An argument could states that student athletes would not be responsible enough with the extra money they are given. With extra cash, athletes could use it to purchase illegal things such as marijuana and drug body enhancers, or pills such as Xanax and Adderall that they are not prescribed. Not to mention other substances like alcohol, cigarettes, and dip which would not be beneficial to their bodies and would inhibit their ability to perform at such a high level. While this is true, there are also regulations in place to keep these things from happening. The NCAA already issues random drug tests for athletes, including during the summer, that instill fear in many of the athletes which keeps them from partaking in illegal activities. If student athletes were paid and given the freedom to use the money as the choose, additional regulations could be put in place in order to keep athletes from getting away with partaking in activities that are illegal according to the NCAA. One of these regulations could be based upon a student athletes’ grades. If a student athlete does not maintain passing grades, then he or she is typically not eligible to participate in his or her sport until the grade is brought up. Just as grades are used for eligibility to play, they could also be used for eligibility to get paid. For example, if an athlete is not passing a class, then they will not be compensated for that entire month and will continue not to be compensated if their grade is not raised. With this rule, student athletes would have another fear instilled in them and would work that much harder in order to maintain grades with the knowledge that if they are not doing their work and being responsible, they do not receive the extra $100-$120 per month.
College sports are a business that bring in millions and some times billions of dollars a year for sporting events such as the NCAA March Madness tournament, the College Football Playoffs which include several bowl games in the month of December, College Baseball World Series, college football, baseball, and basketball games during their whole season, and all other participating sports that are televised. All these events of which bring in billions of dollars for television networks as well such as ESPN, Fox Sports, ABC, and NBC. Not to mention merchandise such as jerseys, school pride attire and accessories, ticket sales, concession profits, seat rentals, etc. Last year the NCAA March Madness tournament “generated over $70million in gross receipts. Final Four participants received $1.4 million… making the tournament earned invited schools almost $275,000” (Goldman 206). College football bowl games also profited making “$66 million, $53 million of which was distributed to participating schools” (Goldman 206). With all of this money being made, why are the athletes participating, not seeing any of that money directly? And why is the NCAA prohibiting “payments, beyond educational scholarships and specified expenses, to the athletes who are responsible for producing those revenues” (Goldman 206)? They should not see these revenues because “schools would not feel any responsibility to help the student athletes receive an education” and colleges would no longer be “an educational institute, but a business institute,” which would negate the purpose of going to college (Journal of Physical Education 12, 14). Others would agree that student athletes do in fact see these revenues in other ways such as stadiums, athletic gear, and meals that are sometimes paid for. These views are wrong because the money that the universities receive, is not distributed fairly among the different sports.