As the 2011 college football season begins, sports writers and commentators, coaches, athletic directors and fans have once again raised the question: should college athletes be paid to play sports?
The realilty is that college students are already paid to play sports. Scholarships that cover tuition, room and board, which can exceed $40,000 a year, are awarded to thousands of kids every year. The total cost to a university for any scholarship athlete's college career can exceed $200,00. Proponents of paying athletes say that there is still a 'shortfall' - money for laundry, transportation and other expenditures - of, on average, $2900 per year. Other proponents say that colleges make millions of dollars every year and that they should share the wealth. In an interview given for ESPN.com, Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delaney spoke in favor of adding a stipend to what athletes are already given. This is a bad idea that is catching on.
It's Not a Bad Deal
Are student athletes receiving fair 'compensation' under the existing system? Yes. And the dollar amount is only part of the value of a college scholarship. College athletes receive benefits that would be considered generous in any employee compensation package: premium health insurance and medical treatment, upgraded meals, academic support including free tutoring, athletic training, coaching and conditioning, and access to facilities that compare favorably with health clubs that cost hundreds of dollars a year for members.