Pros and Cons of Paying Student Athletes

College Athletes Should be Paid

Part 1

1.What is your topic?

Should college athletes be paid.

2.What is your thesis? With the words SHOULD or SHOULD NOT or MUST or MUST NOT or NEEDS TO:

College athletes should be paid.

3.What are the three sub-topics you will be discussing?

College athletes bring in significant revenue for their universities. College athletes face high risk of injury. College athletes have limited opportunities to work and make money outside of their athletic commitments

4.What is one of your counterarguments? - Remember, the counterargument or opposition is OPPOSITE from your thesis sentence.

College athletes should not be paid as many of them already receive scholarships.

5.What are your sources?

Maryville University. “Should College Athletes Be Paid? Reasons Why or Why Not.”

Maryville.edu. https://online.maryville.edu/blog/should-college-athletes-be-paid/ Accessed on April 20, 2023

Sanderson, Allen R., and John J. Siegfried. 2015. "The Case for Paying College

Athletes." Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29 (1): 115-38.

Part 2: Pre-Write

College athletes spend a lot of time putting in work to prepare for their games. They don’t have time for much else. If they are at a top-tier school, the universities rely on them for income. They are basically employees of the schools because they help to generate so much income from sports, which are broadcasted on TV and tickets to games are sold to fans. Merchandise is sold and a lot of people follow college sports. March Madness for basketball, for instance, is a huge revenue source.

But college athletes, upon whom it all depends, get zero revenue. They might get a scholarship—but they are not able to generate any income for themselves due to NCAA regulations. That is a big problem because these same athletes don’t have time to do co-ops that other students can do. They don’t have time to start laying the groundwork for their future career, assuming it is not in professional sports. They aren’t able to get out there and network like other students can because they are expected to be in the gym or on the field or on the court helping the team prepare for the season.

So even though they might have a scholarship (and not all of them do earn scholarships) they are not really able to get a job or do anything to support themselves even when they are doing so much to support the school. Why shouldn’t they get paid for what they do?

Schools should make being a college athlete like any other job that you try out for. Players get a cut of revenue for performing or some other arrangement can be worked out. It would help to spread the wealth around, and it would show that schools aren’t taking advantage of student athletes anymore.

Part 3: Outline

I. Intro

a. Background information on the issue of paying college athletes

b. Thesis statement: College athletes should be compensated for their participation in sports because it would provide them with financial support, reflect the amount of time and effort they dedicate to their sport, and address the unfairness of the NCAA profiting from their labor without proper compensation.

II. Body: First Argument

a. Explanation of the financial struggles faced by many college athletes, including the inability to work due to their sport schedule and NCAA rules preventing them from receiving outside income.

b. Examples of how paying athletes could provide financial support, including stipends, insurance, and payment for autographs or endorsements.

III. Body: Second Argument

a. Discussion of the significant time commitment required of college athletes, which often prevents them from pursuing part-time jobs or internships

b. Examination of the discrepancy between the amount of time college athletes dedicate to their sport and the lack of compensation they receive in comparison to coaches and administrators

c. Risk involved to physical health of student athletes—no compensation for that?

IV. Body: Third Argument

a. Analysis of the NCAA's financial gain from college sports, including revenue from broadcasting rights, merchandise, and sponsorships

b. Explanation of the exploitative nature of the NCAA's current system, which profits from the labor of college athletes without adequately compensating them.

V. Counter-argument and Rebuttal

a. College athletes receive scholarships as compensation for their participation in sports.

b. Rebuttal: Scholarships do not cover the full cost of attendance and do not provide financial support for other expenses

VI. Review

a. Go over the main points once more

b. Build up to the call to action

VII. Conclusion

a. Call to action for reforms in the NCAA's policies regarding payment for athletes.

Part 4

I Want College Athletes to be Paid and So Should You!

Introduction

I have long enjoyed college sports and I am sure you have too. But have you ever wondered about whether these athletes are fairly compensated for the enjoyment they bring to fans? Think about how many star quarterbacks you watched over the years, or star hoopers—athletes who never went on to the pros but who did well enough to win fans for life through their athletic achievements at school. Colleges made a lot off their performances, but the athletes themselves never saw a dime of that income. That is why I believe that college athletes should be paid for their participation in sports because they bring in significant revenue for their universities, face high risk of injury, and have limited opportunities to work and make money outside of their athletic commitments. In this paper, I am going to convince you that you should demand that colleges pay their athletes a fair wage for all the work they do.

Sports Pays—Just Not if You’re a College Athlete

When sports took off in America, college sports turned into a multi-billion dollar industry (Sanderson and Siegfried). In the past, athletes were students who also played a sport. Today, they are practically professionals without pay: they are put through rigorous training camps to be the best (and the best go on to play at the pro level)—but that was not the case in the past. In the past, sports were not the money-maker they are today. But today they drive record profits for schools, and the athletes are the ones who generate that revenue. College sports, particularly football and basketball, generate significant revenue for universities and the NCAA. According to Forbes, in 2019, the top 25 college football programs generated a total revenue of $2.7 billion, with the University of Texas leading the pack with $223 million in revenue (Smith). Additionally, the top 25 men's basketball programs generated a total revenue of $1.5 billion, with Duke University generating the highest revenue at $34 million (Smith).

TV contracts are a major source of revenue for college sports. Networks such as ESPN, CBS, and Fox pay billions of dollars for the rights to broadcast college football and basketball games (Bassam). For example, ESPN and the SEC (Southeastern Conference) signed a 10-year deal in 2020 worth $3 billion for the rights to broadcast SEC football and basketball games (Caron and Crupi). Sponsorships and merchandise sales are also significant revenue streams for college sports. Universities partner with companies to sponsor their teams and events, and fans purchase merchandise such as jerseys and hats.

The NCAA, the governing body of college sports, also generates a significant amount of revenue from March Madness, the annual men's basketball tournament. In 2019, March Madness generated $933 million in revenue, with $827 million coming from television and marketing rights alone (Caron and Crupi). While it is important to note that not all college sports programs are profitable and that, in fact, only a small percentage of universities generate significant revenue from their athletic programs, the financial benefits for those that do are quite substantial. If an athlete is playing a top-tier school, a lot is expected from that athlete—and a lot is generated in return.

Did We Mention Risk?

There is also a lot of risk that college athletes accept as a result of playing sports at a high level. Sports injuries can have a significant impact on the lives of athletes, both during and after their playing careers. Injuries sustained while playing college sports can be particularly devastating, as they can prevent athletes from continuing to play their sport and can have long-lasting physical and emotional effects. Such injuries can range from minor sprains and strains to more serious injuries such as broken bones, torn ligaments, and concussions. These injuries can even require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and time away from the sport. In some cases, injuries can even lead to permanent disability. For college athletes, injuries can also have a significant impact on their academic and professional goals. Many college athletes have dreams of playing professionally, but injuries can prevent them from achieving those goals. Even if an athlete is able to recover from an injury and continue playing, the injury can affect their performance and limit their potential.

Given the high risk of injury that college athletes face, is it not obvious to you that they deserve compensation for putting their health on the line? College athletes are not paid for their participation in sports, but the universities and NCAA make billions of dollars from their performances. Some argue that these athletes should receive a portion of the revenue generated by their sports programs as compensation for the risks they take on the field or court. In addition to the physical and emotional toll, sports injuries can also have financial implications for athletes. Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and time away from the sport can all add up, leaving athletes and their families with significant financial burdens. Compensation for college athletes could help to alleviate some of these financial stresses and provide a safety net for injured athletes.

No Time for Anything Else

On top of all this, NCAA rules prohibiting college athletes from accepting payment for their sports performance are unfair: college athletes have limited opportunities to work and earn money outside of their athletic commitments (Zema). Unlike other college students who can work part-time jobs or internships, college athletes are often required to spend many hours practicing, traveling, and competing. This can make it difficult for them to earn enough money to cover their basic expenses, such as housing and food. These athletes do not have time to network or do co-ops at other businesses, so they are missing out on possible opportunities to help them in their careers (Maryville University). NCAA rules need to change to allow for compensation for these missed opportunities due to all the time in the gym that athletes are expected to give.

Counter-Argument and Rebuttal

One counterargument is that college athletes already receive scholarships, which are a form of compensation for their participation in sports (Sobocinski). Thus, it is incorrect to say that college athletes are not compensated—they are, often to the tune of thousands of dollars or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on where they go to school, what is covered in the scholarship, and how long it is given. Athletes who are at top-tier schools may be considered, therefore, as fairly compensated from this perspective.

However, the rebuttal to this is that the argument that scholarships are sufficient compensation for college athletes is flawed. While scholarships cover tuition, room, board, and books, they do not cover all the expenses associated with being a student-athlete, such as transportation, clothing, and other personal expenses. Additionally, scholarships are not guaranteed for the entirety of a student-athlete's time at the university and can be revoked if the athlete is injured or their performance declines. Furthermore, the revenue generated by college sports is not distributed fairly. Coaches and administrators earn high salaries, while the athletes who generate the revenue are not compensated beyond their scholarships. This creates a power dynamic that favors those in positions of authority, leaving the athletes vulnerable and exploited. Plus, many college athletes come from low-income backgrounds and may have financial needs that scholarships do not cover. They may also have family responsibilities that require additional financial support. Allowing college athletes to benefit financially from their athletic abilities would provide them with much-needed financial stability and support. Thus, while scholarships provide some compensation for college athletes, they do not cover all the expenses associated with being a student-athlete, and the revenue generated by college sports is not distributed fairly. College athletes deserve to benefit financially from their talents and hard work, just like any other student who is allowed to earn money through part-time work or other means.

Review

Let’s review. College athletes spend a lot of time putting in work to prepare for their games. They don’t have time for much else. If they are at a top-tier school, the universities rely on them for income. They are basically employees of the schools because they help to generate so much income from sports, which are broadcasted on TV and tickets to games are sold to fans. Merchandise is sold and a lot of people follow college sports. March Madness for basketball, for instance, is a huge revenue source. But college athletes, upon whom it all depends, get zero revenue. They might get a scholarship—but they are not able to generate any income for themselves due to NCAA regulations. That is a big problem because these same athletes don’t have time to do co-ops that other students can do. They don’t have time to start laying the groundwork for their future career, assuming it is not in professional sports. They aren’t able to get out there and network like other students can because they are expected to be in the gym or on the field or on the court helping the team prepare for the season. So even though they might have a scholarship (and not all of them do earn scholarships) they are not really able to get a job or do anything to support themselves even when they are doing so much to support the school. Why shouldn’t they get paid for what they do? Make college athletes like any other job that you try out for. Players get a cut of revenue for performing or some other arrangement can be worked out. It would help to spread the wealth around, and it would show that schools aren’t taking advantage of student athletes anymore.