@red55 How about offensive line teammates who won't sign an NFL contract but who have to play on teams with Mattieu, Manziel or Tebow? And I think the LSU fanbase is well versed enough to want autographs from Collins, Willeford, Turner and/or Alexander. I see it as sort of an extension of the NFL Draft. Because Leo Desselle (who lettered only in 2006) didn't have a prayer in the draft, but Joe Addai and others did, we should get rid of the draft? @Attack Tiger One of Mr. Foosball's complaints (as I understand it) is that most everybody associated with the aTm program, including his head coach, has financially benefited from his Heisman, but he hasn't.
Mr. Foosball is a douche, but there is some validity to his complaint. It's just what I'm talking about.
@Attack Tiger Without a doubt (as to both, actually). I think it was ESPN the Magazine that had a feature on him a week or so ago that point out just that. aTm is building a "shrine" on campus to house his and the only other Heisman won by their athletes. It's his trophy and even the Joe Lunchboxes on the job are making money off of it while he can't. Sumlin got a $1 million a year raise, yet he can't legally be paid anything. And to add insult to injury, apparently there was some mix-up with getting him his copy of the trophy. aTm had theirs and the foundation said they shipped his copy to aTm but the school said they didn't have it. I don't think Johnny is the victim here, by any means, but he's got some reason to complain and, if you read the article, he's also got some serious anger issues that aren't being addressed. http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...rity-derail-texas-aggies-season-espn-magazine
So if I go to work for a startup for only a base salary and standard benefits, and the company then becomes wildly successful after going public, do I get to bitch and moan that they didn't give me stock options? These kids and their parents know what they're signing up for, and after their campus visits they're well aware of the amount of money football earns the university. The arrangement is clear cut. You play football for at least 2 years, and you get a free education in return, nothing more. We can talk about whether that's a fair arrangement or not. But once Manziel or any other player signs on the dotted line, with full knowledge of what they're agreeing to, they forfeit their right to complain about it after the fact if they violate those terms.
Apples and oranges. There is no similarity. No one cares what they do after college. The idea that the teams superstars can be allowed to get rich in college on endorsements and merchandising that are not available to most of his teammates flies in the face of what makes a team cohesive.
But you see this at every level, Red. in the NFL, the backup fullback is making chump change compared to the starting QB, especially if the starting QB is a Brees / Manning type with their faces all over mainstream media. In HS, the left guard is just a big body on the field and a fat lump in the classroom, whereas the QB they're protecting is fking the prom queen. The core of the argument is that their IMAGE is their PROPERTY. You should have a right to do what you want with your property.
You do when you are professionals, not when you are amateurs playing on public funding. College is not the NFL. Coaches will want no part of a system that lets a few stars make wads of cash while the average team player gets chump change.
I say it's none of the coaches' business, and they should have to just suck it up and accept it for what it is. A person has a right to sell his image to anyone willing to pay for it. Anyone who tells you that you can't sell your own property is a commie bastard. This is 'Murica.
No one is holding a gun at your head and forcing you to accept an NCAA scholarship. But if you do, you must follow the rules that go with it. Period.
One inconsistency the universities allow, is for a dude like Driskel to sign a baseball contract and either play professionally or be financially compensated. Even though he no longer qualifies for college baseball he gets his bills paid and then some, while remaining an amateur in another college sport. Amateur has many definitions.
