College Football at an all time low!!

[SMcGregor]

A good bit of the kids get a free ride to go college. There room and board are paid for they get full time tutors, and some of them even make it to the pros to have an income that the 95% of the world's people will not see if there lifetime and yet they want more.

"We're taking years off our lives out here hitting each other, and we're not being compensated for it."
-- Ohio State guard T.J. Downing"

Give me a break I work 40 to 50 hours a week and might get a free t-shirt after spending $3000.00 to go to a conference. Because they will a few games they need more for playing something they love to play?

Should I ask for more then a hug from my kids because I pay for the daycare? Even better yet should I ask for a free cigar from everyone here because I enjoy spending my time chatting with you garheads? I think not.

Sorry for the rant, but this article really got to me. Youth these days kill me...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls0...e=NCFHeadlines

Thanks for listening,

Shawn

[King James]

yah, those college athletes that go to school for free and get a lot of things handed to them just can't catch a break. There was something on ESPN once where they were talking about college athletes getting paid...and about the only reason that made since was kids that did not have any money at home and the scholarship does not cover stuff they need outside of school....so the kids get into major credit card debt. But I think even this could be avoided if they lived on campus their whole career but of course that wouldn't be cool.

[SMcGregor]

I'm not sure about all college, but Florida State (Seminole) Have an entire apartment building for each player to share a room with another player, they have night time security, and have free will to come and go as they please. Most booster take care of the "outside of school" needs under then table...

Awe well I guess I free ride isn't good enough anymore!

Originally Posted by King James

yah, those college athletes that go to school for free and get a lot of things handed to them just can't catch a break. There was something on ESPN once where they were talking about college athletes getting paid...and about the only reason that made since was kids that did not have any money at home and the scholarship does not cover stuff they need outside of school....so the kids get into major credit card debt. But I think even this could be avoided if they lived on campus their whole career but of course that wouldn't be cool.

[Diesel Kinevel]

life is made too easy for children these days. parents keep their children sheltered and try to give them everything they want. they pay for everything, so when its time for them to jump into life they believe things should be given to them and they should not have to work for anything. Why? becasue they were raised that way. My parents raised me to pay for anything I WANTED. they took care of my clothes and school stuff but anything else I paid for. I truly believe that has prepared me for life outside of my parents roof.
thanks for listening to my ranting

[whiteboard]

I don't advocate paying college players for their participation in college sports. But I don't blame them for wishing, believing or expressing that they should be. It would be easy to mourn the loss of our values and say kids just don't get it these days. But look at the world around us. We are taught not to allow ourselves to be taken advantage of, to seek out the best prices on goods, to negotiate the best salary based on our contributions. And God save anyone who tries to screw us.

So if I'm a college football player listening to my uncle tell me how he walked backwards 5 miles to practice in the snow everyday just for the love of the game and then I see this....

"more than 35 college coaches receive salaries of at least one million dollars per year. Sources of revenue to pay these salaries include student fees, corporate sponsorships, and television deals."

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=2685286&page=1

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This year’s bowl payouts are estimated at between $14M and $17M for the National Championship, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Rose Bowl.

http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/facts

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“According to reports filed by 55 of the 56 bowl teams with the Department of Education (Navy is exempt from filing) the University of Texas is the nation's richest, and most profitable football program, with revenue of $53.2 million, and a profit of $38.7 million, during the fiscal year that ended in August, just as the current season was about to get underway.”

“USC's profit as a percentage of revenue is just 43 percent, below the average of 48 percent for all the reporting bowl teams, even when you include the 11 schools which lost money on their football programs. The top 20 football programs in terms of revenue have profit margins of about 60 percent, on average. Even the NFL would be envious of those numbers.”

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/04/comm...biz/sportsbiz/

[Twill413]

Not only am I in complete agreeemtn with Hoyohio on his understanding of why they feel they should be paid, but feel that the kids not getting at least a small cut is outrageous. Most major college football teams pay for ALL the other sports to exist. In a sense by not getting squat, the kids are being pimped in order to ensure that the athletic program continues to exist. Yes a free education is nice, and yes they get a stipend, but they bust their asses year round in practice AND go to glass. They are overworked and underpaid. Some students go to work and class, but that is not the same thing as going through the practices that they endure.

[hornitosmonster]

I can understand them wishing. Many of the College players won't make it to the Pros. But I agree with the OP, be grateful for what you get. A free ride to a college degree.

At least the OSU QB had his head on straight (in the article).

[hornitosmonster]

Yes a free education is nice, and yes they get a stipend, but they bust their asses year round in practice AND go to glass.

If college football turned "Pro" then it would lose a lot of what it has going for it. Many prefer College over the Pros for the purity of the game. The Emotion tied up in your team.

Anyways, what would change? The best would still be the best. The ticket prices would rise to that of the NFL level. Try buying a Dallas Cowboys ticket and you will see what I mean.

College football needs to stay College Football. Not some minor league or paid league.

[whiteboard]

Originally Posted by hornitosmonster

College football needs to stay College Football. Not some minor league or paid league.

Agreed. But there is a certain inequity. No easy answer here.

Best for the game that they remain unpaid. But I wouldn't characterize any player as selfish or not having their head on straight for wanting to be paid.

What Troy Smith said is what Troy Smith is supposed to say. And Troy's a great kid with his heart in the right place -- who has also learned media and image management from the best.

[SMcGregor]

I can see both sides of it. I can understand where they want to be paid for taking years off of the lives! No, I take that back I don't recall them being forced to play football or any other sport for the colleges. They play ball because they get a free ride and 9 times out of 10 a good education to carry on with when they don't make it pro. I could understand the NCAA allowing a little bit more of a bonus gift let the kids live it up a little before they finish their season, but good lord now a days you give an inch they take a foot.

Head coaches and other staff are paid a ton of Money, but not all their money is from the colleges, a lot comes from Boosters, advertising for companies. But the better the coach the school house at hand the more they gonna pay to keep him/her there is any sport. Win bring in money where a lose losses the money!

These kids will get there money in the end. They will graduate with a profession ahead of them or they will be play ball either overseas, or in the states. They have more ahead of them then the other graduates do that only have one choice when they graduate. Going to play for a major pro teams isn't a choice they have.

Let'em ask for a cut of the profit, but if you give them that then where does it end. In my own opinon I think it is pretty low of the players with a free ride getting free gifts and one heck of a chance to shine on national TV in front of just about every NFL, NFL Europe team recuirters!

Anyways I will quit with the ranting

Shawn

[hornitosmonster]

They will graduate with a profession ahead of them or they will be play ball either overseas, or in the states. They have more ahead of them then the other graduates do that only have one choice when they graduate.

Exactly. And when you played football and Graduated from an OSU, ND, USC...then the Good Ol' Boy Buddy system comes into play. They are going to get a job...and a good one at that because they are brothers in a "Fraternal System". A CEO that played at OSU (or even went to OSU) is more likely to hire an ex OSU player over any other applicant.