Why Do College Athletes Get Paid

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Division I Athletes Getting Paid? Due to the extensive training and serious commitment that is associated with college sports, many athletes end their athletic journey in high school. However, from each high school, there is a handful of athletes who decide to attend a NCAA Division I college. Founded in 1910, the National Collegiate Athletic Association is a non profit organization that regulates and aids thousands of student-athletes across the United States, providing them with opportunities at a collegiate level. This organization operates under a three-division system, setting separate rules for Division I, Division II, and Division III colleges. For example, under the NCAA, Division I and II schools are allowed to offer athletic scholarships …show more content…

They send emails to thousands of high school students and put up posters on the highway for anyone passing to see. Martinez writes, “It’s also important to note that college student-athletes are not only a part of a sports team; they are a part of the college or university’s advertising team.” These athlete’s pictures are used in posters, papers, websites, and even trading cards, showing off the school’s athletic programs and making a statement about the prestige and success that scholar-athletes have experienced. The colleges make money off all of these types of advertising; the money is not used to pay the hard working athletes. According to Mama, “The average price of a ticket for the NCAA Final Four was $1,151.98, and the NCAA made more than $800 million from the tournament.” Final playoff games like this make the most money for colleges and the NCAA. However, this money is used to fund the athletics department and pay the salaries of the coaches and staff. Programs have tried to get Division I athletes a salary within the past few years, but none have been …show more content…

However, the NCAA president had made it clear that he has no plans on making that happen. Greenstein from the Chicago Tribune stated, “I love that most scholarship athletes now receive a stipend on top of the tuition.” The article continues to state that athletes are compensated for their time and that they are compensated generously. People should look at the costs athletes have to pay annually and compare it to the “benefits” these programs have to offer. Greenstein continues by stating, “Some of college sports' brightest minds have long advocated paying players, but has anyone devised or seen a plan?” The article by Greenstein goes on about unanswered questions that he wants answered. But, all of Greenstein's worries would go away once the President of the NCAA agrees to pay the Division I athletes. A multi-million organization like the NCAA is capable of creating a system to pay the Division I athletes if they put their minds

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