Player Unity Group demands

[05_never_again]

Honest question - what do you think is a good and fair plan to pay players? Monthly stipend that goes to all athletes at each school? % of revenue? Likeness and jersey sales?

I don't think a model where the schools, conferences, or the NCAA paying players directly would work, chiefly because the very same people who want such a system would complain how unfair it is as soon as it was implemented.

If all athletes got the same stipend, it'd be unfair that the football players made the same as the baseball players, despite football bringing in more money. If you paid athletes different stipends, or athletes in the revenue producers got stipends but nobody else, then it'd be unfair that football players made more than baseball players, baseball players get paid but softball players don't, unfair that some sports had to be cut because a big chunk of football revenue now goes directly to players, etc. I think it's totally foreseeable that is what the discussion would move to.

The only model I see that would work and satisfy the greatest number of people would be to allow players to sell their likeness, which is basically what has already happened. Every player would have the opportunity to sell their likeness - sure, the star football player would make more money and have more opportunities than the track and field athlete, but they wouldn't be getting paid directly by the school/conference/NCAA, and so the "unfairness" claims have less weight because every athlete has the chance to sell their likeness for whatever price the market demands.

 

[The Original Fade]

I don't think a model where the schools, conferences, or the NCAA paying players directly would work, chiefly because the very same people who want such a system would complain how unfair it is as soon as it was implemented.

If all athletes got the same stipend, it'd be unfair that the football players made the same as the baseball players, despite football bringing in more money. If you paid athletes different stipends, or athletes in the revenue producers got stipends but nobody else, then it'd be unfair that football players made more than baseball players, baseball players get paid but softball players don't, unfair that some sports had to be cut because a big chunk of football revenue now goes directly to players, etc. I think it's totally foreseeable that is what the discussion would move to.

The only model I see that would work and satisfy the greatest number of people would be to allow players to sell their likeness, which is basically what has already happened. Every player would have the opportunity to sell their likeness - sure, the star football player would make more money and have more opportunities than the track and field athlete, but they wouldn't be getting paid directly by the school/conference/NCAA, and so the "unfairness" claims have less weight because every athlete has the chance to sell their likeness for whatever price the market demands.

Great points and solid post and at the end of the day, the likeness compensation plan might be the only one that is fair and works for the reasons you spelled out. It would still alter the recruiting landscape a bit, with higher profile schools with more visibility being able to offer more potential for income to recruits than other schools, but I suppose some of that may be going on already.

 

[05_never_again]

Great points and solid post and at the end of the day, the likeness compensation plan might be the only one that is fair and works for the reasons you spelled out. It would still alter the recruiting landscape a bit, with higher profile schools with more visibility being able to offer more potential for income to recruits than other schools, but I suppose some of that may be going on already.

I think what you describe is totally going on already, has been for some time, and I'm not sure would really alter the recruiting/competitive landscape.

 

[LSU-SIU]

This will never be done in any case. The whole thing will come crashing down on their heads and it will end. I have been laughing at Vanderbilt for several years but it looks like they had the correct model for college sports all along. They just take the big bucks and use it to improve their school, staying away from as much greed as possible.

Now that is what we can agree on and what I have been saying on this board for about 5 years. The schools needed to get ahead on this and they actually have been digging their heels in, and the reason they are digging in their heels is there is no easy fix.

Big $$$ college sports are effectively over, real college sports can and probably will continue.

This will all crash and crash hard.

 

[butchna]

Now that is what we can agree on and what I have been saying on this board for about 5 years. The schools needed to get ahead on this and they actually have been digging their heels in, and the reason they are digging in their heels is there is no easy fix.

Big $$$ college sports are effectively over, real college sports can and probably will continue.

This will all crash and crash hard.

You’re wrong. Big money finds a way.

 

[all washed up]

How much money has been left on the table from college golf athletes winning tournaments and not being allowed to take the money?

I say pay the players. Pay them a % of revenue based on their likeness, pay them based on TV screen time, and allow boosters to individually 'donate' to the player if they want. Boosters hate losing money and I think there will quickly be a market correction. Will only take a few 5 star to not pan out to keep the boosters from throwing money away.

It'll get really interesting when key players 'hold out' for more money.

Pandora's box indeed.

 

[vol_smoothie]

So ................................. any comments on the ludicrous situation at TCU where Gary Patterson is falling all over himself apologizing for telling a football player to stop using racial slurs, then being accused of using the slur himself by telling the player not to use that language around the football program. Patterson publicly apologizes (for what ?) and then calls a team leadership meeting to ask the players how the program should proceed regarding this "issue." Patterson should have told the kid to either follow his rules or hit the door. How insane is our society going to get ?

 

[Lawrence Wright]

So ................................. any comments on the ludicrous situation at TCU where Gary Patterson is falling all over himself apologizing for telling a football player to stop using racial slurs, then being accused of using the slur himself by telling the player not to use that language around the football program. Patterson publicly apologizes (for what ?) and then calls a team leadership meeting to ask the players how the program should proceed regarding this "issue." Patterson should have told the kid to either follow his rules or hit the door. How insane is our society going to get ?

It’s our understanding that you don’t like that situation.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

05 and Fade are putting out quality posts in this thread. Good discussion.