Critical Thinking Paper

Division one athletes do not need to be paid.

Nathan Hillman

CAP 9 Blue Group

Dr. Simel

April 6, 2020
 Critical Thinking Paper

Should N.C.A.A. Division one athletes be paid an in-season wage to compensate for educational

time lost due to sports? Regardless of one’s sport in which they compete, collegiate athletes

should not be given a compensating wage. This is because a ‘full’ scholarship is the form of

payment players receive, tuition fees for non-athletes would be raised tremendously, and

payment will be an incentive to overcommit to sports rather than work. One could also argue that

paying D1 athletes would be a much-needed payment to assist disadvantaged athletes in finding

a career outside of sports. Although major sports like Football, Basketball, and baseball bring in

the majority of revenue for most colleges (70% from football alone), would lesser-watched

sports such as swimming, tennis, wrestling, and crew be given smaller wages? Clear

inconsistencies such as this appear when debating which sports deserve the most pay given that

payment would be based on the amount of revenue made by each sport. By giving more popular

sports a larger wage there becomes a new question of the equality and unfairness of paying some

athletes more money than others even though the scholarships are of equal value.

Athletes playing on a Division one roster are given anywhere from a 1/3 to full-ride

scholarship which is an initial payment of their services. 1/3 of the average Division one school’s

tuition is $3,000 a year for in-state athletes and $10,000 for out of state commits. A full-ride or

complete athletic scholarship at all d1 schools ranges from $3,000-$15,000 a year instate and

$30,000-$70,000 per year out of state (N.C.A.A.) According to the N.C.A.A., over 53% of d1

athletes are on out of state scholarships (Maxprep sports, 2019). This would entail that 53% of

athletes are essentially being paid anywhere from $120,000-$280,000 over a 4-5 year period,

while instate athletes will be paid $12,000- $60,000. To put this into perspective, the 2017
United States Census Bureau determined that, “ the annual median for personal income in 2017

was $31,099.” (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). Based on that information, over a 4 year period, the

average out-of-state collegiate athlete is making well over 2-3 times the average American.

Indeed the scholarship is not a direct deposit into the bank accounts of each individual athlete, it

is a compensation payment for class time missed and the use of their services to win athletic

competitions/championships. To further debate, players on both partial and complete

scholarships have no need for extensive amounts of income as schools themselves provide base

necessities to live off of (such as food, beverage, and housing). Major programs,” can't pay them

[athletes] but we can reinvest in trying to help them be successful in their future," (Nick Saban,

2014) Nick Saban, head coach of the University of Alabama football program, is arguably one of

the best ever coaches of N.C.A.A. football history, with a record of 243 wins, 64 losses, and only

1 tie. He has also led the ‘Crimson Tide’ to win 5 national championships. In essence, college

football is not a professional level sport, rather an opportunity for colleges to make more revenue

and players to be recognized by professional teams. Although yes, college athletes are people too

and wish to enjoy some luxuries in life, universities should not pose as a source of income to

support these luxuries, such as designer clothes, exotic cars, and vacations to foreign countries.

Since school is mainly providing a scholarship/opportunity to play sports, it should not be a way

in which students can extort colleges into paying for their wants for unnecessary goods.

Furthermore, With the potential to have 24 school-sponsored sports, any Division 1

program would be paying millions, perhaps billions, of dollars to athletes, which would have a

severe financial effect on regular students. Since the average sports season is 2 months, without

including playoffs, the average Division one program would be paying, “On Average, about 600
athletes play at every top or major school at a Division 1 level…” (N.C.A.A., 2016) Due to the

large number of athletes, if every athlete were paid a proposed ‘minimum wage’ salary

(N.C.A.A. Coaching Conference, 2018) Currently the Federal Minimum Wage is $9.50 an hour

and athletes would be paid for a 40-hour workweek (to qualify for minimum wage standards).

Each school would have to pay $228,000 per week to pay 600 athletes. Although competitions

are based in different seasons, standalone revenue from each sport would not allow a foreseeable

prophet to amount from sports and compensate for money paid to athletes. Who will pay for

these financial obligations? Most likely, smaller Division 1 programs will struggle to afford the

millions of dollars required to pay each athlete for their appropriate season. Another solution

proposed by the N.C.A.A. was to make each athlete join the federal-work-study program and

have them claim that they were employed by the football program. They would then be paid by

the government so schools themselves will not have to directly pay for the wages. It is a large

scheme for,” Major colleges, which would pay $225 Million in fees to the government

(collectively), could get out of directly using their own money to prevent an increase of tuition”

(Cork Gaines, 2011) Division one schools, larger and smaller alike, will most likely abuse this

system in order to gain benefits for their sports without the repercussions or financial burdens.

If high school athletes, considering playing in college, know that they will be paid at the

Division one level, they will become overcommitted to sports and disadvantage themselves from

gaining work experience outside of sports. In accordance with the N.C.A.A.’s practice policies,

students are allowed to practice upwards of 20 hours a week with a maximum of 4 hours per day

while in season. 4 hours of physically extraneous practices will leave athletes tired, and cause

them to potentially struggle academically. Combined with midterms and finals, athletes lack the
time to work outside of sports and school. By giving students a small, but noticeable, wage, they

are given an incentive to commit all their time to attempting to play professional-level sports

rather than learning how to work a 9-5 job. Money fuels the professional sports industry today

and when athletes witness players like lionel Messi and Tom Brady making upwards of $80

million per year, they forget why they are enrolled in college. College sports should be seen as

an extracurricular activity, not a life commitment of 4 years. Although athletes would only be

losing a small portion of class time lost to sports, a simple compensation such as a few thousand

dollars does not allow all athletes to embrace the academic side of college. College education,”

...is a vital part of the college athletics experience…” (N.C.A.A.) College athletes do graduate at

higher rates than regular students, but in order to do so many athletes take easier level courses

and earn lower grades than the average student. On average, the GPA (grade point average) of

power 5 conference schools (Big 12, Big 10, Pac-12, ACC, SEC) was a 2.84 cumulative GPA in

2017 (N.C.A.A.). Time may not be available for many athletes while in season, but out of season

athletes only devote 8 hours a week to sports, leaving no place for an excuse why athletes have

such low grades. A common saying amidst the sports world is students first and by paying

athletes with below-average grades colleges are indicating that having low grades is an

acceptable standard. By paying athletes, also, athletes will continue poor school-work ethics

leading to even lower grades.

One could argue that athletes require a wage that compensates for lost educational/work

time to help find work outside of the sports field. Only 2% of collegiate athletes go professional,

while the other 98% of athletes must make the transition out of sports and into ‘the real world’.

This transition is considered,” An athlete’s greatest challenge” as said by tennis commentator

sports, see their careers immediately stop, and after spending very little time outside of sports,

athletes lack the ability to find work outside of sports independently. If colleges supply

compensation to students through the Federal Work-Study-Program athletes will have some

income to assist them from transitioning out of the sports industry. Financially, a compensation

to athletes would support the 86% of athletes who live on or below the national poverty line. By

being paid athletes will also transition more happily into the real world as a payment from

schools will let them know their services to the school were appreciated. Knowing that their

school was grateful for their time, athletes will have more incentive to let sports go, and pursue

another field of interest. Paying athletes is also a necessity for all sports as over 150 hours is

spent playing sports for each athlete per season. Compensating each athlete will allow them to

have the income needed to buy any food, drinks, or clothes that the school does not provide and

will allow athletes to live out of school dorms (should they choose).

Regardless of the sport, no N.C.A.A. Division one athlete should be given compensation/

a wage for lost educational time. This is because athletic scholarships cover an initial payment to

players, higher tuition would be implemented, and any payment to players will be an incentive

for them to overcommit to sports. Although not every athlete playing Division one sports is on a

‘full ride’, the majority of athletes are on a partial scholarship. Allowing schools to use the

Federal Work-Study-Program will give top colleges the ability to abuse a federal fund made for

regular students who live in poverty. Top athletic colleges are extremely expensive currently and

if athletes start to get some form of compensation through the school, tuition fees will be raised

immensely ($1,000-$2,000 a year). One could further debate why athletes do deserve pay by
arguing that compensation for lost educational time will assist athletes in pursuing a career

outside of sports.
 anotated Bibliography

1. College Guide, Athlete. "Percentage of college football players who stay

in-state for every state." ​Max Preps High-School Football​, 17 Nov. 2017.

​MaxPreps​, www.maxpreps.com/news/ZFNyB0cXG0Snh2NiQayE3Q/

percentage-of-college-football-players-who-stay-in-state-for-every-state.htm.

This magazine discusses the opportunities each state supplies college

athletes to go play at a division one school. It also has the rates in

which high school players go play in college. This is applicable to the

essay as it has information valuable to researching the odds a high school

player has to playing and fulfilling their dreams.

2. Fulks, Daniel L., Ph.D, and Professor Emeritus. "Revenues and Expenses

2004-2016." ​NCAA Research,​ NCAA, Sept. 2017, www.ncaa.org/sites/default/

files/2017RES_D1-RevExp_Entire_2017_Final_20180123.pdf. This PDF is a

report posted by the NCAA to review the money spent and made among all

sports in all divisions, conferences, and subdivisions among all collegiate

sports. It also reviews the personel for each sport and payment for

employees of NCAA affiliated teams. This piece can be used in researching

for scholarship details which can provide me data to produce a comparison

and discussion of my thesis. Furthermore, it can provide me information

that can further my knowledge of how to research for NCAA statistics and
understand data charts.

3. Gaines, Cork. "Paying College Athletes Would Cost $200 Million Each Year."

​Business Insider​. ​Business Insider,​ www.businessinsider.com/

paying-college-athletes-would-cost-200-million-each-year-2011-8. In this

article, the economic downsides of paying athletes is written. Not only

would major colleges abuse the F-W-S-P but they would pay over 200 million

dollars in order to do so. This piece was implicated into the essay by a

quote mixed with statistics. The statistics analyzed the money athletes

would-will-and can make, as well as the potential corruption of the NCAA

allowing for the D1 programs to abuse a federal fund intended for those

living in poverty.

4. Gaines, Cork, and Mike Nudelman. "The average college football team makes

more

money than the next 35 college sports combined." ​Business Insider,​ 5 Oct.

2017. ​Insider Magazine,​ www.businessinsider.com/

college-sports-football-revenue-2017-10. This magazine compares the

revenues and expenses of top D1 football programs and how they make more

revenue than the next 35 other sports and sports teams in college sports.

Football is a major college's biggest in-take of revenue for all

entertainment/sports schools offer. For most power 5 schools, football

equates for over 70% of the school's entire revenue as football stadiums in

today's standards hold up to 103,000 people per event. This is applicable

high-level collegiate sports.

5. Gorman, Fitzalan. "A High School Athlete's GPA Vs. Average High School Student's

GPA." ​The Classroom​, 26 Sept. 2017, www.theclassroom.com/

high-school-athletes-gpa-vs-average-high-school-students-gpa-3702.html.

This author writes about how students who participate in school sports are

less academically prepared for college than the regular student. Many of

these academic flaws can be attributed to more time committed to sports,

but players should not be paid or rewarded for poor academic behavior. This

article is applicable to the essay as it informs the viewer of the much

needed academic goals that are lacking in top-level sports.

6. "Grade-Point-Average." ​National Collegiate Athletic Association,​ NCAA, 2020,

www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/future/grade-point-average. This web-page has

the NCAA grading format that most colleges use. It also contains the grades

that athletes must keep up in order to play collegiate level sports.

Furthermore, this article by the NCAA contains information about

semester-grade format, and links to other vital pieces of information that

allow one to gain a clear understanding of the academic portion of playing

college sports. This piece is implicated in the essay to inform the reader

of the academic downside sports has on colleges and athletes combined.

7."Playing and Practice Seasons." ​National Collegiate Athletic Association,​ 1 Jan.

2003, web3.ncaa.org/lsdbi/search/bylawView?id=8823. Accessed 31 Mar. 2020.

into the NCAA for all sports seasons. It is also a rulebook on how many

hours a sport may practice in and out of their appropriate sports seasons.

This is applicable to the essay as it demonstrators how even the NCAA does

not give academics a chance in college as there is little time for athletes

to have mental brakes from intense work and time to focus on their

education.

8. Press, Associated. "NCAA Delivers Postseason Football Ban." ​ESPN NCAA Sports,​ 10

June 2010. ​ESPN,​ www.espn.com/los-angeles/ncf/news/story?id=5272615. This

piece discusses a scandal in which the University of Southern California

Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush was paid money by the school and handed

'benefits' that were against NCAA rules. It also writes of the impact the

situation had on the football program and how it limited game eligibility

and scholarship availability. I can use this source to elaborate on my thoughts fending

against paying college athletes. Also, I can use this

source to find out initially why the NCAA refutes the idea of paying

athletic students.

9."Probability of Competing past High School." ​National Collegiate Athletic

​Association,​ NCAA, www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/

probability-competing-beyond-high-school. Accessed Apr. 2020. This

article/information segment on the NCAA official website explains and

elaborates upon the rare possibility of athletes playing pro and high-level
 collegiate sports. This piece uses statistics that are implemented into the

essay which convey facts about the reality of playing "next level" sports.

Although many athletes do go on to play at an advanced level, many do not

play at the highest level they believed they could.

10.Robinson, Nick. "Academics of College Athletes Vs. Non-Ahletes." ​The Classroom​,

26 Sept. 2017, www.theclassroom.com/

academics-college-athletes-vs-nonathletes-16678.html. This journal

discusses the poor academics that college athletes have as compared to

their scholarly counterparts. Nick Robinson argues that athletes in college

act quite careless about their academic progress as athletes see college as

only for sports and not for a degree that will eventually lead them into

their future careers. this is applicable for the essay as athletes should

not be paid unless they show they are academically responsible enough to be

paid a fair wage for their services as an athlete to their appropriate

school.

11.Scarborough, Alex. "Saban: Players deserve seat at table." ​ESPN,​ vol. NCAAF,

Mar. 2014, www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/10706314/

nick-saban-alabama-crimson-tide-says-college-players-deserve-say-future.

Accessed Mar. 2014. This article discusses a conference in which Alabama

football coach Nick Saban gave his opinion on whether athletes should be

paid or not while in college. Saban felt there is no need to pay athletes,

but to give them something to compensate for lost opportunities. This was
implicated as a quote in the essay as it promotes beliefs and agreeance to

why athletes performing at a division one level do not need pay. This piece

also had valuable statistics towards financial poverty of athletes in D1

sports.

12.Siripipat, Pam. "Moving on from Sports." ​ESPN Voices,​ Apr.

2016. ​ESPN,​

www.espn.com/espnw/voices/story/_/id/15182997/

moving-sports-college-athlete-greatest-challenge. Accessed

Apr. 2016. This

article explains the difficult transition athletes in college must

make to

the real world. It describes ways for athletes to cope with the

emotions

that come with the end of a sports career and how to seek help

if

necessary. This piece was integrated into my essay through the

means of a

quote which explained the difficulty athletes have when

leaving sports to
 pursue other fields and help to become functioning members of

society.

United States, Congress, National Center for Educational

Statistics. ​Tuition

​costs of colleges and universities​. ​IES >NCES​, 2017,

nces.ed.gov/

fastfacts/display.asp?id=76. This source has the averages of

tuition costs

for colleges in America. It also covers the price of school

upkeep and

private school tuition. I can use this to further my

understanding of

tuition fees and why they equate to that of a salary. Also, I can

use this

source to find the cost of living in college.

"Work-Study-Jobs." ​Federal Student Aid,​ U.S. Government,

studentaid.gov/

understand-aid/types/work-study. This website, made by the

government, is a
 student aid supply program for college students who are unable

to support

themselves while enrolled in college. This program was looked

to be

extorted by Division one sports teams in order to allow schools

to continue

to make more money while using the federal government to

pay their

athletes. This is applicable to the essay as it shows that NCAA

schools

have no good intention when it comes to paying athletes.

NCAA schools look

more for the beneficial economics opposed to the real-life

ethics of

abusing a student aid supply.