If you pay the football players...who else do you pay? The band?...Golden Girls?, Cheerleaders?, other sports?, students who represent the school in academics? Should we pay just the starters or the bench warmers as well? Is a scholarship or exposure not sufficient? I may be in favor of giving a SMALL amount of spending money (for a burger or pizza) to any student who spends a great amount of time representing the university but I'm completely against paying the players for their services. I know my friends who played at LSU received new tennis shoes, warm-up suits, t-shirts, shorts, jackets, caps, and a lot of other "NCAA sanctioned" items that the remaining student body didn't receive.
There is nothing to be gained by refusing a release to a transfer. There is a lot to be lost . . . ask Dale Brown.
The band, including the Golden Girls, does get paid a stipend for their work, regardless of whatever other scholarships they may have. Those on full academic scholarships can work up to 20 hours a week at at a student job. It only pays a little over minimum wage, but it's the pocket money most of the students need. Some of these players come from humble backgrounds and are not allowed to work off campus when on scholarship. They have no money for a date, for a CD, or to enjoy the weekend with their friends. They end up hanging out with blingy thugs like Xavier Carter. Or worse, they start taking $100 handshakes from alumni. I see no problem with paying these guys $8/hour for up to 20 hours a week for the time they spend in games, in training, and on the practice field. I pay students on academic scholarship that much to work in my lab on campus.
When my dad played college football in the early 60's, student athletes were given "laundry money," about $20 a month then. During that time, it was enough to have dates, go to movies, etc. Today's student athletes should be paid something for all of the time they spend (not to mention all of the money they make for the universities.) Yes, I know they are receiving a free education, and that's no joke at all. But, seriously, just a little pocket change would be nice.
This won't be the only loss this year. Look for Crutchfield news to hit soon about him transferring and I am hearing Jai Eugene may be one as well.
$1000 for the Fall now. It's not much compared to how many hours are put into it, but taken away, 95+% of the members would still be in it. It's just an added bonus for those who enjoy it anyway. I am in the group that players should be paid at least minimally. $1000 for a semester could go a long way for players, considering tuition, books, housing, and most of their meals are paid for.
I agree with the notion that the players be paid as they work their tails off, not to mention sacrifice personal time for the sport of football where the university makes a whole lot more money because of these athletes. Their pay is only small change in comparison with the amount of money that goes through the football program. The only glitch is that, if so, the same standard should apply to non revenue or low revenue generating sports; such as golf, track, soccer.