Possible union shows NCAA hypocrisy

[Pony^]

The issue of paying college athletes has returned to the headlines, but this time not because of scandal. In January football players at Northwestern University petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for permission to form a union. The players want better benefits and improved working conditions. Unionization would also clear the way for the players to eventually be paid.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20140215/OPINION02/302150056/-1/groupblogs/Iowa-View-Possible-union-shows-NCAA-hypocrisy

[Dooby]

If this guy teaches at Drake, I won't be hiring lawyers from that place. The guy's an idiot.

[GRGB]

you can't pay football players unless you pay ALL female athletes as well -- evenly. This is a non-starter. Title IX prevents any of this.

[Paladin]

Don't forget Workers Comp, pensions, and oh yes, EEOC enforcement of Federal hiring mandates, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, with penalties for those institutions who are deemed guilty of discrimination (for whatever reason).

[RGV Pony]

Unions destroyed detroit. Big Ten hates the ncaa. Maybe they are behind trying to unionize, tabbing northwestern to do it vs a large public school, with the ultimate goal of destroying the ncaa

[BigT3x]

The Northwestern players don't want to be paid, they only want the university to pay for the long term costs associated with injuries sustained due to their participation on the team.

If it prevents another disgusting case like TCU refusing to help their player who became a quadriplegic, I'm all for it.

[SMU 86]

The Northwestern players don't want to be paid, they only want the university to pay for the long term costs associated with injuries sustained due to their participation on the team.

If it prevents another disgusting case like TCU refusing to help their player who became a quadriplegic, I'm all for it.

Agreed.

[GRGB]

The Northwestern players don't want to be paid, they only want the university to pay for the long term costs associated with injuries sustained due to their participation on the team.

If it prevents another disgusting case like TCU refusing to help their player who became a quadriplegic, I'm all for it.

That's what insurance is for.

And how would you know if their headaches or concussion-related symptoms occured bc of ncaa participation, nfl participation (if) or simply HS?

[Rebel10]

The Northwestern players don't want to be paid, they only want the university to pay for the long term costs associated with injuries sustained due to their participation on the team.

If it prevents another disgusting case like TCU refusing to help their player who became a quadriplegic, I'm all for it.

That's what insurance is for.

And how would you know if their headaches or concussion-related symptoms occured bc of ncaa participation, nfl participation (if) or simply HS?

According to our AD, the schools provide insurance for the players and that is why they don't pay them. If an athlete get injured like that playing for the school and making the school money then the school should cover it.

[FroggieFever]

TCU refusing to help their player who became a quadriplegic, I'm all for it.

"They've taken care of all my needs and beyond. And TCU's been great."

http://www.texnews.com/texsports97/paths120197.html

[Water Pony]

you can't pay football players unless you pay ALL female athletes as well -- evenly. This is a non-starter. Title IX prevents any of this.

From a practical perspective, you would need to pay all Men and Women in non-revenue sports, aka Olympics. The time commitments for many of these programs are equal or greater than the demands on FB and BB players.

In the Chicago Tribune, NU QB, Colter, is the only one whose name is public. They are asking for a voice in rules and how penalties are applied.

This is a slippery slope, if student-athletes are compensated beyond tuition, room, board, stipend, tutoring, etc. If a unique class of student-athlete is created for FB and BB, for example, this further segregates them from the greater student body and fellow athletes. They have special consideration, then Div 1 is passé in colleges. Replace it with lacrosse and rugby. Only a few of the top programs actually have a positive operating budget.

Yes, if the only option is to unionize and pay players then I am off the reservation. Division 3 starts looking very good.

[docabel]

This article actually focuses on one of the more important points in this argument - federal vs state law. This unionization would only apply to private institutions. State schools would be regulated by individual state laws. The majority of southern states do not allow public employees from forming unions and when the big state schools (ALA, UT, etc.) are playing with a handicap, I don't see this going any further.

[Arkpony]

The total destruction of college athletics.

[East Coast Mustang]

I love how the loons on the fringe left are all over paying athletes and NCAA "exploitation", and yet their pet project Title IX will likely either:

A. make it impossible to do so; or
B. force schools to cut numerous non-rev sports to make up the difference

Bottom line you get a free college education that's worth about $200K in many places- it's your decision whether to do something with that and get a meaningful degree. If you want to throw in a stipend for student-athletes per semester I think that'd probably be the best idea- but what's a number that's good for both Alabama football players and a women's rower at Fordham? You have to pay them the same, and I don't think schools can be paying athletes more at one school than another (at least not legally). $1500/semester? More? Less? I don't know.

[SMU Section F]

The NCAA has its problems. Their rulebooks should be cut down by a factor of 10 (at least).

That said, the real problem is that prospective athletes are "forced" to play college football/basketball by the professional leagues. If you can cut it in the pro leagues, you should be allowed to play there. If you can't, then a scholarship sure seems like a good deal. The only player I'd feel bad for is the one that could make money, but isn't allowed to due to arbitrary age limits.

There is a lot of money being made in college sports though and it seems very little of it goes to the groups "earning" it, so I would be far more interested in hearing about suggestions for distributing that in a way that better reflects the supposed non-profit status of most of the organizations involved. I have no ideas though, because this is not my area at all.

And I agree with most who say this will go nowhere due to Title IX, unionization issues, public/private, etc. Things may change, but this won't be it.