Since California has decided to force the issue of paying college athletes, will the Pac 12 survive? It seems unlikely to me.
We passed the point where I like it many years ago. There will be no tears from me. It could return to something better, perhaps even good.
I like that it gives kids an opportunity to get an education that they may not otherwise get. Trying to shoehorn "competitive balance" and all that goes into it, isn't a very good fit though. It creates a lot of problems. The NFL/NBA, etc would find other ways to find players if college athletics ceased to exist.
I would privatize the sports teams. Grant them a license to use the University name as they always have, and rent the stadium to them, but cut all other ties to the school. No longer a requirement to enroll in school. No more sports scholarships. Pay for the players would be tied to the revenue the team brings in. barfo
Very good barfo! But it does leave a big whole, all the other athletics, that Football and BB support. Mostly all the women's sports programs. It probably screws the kids that go to school for the school on the sports scholarships too.
The answer is doing something for the students athletes, allow them a stipend while playing. There's no chance the schools would want to cut ties with athletics as its a money maker for them, in most cases. The use sports to market their schools. The prestige of being a part some athletic conference is like belonging to a country club. Give them $15.00 an hour while playing.
Athletics that don't support themselves shouldn't exist, except at a minimal level. If actual college kids want to play, the university can pay for equipment and minimal travel, but no scholarships, no million dollar coaches, training tables, stadiums, etc. Scholarships could be phased out over 4 or 5 years, no reason to kick current athletic scholarship kids out of school. barfo
Probably you are correct. However, it's not really their (supposed) mission. Yeah, although most of the money the athletic departments raise stays in the athletic department. It's pretty rare that the football team gets a big win and someone is thereby motivated to endow a professorship in Biology. Let them hire agents and negotiate whatever salary they can get. Or unionize, maybe. Or give them a cut of the gate. barfo
I think the athletes should be given the option, scholarship or pay. They can take the scholarship and everything stays the same. If they want paid, then they need to pay for their own tuition, room and board. None of this both ways though, no scholarship and paid.
Why? I'm not saying it's a terrible idea - private universities have certainly shown the ability to both produce a quality product and be financially stable - but maybe there's value in having a mix? barfo
