<p>The BIG schools and probably other large programs are looking at a spending money stipend in the $2000/yr range. Not a lot but around $250/mo which is not bad either.</p>
<p>Well they need to give them a stipend, at least. They can’t even afford a pizza, these kids. ESPN did a special about the Michigan 5. The interviews are fascinating. The kids see their jerseys being sold in the stores for soooo much money and they can’t buy a pizza. </p>
<p>It’s criminal.</p>
<p>A division 1 athlete on a full ride whose family is paying nothing for their education cannot come up with two or three thousand dollars for spending money?</p>
<p>Greatkid</p>
<p>Yes. That can be the case. I have known young men, some whom ended up in DI programs, whose families are dirt poor. Several years ago, I fed a group of high school football players weekly because my son was convinced they weren’t getting enough to eat.</p>
<p>Often these kids don’t qualify academically for DI schools, but if they end up in DII or DIII they still face the restrictions on working that DI athletes do. </p>
<p>Poetgirl is right. These kids need a stipend. They often can’t get home for family emergencies and the schools are limited by the NCAA in what they can do. It is kind of a crock.</p>
<p>However, Time picked an interesting player to be on the cover. He doesn’t need the money . I would have preferred to see a truly needy player illustrating the issue.</p>
<p>There are exceptions to every situation. There are very few students whose families pay nothing for their child to get a degree. I am more concerned with helping a kid who is academically gifted then any athlete much less a division 2 or division 3 athlete. College is for getting an education not for advancing an athletic career. If a student athlete utilizes their athletic talent and desire to get an athletic scholarship so they can get an education than I have nothing but respect for that young person.
I have a little problem with a stipend but if you tie it to class room attendance and a minimum GPA that must be maintained I would be okay with that.</p>
<p>I have no problem tying it to classroom attendance. The problem for these kids is that they are not allowed to work and so that makes it challenging. As someone else suggested, a small part time work study job would be good as well so they can at least have pizza money.</p>
<p>I think the stipend issue is a red herring. A young man or woman gets food and lodging provided. If they are so poor, that $2000 is so important , then they are eating better than they ever had. Who needs pizza money when you are getting pizza whenever you want it? There is no reason to set policy for half a million athletes by saying there is one guy in georgia cutting his teamates hair.</p>
<p>Sure they can eat but sometimes you like to go out with maybe a date and not eat at the dining hall, go to a club of see a concert. Those cost money as does a new shirt or renting a tux for a formal etc etc. Some of these kids come from very poor homes. You have players who the only time the parents get to see them live is on senior day when they pay for parents to come. Also scholie does not include fare home to visit etc.</p>
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<p>Yes, many are eating better than they ever have. But what college student wants to be so penniless that he can’t go out on a date, see a movie, buy a ticket to a sporting event in which he’s not a participant, pay for a share of a late-night pizza with the guys, take the bus or fly home for the holidays or a family funeral? These are the sorts of expenses that colleges routinely include in “cost of attendance,” and consider when awarding need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>I think allowing a modest stipend for such expenses makes a lot of sense.</p>
<p>I agree with Tom. If a student athlete becomes prominent enough that someone wants them to endorse a product or sell autographed items, or outside marketeers want to use their name on a jersey - - I can’t see why that student shouldn’t be able to receive money for doing so. It’s their name and likeness, and I think they should be able to capitalize on it. Certainly no one else should be capitalizing on it without them receiving a cut.</p>
<p>So, who is paying for my kids pizza and dates. The answer is the same as it is for 99.9 % of athletes. I just don’t understand the argument that somehow, it is unfair to to give a kid 55 thousand rather than 57 thousand. I don’t understand how or why a handful of anectdotal stories drive policy discussion. Is the argument that athletic scholarships should be need based?</p>
<p>the argument is that for years and years the D1 athletes anyway were not allowed a part time job to earn their spending money. Apparently that rule has recently changed, which is a good thing. If an athlete comes from a lower income family and can’t work, how is she or he to pay for their incidentals? And, even for middle to higher income athletes who have parents willing to give an allowance, my personal philosophy is that they will appreciate their money more if they earn it themselves instead of having it given to them.</p>
<p>Can scholarship athletes receive Staffords? $5500 will buy a lot of pizza, or incidentals. Should these students not have to consider loans as so many non athlete students do?</p>
<p>What do athletes do during the summer? Is it possible to earn their spending money during the summer like many non athletes do?</p>
<p>I know football players have summer session. I’m not sure about other sports.</p>
<p>Doesnt paying the players asserts the scholarships they are given are of little value?</p>
<p>If their scholarship is not valuable, then the schools should opt out of giving them. Then players can represent businesses( get endorsements) pay tuition room and board and go out and play their sport.</p>
<p>Wouldnt the only entity able to monitor the endorsements of athletes be the IRS?
Doesn’t this turn the NCAA and all conferences off the 501 charitable deduction gravy train?</p>
<p>(Pell grants apps are given with your D1 letter of intent to those in need.)</p>
<p>What some of you are failing to take into account is what true poverty means. It means that these kids, off of whom millions of dollars are being made by the adults around them, in some cases, have starving brothers and sisters without shoes. </p>
<p>It is unfathomable to most of us. It is also the single largest reason kids drop out of college. These kids aren’t autonomous. They don’t go home and work and get a savings account. They go home and work and contribute to the family finances. </p>
<p>Granted this is not the case with all college athletes. Not all of them are stars and not all of them compete in revenue sports. But all athletic departments run on their revenue sports and the alumni donations they bring in. </p>
<p>In the meantime, they can’t have a date, buy a pizza, rent a movie?</p>
<p>It’s fine if you don’t value athletics, but clearly the students do. The adults are making a fine living in these places. It seems so fundamentally wrong, I’m surprised it is even considered to be up for debate, frankly. It’s exploitative.</p>
<p>[The</a> Shame of College Sports - Taylor Branch - The Atlantic](<a href=“The Scandal of NCAA College Sports - The Atlantic”>The Scandal of NCAA College Sports - The Atlantic)</p>
<p>"Why not just let college athletes market themselves and be able to remain eligible to play but get paid for endorsements or their autograph?</p>
<p>No need to pay them but if Johnny Manziel can score a deal to be on a box of Wheaties let him. If a woman water polo can get a bathing suit endorsement deal let her. "</p>
<p>Sounds like a good idea. However, the school should be able to approve the marketing as it does reflect on their school. In turn, the athlete should pay a fee or a percentage of the profits to the school- seems fair since the athlete would most likely not be famous without the school and also the school would have the added expense of adding a department to monitor marketing. This could actually be a money maker for the schools too.</p>
<p>The athlete already pays a fee. Why do the schools and coaches get shoe contracts? The athletes would be famous without the school. What planet are you living on? Are you asking coaches to pay a fee? </p>
<p>Some of you are seriously not aware of what it is to live in true poverty.</p>