Colorado Technical University

Should Division 1 College Football Players get Paid or Not?

I recently wrote a paper for my English class, at Penn State University, comparing and contrasting whether or not division 1 college football athletes should be paid or not. While writing this paper I found numerous sources debating the topic and I realized how popular this subject actually is. At first, I thought that it was only us football players who wanted to get paid, but I soon realized there are a lot of people who are debating this topic all the time. During my research I found a lot of helpful information and points that agree and disagree with both sides. Looking at all of my information, I pulled out three main points or questions that I believed had the most information on both sides to compare and contrast. Looking at this debate question there were three arguments I thought were the best for both sides to argue upon. First argument I had was, should college athletes get or not get a portion of the money that is made with the entertainment they provide. Second, will getting paid help or hinder college athletes in the academic aspect. Third, will paying a college athlete make them selfish and make them lose their real desire to play the game or will it help them succeed in everyday life and grow as an adult? These arguments I thought were the main contributors to the contrast between paying and not paying college football players. However, I would really like people to look at these points and tell me what you think about them and if there are better points that I could have used. Also, seeing all of the different points while researching really intrigued me to hear more points and thoughts on this subject from more people. I would love to hear new points that you might want to share. Please feel free to give more debatable material or thoughts that you have regarding this topic. Thanks and leave comments!

Public Comments

1. They should not. Then college would be ruined by money like the NFL has been. It would be all about $$$. So no, college players shouldn't be paid.
2. Should you get paid for going to English class? Most college kids have to pay to learn their profession, at least most d1 football players get a free ride to school. Wouldn't your logic apply to HS football players, or even little league? Why shouldn't football player PAY for the privilege to play sports? It's all perspective, and I think paying athletes will only contribute to their sense of entitlement.
3. HELL YES They put in the hours to train and play and they get the pain to recover from so as long as the GPA is enforced fully then they should gain from their efforts.
4. wow that was a really long question. Point 1: i think the athletes should not get paid for the entertainment they provide because they are technically getting paid from the school with a full scholarship. If they were to get money, there wouldn't be enough funds to support any football programs or to pay the coaches. Point 2: I think if you paid these student athletes, their academics would stay the same or even riose. The reason they try hard in class is to meet the teams gpa standard, and if they were paid, i think that they would work extra hard in the classroom to get their paychecks. But, if the player has any chance in getting to the nfl, being paid or not, their academics would probably remain the same. Point 3: I think if you pay a college athlete, it wouldn't really make them more selfish, but less motivated as they wont be trying as hard to get into the NFL and be paid like a star.They may also get lazy and start buying themselves luxuries that distracts them from working hard. Overall: Don't pay college football players. The system works fine right now, and if they are really worth being paid, they will get drafted within a few years, and be able to prove themselves on the big stage.
5. The NFL is about money even though im a big fan. I think more people like a college football game atmosphere more because those guys are playing for the love of the game. Not the money.
6. It is a very interesting debate. They are compensated nicely by having their schooling paid for, but the amount of money they generate for the school far outweighs what they are given. I certainly don't think they should be paid by their market value because it probably would ruin college athletics. I wouldn't be opposed to giving them a set salary that they all get because they are foregoing income they could be making if they were not busting their asses year round for football. Something like 10-20k a year just to cover other expenses that their scholarship doesn't cover. Even kids on academic scholarships have the ability to work and make money on the side.
7. I think this: 1 - Not cash. 2 - NCAA should make a standardized test for Fresh, Soph, Junior, Seniors that cover a certain core curiculum. If a student can pass the Freshman test, they automatically get all tuition covered for first 32 semester credits. Pass the Soph exam, you get your next 32 credits covered. This way, students-athletes (students first) always get to keep learning. No more cutting athletes mid year who are injured or not good. 3 - Students who graduate with a bachelor's degree by the 5th fall semester after they start should get a stipend. Take a portion of the MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in advertising from BCS and give these seniors from ALL TEAMS a cut. You played 4 - 5 years of football, graduated on time, didnt cheat (passed the exams) and sacrificed your body. No more school presidents, athletics directors and coaches with little to no ethics making multiple millions of dollars coaching the NFL MINOR LEAGUES!!!