deec 2 years, 8 months ago

They should be paid by the NFL and NBA, since they are nothing more than the minor leagues any more.

cooltrix 2 years, 8 months ago

No, they should not be paid, most part time working students don't make $15,000/semester and that's about what tuition and housing is if you are an out of state student. Or, if they are going to be paid, let’s get rid of the athletic scholarships and they can get student loans and financial aid like the rest of us!

kelku688 2 years, 8 months ago

No, they get enough free stuff as it is from the college. free clothes, board, food, tuition.... a hardworking normal college student pays for everything on their own, unless mommy and daddy are rich. If anything they should pay the college.

RoeDapple 2 years, 8 months ago

I cast my own, and reload for about 7 cents/round. well used golf balls are $10 for 300. used bowling pins are free or very cheap if you know someone. Now brass, that's expensive.

RoeDapple 2 years, 8 months ago

College sports? No. If you want to pay them, create minor league teams for football, basketball and all other college sports and then give them anything you want. It makes me sick to see the salaries of college coaches, the cost of attending college games and in general all the greed associated with college sports while the cost of tuition is going through the roof for everyone else.

Flap Doodle 2 years, 8 months ago

They could sell ad space on their tattoos.

rockchalker52 2 years, 8 months ago

My liking this comment is not consistent with my previous position, but funny is funny.

ForwardThinker 2 years, 8 months ago

Those who can, do. Those who can't, pay tuition. They should absolutely be paid something. You can't compare athletes to other students. The schools and the NCAA make millions off of these kids and if there was a way to exploit all the other kids for the same kinds of profits, they would do it to them too.

FlintlockRifle 2 years, 8 months ago

Good golly no, they would never want to leave school , if they were just a small time player----

trinity 2 years, 8 months ago

all i wanna know is, what's that chickie lookin' at in jason's ots photo? checkin' out the walkaway or something??? great pic, made me smile after i figured out there really wasn't a girl standing right behind him!

pea 2 years, 8 months ago

Don't they currently get a pretty nifty stipend of walking around money? I heard that some athletes at a much smaller nearby school get around $350 a month spending money - if that's true I can only imagine what KU men's bball players might get. Anybody have info on that?

Kevin Randell 2 years, 8 months ago

Ok, I say YES. NOW....here's what we do. We sign them to a four year contract. We take away their tuition and free room and board, but also make it mandatory for them to attend schools and keep an decent GPA as part of that contract. THEN, if one person bolts for the NFL after their Junior college, the NFL has to pay the University to buy out his contract. I see it this way...it's a win win. Now, I do see that we would have to put in a salary cap, but since we have such rich Alumni and Boosters, we should have no problem getting good talent. :)

somedude20 2 years, 8 months ago

Anyone see the story on Frontline I believe on Tuesday? I believe it is online but the second story was all about the NCAA and how much they make and if they had to share it (and they point out the Bill himSelf makes 3 mill)with the players that they would not be as rich (and of course they do not want that). They interview the head of the NCAA and boy was he nervous and sweating. Might be able to see it here, worth watching: http://video.tvguide.com/Frontline/Money+and+March+Madness/7130318?autoplay=true&partnerid=OVG

Beth Ennis 2 years, 8 months ago

ROTC kids get their tuition paid and they get a monthly stipend. It goes up every year they are in and I think it caps out at $500/mo. I think athletes should be getting the same thing. Remember, not every athlete is on a scholarship, just as not all ROTC kids are on scholarship. The monthly stipend comes from the military, not the college of course, but the NCAA and the universities are making more than enough money in the big sports to be able to afford this. Some of these kids are married, some aren't, some come from well to do families who can give their kids some spending money, some don't. But yes, the Universities are making so much money off of some sports that the kids should get a little something out of it, especially since the NCAA won't let them work. Even when most of your basic needs are taken care of, it's pretty dang hard to survive w/o spending money. You still need clothes (other than the free t-shirts and stuff ) like underwear, socks, etc. The NCAA is getting fat, dumb and happy off of these kids. Like I said, they aren't all getting scholarships. In fact, I would say the majority don't get scholarships. I don't know the numbers for sure, but I'll bet it is more than half that don't get them.

Solomon 2 years, 8 months ago

The student with an academic scholarship, if he or she works for the university, gets paid. It should be the same with an athlete. Pay a prevailing student wage for a set amount of time for practice and games.

looza 2 years, 8 months ago

they already get paid......next question

dogsandcats 2 years, 8 months ago

If they are paid it should be wages comparable to other student workers, i.e. $8-10/hr

Richard Payton 2 years, 8 months ago

Auburn players already getting paid money and sex. From players mouth not mine.

beatrice 2 years, 8 months ago

If their images are used after they leave the school, then yes, they should be paid at that time.

Max, wake up!

Kontum1972 2 years, 8 months ago

they should all be paid in Gum.....

brewmaster 2 years, 8 months ago

They already do get paid. Clothes, cars, money, all sorts of stuff from the local boosters and athletic corporations. Oh, and the parents of some athletes are provided with jobs directly through the team as "assistant coaches" or the school staff or through local businesses and well connected alumni.