What vanity I have in me says, "why didn't we have this when I was in college", the maturity in me says, paying athletes directly will be a huge danger in the making. If your going to pay athletes, should you not pay the student in the band, drama, debate team, or anyone who represents the college or university, if we're serious about this. Perhaps what ever income is earned should be put in an escrowed account that only issues a stipend until the student graduates or completes their eligibility. Are we considering the total ramifications of such decisions? You will have to create a format and infrastructure to evaluate athletic, artistic, and professional performance, and attach a monetary value to it, and who will sit on this committee? Will this structure include all students who are not athletes? I get the argument. The athlete says that the college, university, or athletic program is making so much money off of my talents, way more than what this scholarship is worth, so I need to get paid. I need protection and support for injuries that might end my career and change my life. The college/university is saying your getting a world class education on our dime, you should be satisfied. The reality of paying athletes is that you introduce an element of "entitled independence" that serves only to meet the need of securing the check, and not the unity of the team, college, or university. What coach wants to have a conversation about "my raise" or "my check is not right"? The transfer portal will really be what it has become to be, a free agency tool where the athletes will go to the school who pays the most. I hope I'm wrong, but paying athletes will be the most disruptive force in college athletics for the foreseeable future. And yet, as a former athlete, I know something has to be done. If I sound conflicted, I am. The life of the average college athlete is not as glamorous as most fans think it is, and a little extra money for school items, food, washing your clothes, or just taking in a movie can make a big difference in such a structured life.