Should College Athletes Be Paid?

2097 Words5 Pages

Cameron Newton was a coveted recruit coming out of Georgia’s Westlake High School in 2007. Upon signing with the University of Florida, he earned a back-up spot behind Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. After being arrested on felony charges, Newton dropped out of Florida and enrolled at Blinn Junior College in Texas. Newton led his team to the 2009 NJCAA National Football Championship, after which he was the only 5-star recruit for the 2010 season, as stated on rivals.com. His top two choices for college: Mississippi State University and Auburn University. After his first year at Blinn Junior College he committed to Auburn. During the 2010 football season, Newton led the #1 ranked Tigers to a national championship berth with an undefeated record and also won the Heisman Trophy. Mid-season allegations came about that his father, Cecil Newton, asked Mississippi State University for $180,000 in order for his son to play football at MSU. Although Cam did nothing wrong the question arose, should an athlete be paid to compete in Division One athletics? Recently, this question of compensating athletes has been a major issue facing college sports.

In the case of Cam Newton being paid to play at Mississippi State, ESPN quoted Cecil Newton, father of Cameron Newton, in saying that it would take “more than a scholarship” to get his son to play at Mississippi State. The more emphasis that is being placed on college athletics, specifically college football, the more circumstances such as Cam Newton’s, seem to come to light. In the past ten years, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has passed numerous rules on the recruitment of high school athletes. NCAA.org has a 13-page summary of rules and regulations regarding colle...

... middle of paper ...

...t Of Action.” USA Today 31 August 2004. Print.

Auburn University Estimated Student Expenses Budgets. Auburn University. 13 July 2010. Web. 23 March 2012

NCAA Special Assistance Fund. University Of Iowa. Web. 23 March 2012

Belson, Ken. “A Star Quarterback Is Worth.” New York Times. 13 Nov. 2010 WK2. Web.

Upton, Jodi, and Kristen Novak. “College Athletes Cluster Majors at Most Schools.” USA Today 19 November 2009. Web.

Whitlock, Jason. "College Athletes Already Paid In Full." ESPN.com Web. 23 March 2012

Steeg, Jill L, Jodi Upton, Patrick Bohn, and Steve Berkowitz. “College Athletes Studies Guided Toward ‘Major in Eligibility’.” USA Today 19 Nov. 2008 Web.

Wieberg, Steve. "NCAA Football Grad Rates at All-time High, but Top Schools Falter." USA Today. Gannett. Web. 27 Mar. 2012.

Michael Wilbon. "College Athletes Deserve to Be Paid." ESPN.com Web. 28 Mar. 2012.

Open Document