For the average student athlete life as a college student usually means dinners made out of ramen noodles and whatever Taco Bell has going on its current dollar menu. Money is something that most students consider to be a precious commodity so when there is the opportunity to make a few extra dollars, the average student usually jumps at it.
Well that’s not the case for those under the tyranny of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, better known as the NCAA. Students aren’t allowed to take money from just anyone; in fact they can’t take even take food from certain people.
This past week Jim Tressel, the head football coach of the Ohio State University Buckeyes, was fined $250,000 dollars and suspended for two non-conference games by the school because he knowingly withheld information from the NCAA regarding some of his players selling memorabilia.
The players involved in the memorabilia scandal sold championship rings, trophies, and jerseys for a discounted rate on tattoos and they earned over $7,000 in cash. The key player caught in the middle of this is Ohio State star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Because of his actions Pryor was suspended for five games of the 2011 season.
So, let me get this straight. The player does wrong and is suspended for 5 out of about 12 or 13 games depending on how well the team plays. The coach knows about the aforementioned wrong, fails to report it to his superiors, and once it’s discovered that he’s in the wrong just as much as the players are; said coach is suspended for two games against teams that Ohio State could win with their B squad.
That dog won’t hunt.
While the NCAA has yet to issue its final judgment on Tressel I fully expect them to lie down just as his school did. For some reason schools and the NCAA treat players like second class citizens instead of the engines who power their six figure salaries.
According to the U.S. Department of Education in 2008 the Ohio State University football program had over $65 million dollars in revenue in one season. So how is it that so many big money college football schools that are powered by revenue from huge television contracts, merchandise, ticket sales, and etc. have such issue with giving players a fair share of the pie?
Better yet, why is it that the NCAA has such a problem with it?
Maybe it’s because most of the money comes from football and basketball programs where the majority of the players are minorities? Nah, maybe it’s because the NCAA has no desire to part ways with some of the money they make.
Maybe its just pure greed.
In the end some of these student athletes arrive at school with the just the clothes on their back and one little slip up can cost them their college careers. If the NCAA is so concerned about the well being of their precious students then why is attending a party with the company of an agent such a big deal?
The NCAA and big time athletic programs can be as bad as some of the dictators and tyrants we hear about on the news everyday in terms of oppression and poverty. That may be a little extreme but you get where I’m going.
In today’s economy simply giving a student a scholarship is no longer enough for that student to live.
It’s only fair to the athlete whose is making your school and organization millions of dollars each game to give that student his fair share.
Selling memorabilia that has your likeness to make a profit for yourself is strictly prohibited. Since the NCAA owns you, it’s only fair that their share is cut first right?
-JH
