Analysis: Why College Athletes Should Be Paid

Words: 920
Pages: 4

Over the past decades, college athletics have gained immense popularity throughout the world, whether that be basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, or any other sport. The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a billion dollar company, and not a single penny is going to these athletes. For example, Jim Harbaugh of Michigan is the highest paid college football coach making $9 million a year. However even at that it’s still not close to the amount the NCAA brings in. The problem the athletes are suffering from is, they are putting in the hard work and their bodies on the line for universities to make money off them, and yet they don’t receive any of the money; the best solution to this problem is to pay them. Collegiate athletes deserve to be compensated for the amount of hours they are forced to put in to stay on scholarship. …show more content…
Fifty schools have recently reported having revenues over $50 million, five schools at that have reported revenues being over $100 million (Edelman Case). The University of Alabama is one of those five schools, they are bringing in $143 million in athletic revenue. That $143 million happens to be more than 30 national hockey teams and more than 25 national basketball teams. So how does these professional teams pay their players but the NCAA can’t. The NCAA produces nearly $11 billion in revenue from the sports world today (Edelman 21). These colleges are also getting money and help with enrollment into the school by these athletes as well. Johnny Manziel was suspended for selling a football that was autographed, however the schools can do that and make money off him and get away with it (Welch). Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie is an example of someone who brings in things for the schools by his popularity. Flutie won the heisman, and as soon as he did the undergrad admission for Boston College went up by 25 points (Edelman