(09-26-2013 09:38 PM)ohio1317 Wrote: Inspired by recent talk and Frank the Tank's blog.
Let's assume the NFL and NBA aren't going to spend a lot of money on farm systems. What do you think the NCAA model for student athletes should look like? Keep the current system or make adjustments?
Given that the schools are using the big sports as money makers and not treating them like extra circulars, but also that there is value in the student athlete model, I suggest the following (what others have called the Olympic model):
1. No direct payment to players beyond standard scholarships and grants.
2. Players may sign any endorsement deal they want. They can sell autographs and their likeness. They can also sign agents to advise them on their NFL/NBA stock.
3. Boosters may directly give to athletes, but it must be above the table and monitored by the NCAA. The NCAA should know all transactions that are going on and able to investigate foul play.
4. One year out of the sport rule continues for transfers. If you want to go to another school where boosters offer more you can, but you are sitting out a year.
The end result of this would be that a lot of the booster donations used to get high paying coaching and great facilities (the current way to get the best recruits) would likely switch to player donations. I think that seems fair.
I wouldn't think most of that is a good idea. I'd rather stay fairly close to the current amateur model.
#1-Normal scholarship rules plus a full cost of attendance stipend. But we don't pay players to play football in college.
#2-NCAA endorsement deals like EA-Sports NCAA Football are split evenly among the players. Basically, money is being made off the players names--no reason not to send these kids some of it. It wont be big money but at least a little pocket change.
#3-Players can hire agents but can receive no benefit from said agents beyond advice and representation. No cash (that includes cash to mom or dad). No plane trips or tickets either. If agents want to bet their time on the kids futures fine by me. The kids might even get some decent honest unbiased advice.
#4-Players may sell autographs and jerseys through an NCAA created website only. No ebay. No Craigs List. Prices will be uniform and the value to the player is capped at $5,000. The rest of the proceeds are split 50/50 between the NCAA and the school. This is not to get rich. This is just to let the kid have some spending money and the idea is that the money is similar to what the typical college kid earns with a decent part time job over the course of a year. I know this is a pain, but if its not done in a centralized regulated way, this could easily spin out of control into basically bidding for players.
#5-Two kinds of scholarships can be offered. Full guaranteed 4yr and year-to-year. A kid on a 4 year guaranteed scholarship must sit out a year if he transfers to another school. On a year-to-year scholarship the kid can transfer to another school and play immediately. If you want see player loyalty---then show loyalty.
#6--A school must offer an extra year of free attendance to any student athlete that exhausts his athletic eligibility but has not yet graduated and is still in good academic standing at the university. To be eligible, the athlete must spend his entire career at one school. Athletes that transfer from one FBS school to another FBS school lose this perk. However, athletes that transfer from a Jr College to an FBS college ARE eligible (provided that's the only FBS school they every play for and they exhaust their athletic eligibility there).
#7-Players that enter a draft but are not chosen (or are chosen lower than they wish) are given the option to return to college and play if they have eligibility remaining. As long as they don't sign a contract and do not receive money---they can return to school. No reason to penalize a kid because he is not as good as he thought he was. (lol...we have all been guilty of that at some point).
#8-Get rid of all stupid rules regarding receiving value from a school. If a kid washes his car with a school water hose or uses the phone in the coaches office to call home---we don't need and investigation or sanctions. Come up with a nominal value--say $20 where we just dont fool with. Look at this type of stuff the same way as we might look at incidental contact on the football field. Unless its done in a comprehensive way to try to funnel significant money to players in small amounts--then little incidents like these should be treated as no more than a coach just being a decent human being and not some sort of sinister plot to make Big State a juggernaut.