College athletes -- pay for play?

Due to recent events, the burning question in a lot of minds is "should college athletes be paid to play."

In my mind they already are. They are being paid with an education that in some cases would not be possible.

There are many students at the college level without the benefit of a scholarship who are struggling, but you certainly do not see anyone willing to help them pay for things.

The NCAA stance is very solid on this issue and those who have gone against the rules have paid for it. Three institutions have been charged with major infractions of these policies.

The Southern Methodist University football program was charged with paying over $61,000.00 in cash to 21 players in 1989. This program was given the NCAA "Death Penalty."

In 1994, Washington State University's men's outdoor track, men's cross country, and the men's indoor track teams were found providing excessive financial aid awards. They also charged a faculty member with providing transportation to a red-shirt student-athlete. The penalties handed down included a reduction in financial aid, non-eligibility for one post-season bowl game, and three years probation.

The final violation occurred in 1996 when the University of Louisville basketball team was found to have provided an automobile, insurance, and payment of parking tickets. They also had provided players payment to remove stereo equipment from a summer employer as well as cosigning credit applications. This penalty consisted of two years probation without the ability to recruit.

The NCAA Division I manual clearly states, "a student athlete may be paid as a counselor in a summer camp or in a recreation department program. Compensation provided to the student-athlete shall be commensurate with the going rate for camp or clinic counselors of like teaching ability and experience and may not be paid on the basis of the value that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the athletics reputation or fame that the student-athlete has achieved".

This is the only exception.

However, I tend to agree with the newly formed Collegiate Athletes Coalition on certain flaws in the NCAA system. The CAC's goals are: To secure health coverage, including life insurance, on all sports related injuries whether they be suffered at a mandatory or voluntary activity. Secondly, to increase monthly stipends. And, lastly, to eliminate the salary cap in the off-season.

I do not, however, agree that the United Steelworkers of America should be involved in anyway with this issue.

,br>On an episode of "60 Minutes," USWA President Leo Gerard calls the NCAA a "Sweatshop" for not providing enough for their athletes. He also subscribed to the idea that the NCAA would pay more attention if the athletes were to strike. These athletes are not employees. End of story. Go find another hobby.

I will tie all of this up with a couple of questions of my own that I think should be answered before we see picket lines in front of the Dean's office.

First of all, there are students that have academic scholarships to attend class. So, if one of these students trips on a pencil, are they going to be provided the same concessions that a student on an athletic scholarship will?

And secondly, is this not a "Pandora's Box" that you're about to open? It is if you look at it this way. "Yeah I'll go to college if you pay me".

The NCAA should think long and hard before making any decisions on this one.