I disagree that student-athletes should be paid for their efforts. The NCAA makes it expressly clear that student-athletes are to be students first, athletes second. The NCAA has rules and regulations which ensure that the point of going to college is to obtain an education, not primarily to prepare for professional sport.
I do agree that there is aggregious abuse of the talents of these students, especially in the big-money sports like football and basketball. But other than that, how many people can really remember the names of the college world series MVP of any year, much less the last 5? How much should crew athletes or Greco-Roman wrestlers or long jumpers be paid? What about the women’s soccer team? How much should their salary be?
I think that, in view of it’s scholastic purpose, the NCAA is hypocritical in the financial incentives it provides to some schools for athletic performance. At the same time, this is no reason to warrant that athletes be paid. I think this is absolutely ludicrous and is not feasible.
In my opinion, given the hypocrisy of the NCAA, the NCAA should revamp the way profits from athletic competitions and incentives for performace are distributed. My off-the-cuff estimate is that of the over 330,000 student-athletes in NCAA, maybe less than 20,000 are engaged in basketball and football. Of these, maybe 5-10,000 are at big-money schools. Should all NCAA athletes be paid because of the efforts of about 3-5% of all student-athletes?
You say that these students families receive nothing for their efforts. I say these students should take more full advantage of their opportunities. How many people can say they can receive an education on scholarship? You say they are poor. Is it not a privilege to leverage your athletic ability to obtain greater earning power, even if it is via non-athletic professions?
I think that what happened to Mike Bush is incredibly unfortunate. It is hardly a deserving payment of such loyalty, dedication, and friendship. However, he knew the risks but still chose to return to college rather than pursue immediate gratification in the NFL. I lament this tragedy, because it truly is a tragedy… but I do not believe it justifies payment to student-athletes.