Swofford among commissioners to explore paying college athletes

By Tim Hall
May 20, 2011

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It's an issue that's that has already been debated for quite some time — paying student-athletes in revenue producing sports.

Only now it looks like the wheels are in motion from the people who matter in college sports. Athletes with pro potential are rejoicing everywhere. Maybe that would finally be the key into keeping them away from agents and runners.

A day after Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney said he and his conference members have explored the concept, a number of other commissioners have come out and said it needs to be explored as well. The ACC's John Swofford is among them:

"I think it's something that deserves our full consideration and discussion. It would be consistent with a number of other scholarships that are on our campuses across the country."

The term that's being used by a spokesman for NCAA president Mike Emmert and SEC commissioner Mike Slive is "full cost of attendance". Players could be able to get $2,000 to $5,000 on top of their full ride scholarship for transportation and clothing costs.

But Swofford knows this issue opens a whole can of worms about what's fair and what isn't. Especially when the ideas being discussed are likely only aimed at helping football and men's basketball:

"Could it be limited to only revenue-producing sports?" Swofford said. "I'm not sure we would want to do it. And from a legal standpoint, how does it mesh with Title IX? I think we're a ways away from getting there. But it's a student-athlete welfare issue. It's a way to enhance the student-athlete experience and put a dent in some of the financial strains that some athletes have."

It's always been cut and dry for me, especially recently. Give the players of the profitable sports their fair cut. It might not be fair to not pay the non-revenue athletes, but that's life. If you work for a business (and these players do the real work, as in playing) that's making millions....or billions, you should make money. Especially if you're the integral part in making it work.

It'll be interesting to see where this goes.

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Paying athletes

Students-athletes ARE getting paid - scholarships.

A bad bad idea to pay them.

RE: Swofford among commissioners to explore paying college athletes

Isn't UNC-CH already paying their athletes....?? Why so many NCAA investigations?

RE: Swofford among commissioners to explore paying college athletes

How many true "collegiate basketball" fans want the collegiate game to begin to - even to the slightest degree - resemble the NBA? How many "collegiate football" fans want the collegiate game to begin - even to the slightest degree - resemble the NFL? I dare say none - zero - NADA - not one true "collegiate fan" wants the college game and the athletes who play the college game to go in that direction!!! I LOVE sports, always have and... likely always will. I owe much of who and what I am to what I learned and experienced on playing fields and courts... but I am truly dismayed, even disgusted by what I see today at the professional level and although I onnce was... I am NOT today a fan of the NBA and NFL. I TRULY loved and have played a LOT of basketball... the game played in the NBA, by MANY of the NBA players with their egos and attitudes... is NOT basketball!!!

IMO... start paying salaries to collegiate athletes and the collegiate game will be DESTROYED. What will come out of it will NOT resemble what we all love about collegiate sports!!! NOTE: I have NO problem with a REASONABLE amount of "personal expense, clothing, socializing" money, given on a weekly basis, to allow athletes to "fit in" and experience "college life" as most students. But SALARIES... HELL NO!!!

RE: Swofford among commissioners to explore paying college athletes

Sorry Swofford, you can't retroactively make UNC's athletic department policies legal.
- Posted by DasStonecutter

RE: Swofford among commissioners to explore paying college athletes

I don't like it. If they have talent they get a free education on scholarship. Some schools charge students 10-40 thousand a year at some schools. Private schools like Wake, Duke, Davidson, are out there with tuition. That's a lot of money. Set up a special fund at the schools to help some that can't afford it to get home for special holidays, and etc.

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