Northwestern U Players win suit - can unionize

[mrydel]

Yep. It is all part of the plan for SMU to the Big 10. We can keep secrets.

I'm not sure the school that got nailed by the NCAA for committing infractions most other schools were also committing gets a merit badge for "Secret Keeping". Just saying.

It was keeping the secrets that got us nailed. Had we owned up and confessed we would have been fine.

[ojaipony]

I do not believe this ruling will lead to paying players per se. Federal minimum wage is set at $7.50 per hour. Division 1 college athletes, unless the rule has changed, can only participate in their respective sport for twenty hours per week. That annualized would be $7,540 per year. The value of scholarships at even state universities would exceed this amount.

The issue as I see it is that some universities provide benefits to employees who work twenty hours per week. As an example, Betterhalf is an adjunct professor at UNT and receives health and retirement benefits. Would athletes also be eligible for these benefits? Do universities raise the minimum number of hours required to be eligible for these benefits to avoid this issue, thus screwing staff?

There are a ton of potential issues associated with this ruling. I can't list them all right now because I have not read the opinion.

trust dubs - he is a smart dude.

Yes, there are a million things that would have to be figured out and, yes, there will be politics involved and all kinds of legal issues, etc. Just like in every business in America everyday.

[bubba pony]

Yep. It is all part of the plan for SMU to the Big 10. We can keep secrets.

I'm not sure the school that got nailed by the NCAA for committing infractions most other schools were also committing gets a merit badge for "Secret Keeping". Just saying.

It was keeping the secrets that got us nailed. Had we owned up and confessed we would have been fine.

another interesting fact, that SMU was paying the players on SMU stationary and SMU checks. SMU needs a real 'bag man' to show them how to pay someone off.

[CalallenStang]

Dubs - yes, but once they are employees, universities are free to determine what they pay their employees, correct? Why wouldn't universities openly pay and outbid each other for highly touted recruits? Could the NCAA stop that without restricting free trade?

[PonySnob]

Would that mean that the "employees" could be fired at anytime?


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[SMU 86]

Would that mean that the "employees" could be fired at anytime?


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They only get 1 year scholarships so they can be fired/cut now anyway. Also a player can get kicked off the team at anytime now too. There are no 4 year scholarships. But this is not about getting paid but about getting better benefits to my understanding.

[SMU Section F]

Yep. It is all part of the plan for SMU to the Big 10. We can keep secrets.

I'm not sure the school that got nailed by the NCAA for committing infractions most other schools were also committing gets a merit badge for "Secret Keeping". Just saying.

It was keeping the secrets that got us nailed. Had we owned up and confessed we would have been fine.

Fair enough. We're like the best criminal in the penitentiary.

[SMUer]

Interested in how this will affect already deficit-ridden Athletic Departments. I can't see cost going down...

[lwjr]

Can one of the lawyers answer or give their legal thoughts to this question? Since athletes are determined to be employees of the school due to their scholarships being offered by the school, wouldn't this also include any student that is on scholarship if that scholarship is offered by the school?

[mrydel]

Can one of the lawyers answer or give their legal thoughts to this question? Since athletes are determined to be employees of the school due to their scholarships being offered by the school, wouldn't this also include any student that is on scholarship if that scholarship is offered by the school?

I have not read the ruling but I would not think it is the scholarship offered but rather the money the "employees" make for the school. An academic scholarship or non revenue sport IRS not make money for the school while the student is in school. Football could be a revenue job.

[lwjr]

Can one of the lawyers answer or give their legal thoughts to this question? Since athletes are determined to be employees of the school due to their scholarships being offered by the school, wouldn't this also include any student that is on scholarship if that scholarship is offered by the school?

I have not read the ruling but I would not think it is the scholarship offered but rather the money the "employees" make for the school. An academic scholarship or non revenue sport IRS not make money for the school while the student is in school. Football could be a revenue job.

Makes sense.

[bubba pony]

what if SMU charges $1 to attend soccer, swimming, other low revenue sports or no revenue sports. can we shut those sports down as an employer because they are non profit sports? what employer must keep a division of their organization that loses money? title 9, 16 sports minimum, equal male/female scholarships and pay all has to be reviewed. Be careful what you wish for, it might come true.
It's back to the future when SMU only had men's football and men's basketball when I attended SMU late 60's.

[CoxMustangFan]

I do not believe this ruling will lead to paying players per se. Federal minimum wage is set at $7.50 per hour. Division 1 college athletes, unless the rule has changed, can only participate in their respective sport for twenty hours per week. That annualized would be $7,540 per year. The value of scholarships at even state universities would exceed this amount.

The issue as I see it is that some universities provide benefits to employees who work twenty hours per week. As an example, Betterhalf is an adjunct professor at UNT and receives health and retirement benefits. Would athletes also be eligible for these benefits? Do universities raise the minimum number of hours required to be eligible for these benefits to avoid this issue, thus screwing staff?

There are a ton of potential issues associated with this ruling. I can't list them all right now because I have not read the opinion.

trust dubs - he is a smart dude.

...and an employment lawyer!

[BigT3x]

All the Northwestern players wanted was an insurance policy that would pay to treat their college sports related injuries for life.

Northwestern refused.

They deserve this.

[PonySnob]

All the Northwestern players wanted was an insurance policy that would pay to treat their college sports related injuries for life.

Northwestern refused.

They deserve this.

Wouldn't those be covered under Obamacare?


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