Several rumors circulating

[LargeOrange1]

Ok so I’m going to go at it respectfully but from the other side possibly just because of my age (under 30). I understand and agree that it’s a blessing to have your college paid for playing a sport is fantastic. However since 2000 the game had started making a ridiculous amount of revenue off the backs of players that get paid zero from it. I saw a statistic that the profits gained from a few weekends of marquee matchups in the SEC could cover every scholarship on every SEC team and start tapping into the lower paid position coaches around the conference. I’m not going to waste a ton of time because I do not know if many will even read my opinion but to make it as short as possible, I don’t feel the NCAA or colleges should make so much money they can upgrade there stadiums every 5 years but these kids (look at inky Johnson) give there lives for a sport and some of there parents go home to no power or anything. Time to stop being ok with millionaires continuing to make millions, pretty much every one else involved gets paid very well, but the athletes must get nothing? No I don’t agree with that

You might want to hone up on the correct use of “there”, “their”, and “they’re “. Not trying to be a smart@$$.

 

[Devo182]

You might want to hone up on the correct use of “there”, “their”, and “they’re “. Did you REALLY graduate from UT?

Irony...

 

[cgrish]

That is not true at all but let’s take a look at what they get already and why they get it. Players get free education, free food, free housing, free tutors, preference in scheduling classes, etc. The only reason this opportunity exists is because universities exist to provide an education. If they don’t think that is enough than I say hit the rode.

I agree, the players are already getting paid, and paid well. Without the colleges, the players would not have the opportunity to make millions. If they don't want to go to college with the pay they get already as stated above then don't go. Try and go to NFL without going to college. Imo the colleges are doing more for the student players than the players are doing for them. How many millionaires come from playing football in college?? You don't have to take the opportunity for a free education and all the perks, that is their choice. If you don't want it get a job and skip college or better yet pay for your college out of your pocket and don't play football. There are many many young men who would love to take your place under the same exact circumstances the players are in now. So play or move on and let someone else have the opportunity that they now have. The present system has worked well for many years and the players have been rewarded greatly. How about Morrow from LSU, where would he be now without his college football expierence. Seems as if he was paid very well under the current system.

 

[dobre_shunka]

Then open up the market and see.

You can't tell me a benchwarmer nfl rookie is worth hundreds of thousands, Butch Jones was worth $4mm, and Jaylen Reeves-Maybin was worth a scholarship. That is delusional.

Where are the free market capitalists?

Okay, that would require repealing Title IX and removing all governmental support and ownersbip of colleges and universities. I'm sure that can be easily accomplished

You're the one telling me who is worth what. I said you get what you are worth in a free system.

 

[TheRealUT98]

You might want to hone up on the correct use of “there”, “their”, and “they’re “. Did you REALLY graduate from UT?

no sir I truly wish I could have even went. English wasn’t my strong suit either way

 

[Roustabout]

What does that mean? These players generate revenue. They deserve a cut of the action.

They are compensated through a free education that is increasing in value every year, on addition to many other perks. You cannot manage this with the discrepancy in the haves and have nots.

Perhaps the NFL should drop the restriction on drafting and let these kids try out. They either make it or they don’t. If they don’t, then like baseball, you don’t get to resented draft until after third year. Amateurism doesn’t mean there isn’t revenue.

I think coaching salaries should be capped at $500k. Profits should go to the schools to pay for education. Recruiting should be limited.

When they start treating these students as pros, I’ll just watch pro ball. It’s a better product.

Just wait until the women’s volleyball and crew teams show up crying title nine and wanting their share.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

Ok, so for you, socialism is the key. Let's let a few people decide what should or should not happen to an entity they have no stake in?! Right?! That's your point?

I can't, for the life of me, understand how someone would genuinely think they have the right to tell someone else how to live or run their business! If someone goes home to no power in their house why in the heck is that UT's problem?!! If you are truly worried about it, you go put the utility bill in YOUR name and pay it, all the time. You say the system is making money "off the backs of the players", what does that have to do with the price of tea in India?! If you DON'T want a free education, all wrapped up with facilities and pampering that almost none of us will ever enjoy in our lifetimes, then please...MOVE ON! There are literally thousands of kids waiting behind you to take that opportunity because, guess what, they don't want their power cut off one day like it was when they were kids! For some reason we (some in society) have decided that ANY struggle that they deem worthy, should be solved so people don't have to experience the pain. The truth, whether anyone wants to believe it or not, is that pain almost ALWAYS brings about growth, steels your resolve, and helps one persevere. Ease and comfort absolutely do not! You, in your desire to feel great about spending someone else's money for a cause you deem worthy, would take away the chance for someone to come to UT, work hard, make a good living, and change their family direction through hard work and dedication.

We have become ENTITLED and the worst part of it is we don't even realize it. It may be easy and sound good to say "they make millions and that person doesn't have electricity!!" but what you are ALWAYS saying, whether you like it or not, is that you are FOR stealing from one person and giving it to another that hasn't earned it. Again, YOU pay the utility bill if it bothers you. Because, one day, someone will come for you and take your money because, hey, you shouldn't have the ability to eat out while others do not.

While I don't agree with everything the OP stated, to assert that college football is anything approaching a free market is poppycock. It is a free market for the coaches, the ADs, the TV content providers, etc., but it is not a free market for the players. Until recently they couldn't even change to a different team without being penalized. They cannot exploit their talents (even those unrelated to football), without going through a very rigorous investigative process. If you are a cello player in the school band, you can sell your services or play in public for money. No problem. But if you are a football player you cannot get paid for much of anything, due to the fear that such activity will have on the overall competitiveness of the sport (the big money boosters could easily rig the system to attract the best players).

In a free market, labor has the right to withhold its services and negotiate for better terms of employment. College athletes cannot do that. At least not at the moment. Universities are not entertainment industry conglomerates, yet they are running multi billion dollar sports empires. There is a divorce coming between colleges and big money sports. It will take a while to play out, but I think it will happen. JMHO.

 

[IPleadInsanity]

Yup. CBJ made 10x what FULMER was making per year lol.

And coaches make so much partly due to the artificially deflated compensation of players.

Players don't make market value, plain and simple.

We are discussing amateur athletics not professional sports. Their market value is zero at this level. When universities started paying football coaches professional level salaries this was bound to be the result. So now we will pay the players on market value? The University of Tennessee is going to host a professional sports franchise? I don't see the connection with education.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

All correct, they did bring in huge revenues, but their athletic budgets increased as well so the more they made the more they spent. Only a few schools have created large surpluses and UT is not one of them. They spend it like drunken sailors, more equipment, bigger recruiting budget, higher coaching salaries, paying off old contracts, new uniforms every game and of course funding non-revenue sports. Bowl game revenues are usually spend in the expense of going to the bowl. Not cash cows for the universities for sure. Now greed and over-spending have caught up with them.

My understanding is that most college athletic departments purposefully avoid accumulating a surplus. If they ran surpluses, it would feed the narrative that the universities are profiting off of the "unpaid" labor of the players. This is bad optics, particularly since many players come from disadvantaged backgrounds. But, not having reserves means that if a season gets cancelled, it's a true catastrophe.

 

[Gandalf]

My understanding is that most college athletic departments purposefully avoid accumulating a surplus. If they ran surpluses, it would feed the narrative that the universities are profiting off of the "unpaid" labor of the players. This is bad optics, particularly since many players come from disadvantaged backgrounds. But, not having reserves means that if a season gets cancelled, it's a true catastrophe.

The reason they dont run surpluses is because it is attached to university and there isnt a university anywhere who isnt run by either socialists or public entity aparatchics, none of which understand business - and thus they will ALWAYS find some place for the money, bigger salaries, new facilities, etc. Also, because a surplus has no stockholders, etc to be distributed to. Most everyone there gets paid more because they SPEND more money, not because they run a surplus.

 

[MWAVolfan]

My understanding is that most college athletic departments purposefully avoid accumulating a surplus. If they ran surpluses, it would feed the narrative that the universities are profiting off of the "unpaid" labor of the players. This is bad optics, particularly since many players come from disadvantaged backgrounds. But, not having reserves means that if a season gets cancelled, it's a true catastrophe.

My understanding at least of the University of Tennessee is that the athletic department is a financially separate institution from the university. They don't owe a dime to the university. If they make a huge profit they sink it right back into the program by upgrading the stadium, facilities, coaching salaries, recruiting budget, etc. Since they are not "for profit" entities, sitting on a pile of cash makes no sense. They reinvest any excess into making the program better (or paying Butch Jones).

 

[onevol74]

I don't understand this logic from so-called free market conservative capitalists. Seems like when it comes to athletes getting paid, they turn into socialists or sweatshop owners...

These kids are not professionals they are amateurs. If you are going to pay them then what about high school and pee wee players? They are all amateurs. I totally agree they should paid in a farm league if they want to form one. In fact, some of those NFL salaries should be trimmed to support the new farm leagues.

 

[BeardenVol]

You might want to hone up on the correct use of “there”, “their”, and “they’re “. Not trying to be a smart@$$.

Ah, here we go again......millionaires are the problem....dirty Ba$tard$.

 

[Roustabout]

While I don't agree with everything the OP stated, to assert that college football is anything approaching a free market is poppycock. It is a free market for the coaches, the ADs, the TV content providers, etc., but it is not a free market for the players. Until recently they couldn't even change to a different team without being penalized. They cannot exploit their talents (even those unrelated to football), without going through a very rigorous investigative process. If you are a cello player in the school band, you can sell your services or play in public for money. No problem. But if you are a football player you cannot get paid for much of anything, due to the fear that such activity will have on the overall competitiveness of the sport (the big money boosters could easily rig the system to attract the best players).

In a free market, labor has the right to withhold its services and negotiate for better terms of employment. College athletes cannot do that. At least not at the moment. Universities are not entertainment industry conglomerates, yet they are running multi billion dollar sports empires. There is a divorce coming between colleges and big money sports. It will take a while to play out, but I think it will happen. JMHO.

Hello?

 

[Pepe]

A lot of these players wouldn't be in college if the NFL had a minor league system. That would suit me just fine. Don't let the door hit you in the ass if you don't want to go to class. I will be happy watching the ones who want to be here.

Doing that would kill college football and put it at the same interest level as college baseball.

 

[IPleadInsanity]

Doing that would kill college football and put it at the same interest level as college baseball.

News alert, college football was killed when they started paying coaches professional level salaries. They have spent all of the increased revenues and have nothing left to pay the players without further increases. We are talking about amateur sports here. College football is amateur sports. The professional part needs to be cut away and allowed to form its own professional organization. Those professional level players and coaches all need to go with it. I will watch whats left no problem.

 

[ZippyMorocco]

Doing that would kill college football and put it at the same interest level as college baseball.

I don't have allegiance to any NFL team, only UGA and Army (my brother was a Black Knight of the Hudson). I will watch whomever lines up to play.

 

[ACvol3]

Doing that would kill college football and put it at the same interest level as college baseball.

Why? I enjoy watching highschool football more than college baseball, so I'd have to think that I'd still enjoy college football, even if it was missing a few 5* stars that went to the minors. There would still be some good football players.