College players have been getting paid above board for 4-5 years now. I think it is called an athletic stipend...or some such. An SEC player makes more than an OVC player. It is like $4,000 - 5,000 per year walking around money.
Admittedly, I don't really know how all that works. But, they get some legal pocket change.
More for travel to a bowl game.
More on weekends when the school doesn't feed them and they have to buy their own meals, etc.
You get the idea.
