Travis West | Sports Editor
If your last name was being sold in stores, your likeness being used in video games and your athletic performance was bringing in millions of viewers wouldn’t you expect to see a little bit of money?
Thats the question that the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the NCAA has been facing much of late.
The NCAA has come under fire most recently because of Texas A&M quarterback and 2012 Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel also known as “Johnny football.”
Manziel is undoubtedly the biggest star college sports has seen since Tim Tebow and even then Manziel’s reach has been more effective due to social media.
Manziel has been accused of signing autographs for an arranged amount of money with brokers who would then profit off the signatures.
The NCAA launched an investigation, but could not find any evidence against Manziel and suspended him after six hours of questioning.
I am sure Manziel walked out of the office with a smile, gladly accepting his half game suspension? Way to show him who’s boss.
When it comes to Manziel, most people are not to fond of his off the field antics. In July, he attended a frat party at his rival school, The University of Texas, which he got kicked out of. He is also good friends with NBA stars like Lebron James and is a huge fan and friend of the rapper, Drake and has been seen with both on numerous occasions.
Manziel is living the rockstar life and we are watching it through his Instagram account.
I cannot stand his off the field antic like most football fans, but when it comes to sticking it to the NCAA I am all for it.
College football is one of the biggest sports in the United States. The NCAA brings in 10 billion dollars in television revenue alone.
Players have no other path to the NFL so the NCAA take advantage of that. Because the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League are consider professional, it would jeopardize players college eligibility. Players are not allowed to negotiate their scholarships and are forced to find jobs on their own.
Playing the highest level demands that players give up to 40 hours a week dedicated to football during the season depending on the school.
Imagine working for a company that demands that amount of your time a week and pays you next to nothing.
Meanwhile, contracts for college coaches are reaching record amounts, jersey sales are holding strong and do not even get me started on the Las Vegas money being exchanged.
I know it probably isn’t this easy because of these players are seen as “amateurs,” but why not pay the players like any other job. They work up to 40 hours a week for a hourly pay depending on cost of living in that geographic location.
Nobody gets more than anyone else, but just enough to enjoy a normal college life.
This would allow the NCAA to sell jerseys and keep players accountable. Nobody is bigger than the game and nobody will be paid as such.
I do not think players should get an extraordinary amount of money, but give them enough to where they need to learn to manage it right. Use it to teach them about savings accounts, credit, and taxes. Many players come from very low income homes and have never had to manage money, leaving them almost clueless when they do get a multi-million dollar contract from an NFL team.
It can be more than just free money, if you let it be.
Or maybe the NCAA is right and I along with tons of others are just completely wrong.
Maybe they got a point, I mean the NCAA has done this so long they have perfected the business model, you make millions and you don’t pay the employees anything.
