it's absurd some college athletes aren't paid.

[Jesus X]

There is no guarantee that these college kids will manifest into anything great at the pro-level. Why do you have to go to the NCAA? Just go play in Europe for a year if you want to get paid.

NCAA is a messed up system. But how do we determine which player gets what money? Will a star QB get the same amount as a kicker? Does each team get paid the same?

you can't go to europe they have to do a mandatory year in college before going pro ben Simmons was forced to do a year at LSU and it cost him millions of dollars for that year.

 

[TheRuthlessOne]

High school players should be getting paid too imo

 

[llperez22]

you can't go to europe they have to do a mandatory year in college before going pro ben Simmons was forced to do a year at LSU and it cost him millions of dollars for that year.

you heard wrong. You do not have to go to college. Many players have spent their one season removed from highschool making money playing basketball. Brandon jennings went to europe, emanuel mudiay played in china, numerous highschool players have gone straight to the nba d league where they were paid starting with latavious williams back in 2010 when the nba first allowed highschool players to join the nbdl.

 

[DaleBoca]

you can't go to europe they have to do a mandatory year in college before going pro ben Simmons was forced to do a year at LSU and it cost him millions of dollars for that year.

Yes you can. Brandon Jennings had committed to play at Arizona but skipped out and went and played a year in Europe then went to the NBA.

Look all the euro guys, they never played a minute in college. They went to the pros after playing in Europe.

 

[Sir Galahad]

then make it legal for them to get paid or illegal to profit from them

Even if it was legal most colleges can't afford to pay all student-athletes.

 

[Liquid Smoke]

I see your point that the athletes are the ones doing the work that creates this wealth, but you're missing who the real draw is from the fans' perspective, which is the schools. People tune in to watch Notre Dame or USC not the players on the field.

If the NFL created their own development league and tried to sell tickets or airtime, it would drive no more traffic than minor league baseball. The fact that the competition becomes a source of school and regional pride is what drives the revenue in NCAA football and basketball.

 

[rj144]

Might have something to do with the fact that college programs are bringing in more money than ever now which makes the disparity between what the athletes are "compensated" and what the school profits that much greater.

I don't think they should be bringing in anywhere close to professional salaries but giving students a decent annual wage for the millions upon millions they're bringing in to schools isn't too much to ask imo. Especially when the vast majority of them aren't going to become pros and will likely be left with long term effects from playing.

It's a myth though that the money goes elsewhere or to the university higher ups. The money basically subsidizes the other student athletes and other sports:

http://smartycents.com/articles/college-football-revenue/