Paying College Athletes

Traditionally, US college athletes were not paid (should read, not paid directly). Typically, if a highly recruited athlete with an undecided school selection path, they could in essence wait them out.  At times, athletes were waiting to see who got their parents the best new car, boat, whatever their favorite new toy was.

US Collegiate Sports is a Multi-Billion (Yes, Billion) dollar market. And the belief of the NCAA was that amateurs athletes should not be paid for their efforts.

Since, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) passed a bill that allows athletes to be paid in 2021. The payments can come for NIL (Name, Image and Likeness). The bill went into affect July 1, 2021. Recall the tide began to shift after California passed its NIL bill in 2019.  It is my belief the NCAA did not want the perception it was the big bad Bully (no worries everyone already knew it).

Since the NIL bill was passed a trend showing a trickle-down effect on High School sports too. A bevy of software packages have sprung up allowing athletes as well as recruiters to track their game stats.  Why all the fuss? Bottom line $$$$$$ and lots of it.

The coaches have been soaking in HUGE Salaries for decades, now the athletes have a chance at a slice of the pie. I just can't shake that feeling the coaches will not like sharing their pie. Wonder why?

On the flip side only 2% of College Athletes go on to play at the professional level... and most will not be able to survive on their NIL earnings alone.

Will the Universities be required to teach the athletes on how to manage money? Ha ha, I crack myself up. 

Summary - Not sure I am a fan of paying athletes of any kind. ever!  Might seems rather harsh but I hope that we have reached 'peak sports' across the globe and get back to something more productive.  I say all that realizing that I might offend many if not all of you! Don't go all 'Troll' on me.