It is astounding to think that while schools such as the University of Michigan continue to oppose paying athletes, they are willing to use the cost savings derived from not paying for their athletes on a bidding war for coaches.
Not really. But this part’s spot on.
If the University of Michigan were then to allocate this $5.17 million amount in coaching savings equally among all 113 players listed on the Michigan football roster (walk-ons and redshirts included), it would allow for a payment of $45,752 per player per year. Meanwhile, if this money was spent on recruiting college football players on the free market, some elite athletes would earn a far greater amount.
It is no wonder that most college football coaches fight so hard to preserve amateurism.
Nice racket, if you can get it, no?
Get The Picture 
Might as well just dissolve CF and have two different Professional forms of Football. Lord, I do not like what is happening here.
LikeLike
I’m not sure CF wiil be dissolved, but it might come to look more like college baseball where players can turn pro at any given time, including out of high school. The NFL has had an essentially cost-free minor league system with CF, but that can’t last. And I don’t think colleges will ever pay or recruit players in any sort of open-market arrangement. I just can’t see that happening. So, we’ll still have CF, but not with the overall talent level we see now.
LikeLike
Not really have the college baseball amateur status works.
They can’t just leave at any time and go pro.
LikeLike
If a baseball player is drafted, which virtually all of the better players are, he certainly can leave college at any given time, or sign right after high school.
LikeLike
Once a high school baseball player enrolls at a college as a freshman, he is not eligible for the MLB amateur draft until he has completed at least two years of college.
LikeLike
Yes, but they aren’t drafted until they’re at least three years removed from high school. A drafted high school senior can choose to enter college instead, but it is a three year decision.
LikeLike
he can JUCO and only tie up 2 years.
LikeLike
I should have done this in the first place. I looked up the rules governing draft eligibility, and what I said above isn’t right. These are the players who are draft eligible, according to the MLB website:
• High school players, if they have graduated from high school and have not yet attended college or junior college;
• College players, from four-year colleges who have either completed their junior or senior years or are at least 21 years old; and
• Junior college players, regardless of how many years of school they have completed
LikeLike
hmmmm….not sure we are talking about the same thing.
If a player is drafted, then he can decide to sign a major league deal and then heads to the minors. Or does whatever that team tells him to do.
If he doesnt sign he can then go to school. Once he enters school he has to play 3 years before he can be drafted again.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/draftday/rules.jsp
So I guess once a player is drafted he can leave school, but he can’t be drafted if he is in school until he finishes 3 years(unless he is at a junior college).
At least this has always been my understanding of the baseball draft rules. I could be wrong.
I also believe that baseball requires that a team pay for college for any player than is drafted out of high school, regardless of when they want to return to school.
But baseball players certainly can’t just decide to leave college any time they want and head to the majors.
LikeLike
judging by the above replies, it seems like others understand it the same way I do.
LikeLike
Thanks for the enlightenment, guys, I stand corrected.
LikeLike
There are good methods to pay players and bad methods to pay players. Now, given the sheer incompetency of the NCAA, I understand your fears.
LikeLike
What absolutely doesn’t astound me is that someone would lead off an article like that by accusing schools of “saving” money by not paying an expense which doesn’t exist (yet, at least). It’s all in how you frame the argument, ya know…
LikeLike
Alabama players would take a paycut.
LikeLike
Joy’s going to be all over you for that. How dare you disparage the bastion of integrity that is the University and the great state of Alabama!
LikeLike
I believe I told you not to tangle with me. Not now …not this Christmas. Joy’s having a 3rd Grandchild in late July. Hope it’s a girl… Just like my Daughter. She’ll have two big brothers to protect her. God is gracious and merciful. Blessed be the Name Of The LORD🐑🎈🎈.
LikeLike
I disagree that D1 coaches are fighting some form of payments to football players, perhaps at the lower level divisions and smaller programs which simply cannot afford it. Now when you get beyond some reasonable expense payments, say $5K a year, you do tread into territory going beyond what most would feel is “amateurism”. Many/most coaches of large programs publicly supported some form of payments to football players. The problem is, once again, the interests of the major players differ from their poorer cousins who have an equal vote.
I don’t really fear that as much as many do, some clean up on the “student athlete” area would be good for the sport, imo. Let there be a “minor league” with several regional teams for those who don’t qualify for admission, or have no interest in pursuing a degree. They can play on Tuesday or Wednesday and I will cheer for the team from the Southeast, then support UGA on Saturdays. The sport would still be competitive without the highest tier of athletes on the field and some integrity would be returned to all schools.
LikeLike
I would be ok with granting players a nominal living fee comparable perhaps to a part time job, but don’t forget it costs $28,000 per year for an in state student and $55,000 per year for an out of state student to attend college at the University of Michigan. Thats not bad pay for playing a game.
LikeLike
It costs the student that. It doesn’t cost the school that.
LikeLike
It costs the athletic association some amount to fund the athletic scholarship from donations. The UGA AA as a private entity pays the University of Georgia some amount for the fees and gives a scholarship to the student-athlete, and I assume it pays exactly the same amount I pay for my child to attend because the university cannot subsidize the athletic association. If you say they act as one entity, you’re correct, but legally, they are 2 separate entities – one a state-supported university and one a 501c3 corporation. I think that right, but, Senator, you’re the lawyer. 🙂
LikeLike
Actually it cost the Taxpayers that. The paying students reimburse it through tuition etc.
LikeLike
Actually, it doesn’t. Tuition isn’t repaid to the state for advances made to the school. Where did you get that idea?
LikeLike
Everything costs the tax payer. everything.
LikeLike
The taxpayers pay the cost of the school’s expenses and the students pay the school for their use of the school and its resources of which a portion goes to fund the board of Regents and everything under them..
LikeLike
That’s not even close to how it’s done. Legislature sets the amount it contributes to higher ed, BOT gets schools to set budget parameters and tuition is based on the difference.
LikeLike
+1
The state funds about 1/3 to 1/4 of the cost of attendance per in-state pupil. However, the state funding is fluid and could disappear next session (unlikely, but could happen).
In-state students pay for a portion of their education and the difference is made up through transfers from the foundation (which is primarily made up of money donated by alumni).
LikeLike
ok…but if the student was not getting a free ride they would have to pay that amount. They are being paid with an education valued at that amount, not to mention the prestige and alumni network that a UofM type education gets you. They are being given something of great value in return for playing a game. It is irrelevant if that is the school’s cost or the student’s cost.
LikeLike
Not to the school.
LikeLike
“It is no wonder that most college football coaches fight so hard to preserve amateurism.”
Candyland for me but not for thee
LikeLike