Getting Paid in College

Should college athletes be paid or would that corrupt the system? In the recent years there have been various scandals where college athletes receive benefits illegally, such as Reggie Bush from USC and Terrelle Pryor from Ohio State. Bush received money from an agent while still in college which led to penalties for USC, and Terrelle Pryor received discounts and gifts in college, which is likely to lead to penalties for Ohio State. It has been calculated that the average college football player at a big-time college is worth about $120,000 to their college and the average basketball player is worth about $265,000. With many of these athletes coming from a background of poverty shouldn’t the players producing so much money for their university receive some financial reward?
Well clearly this topic is controversial and does not have a clear answer. There have been more and more reports and investigations into collegiate athletes receiving illegal benefits, which looks bad for the NCAA and college sports. Some believe that the best way to combat this is to create a legal way to pay the athletes. If athletes were paid, there would be more incentive to stay in school instead of going pro. For example, now some of the best college basketball players go to school for one year, play basketball, and leave school to play in the NBA. In fact, at semester schools, college basketball players that know they are going to the NBA can do the school work for one semester, then in the second semester not even attend class or do any work as they only need to complete one semester to remain eligible. That provides little education and just allows them to prepare for the next level. The ability to make money while in college for playing their sport would encourage athletes to stay longer and get more education.
Determining who would receive pay and how much they would receive would be difficult; however, it might also help provide more education. Athletes make their schools a lot of money…so why not give the ones working for the profit a share of it?

-Brett Doran