NCAA in the 21st Century: Eliminating Amateurism and Compensating Student-Athletes

By: Bryce Clack, Bryson Craft, Jade Parker-Warner, Jawanza Robinson, and Cody Taduran

Thesis StatementThe current rules prohibiting student-athletes from earning income from their labor and image is unethical and should be changed by those in the Power Five conferences with the autonomy to do so. The Power Five conferences, should create a system that allows more flexibility to remove the amateur regulations imposed on student-athletes by the NCAA, and treat them more like young professionals, by allowing them to earn income or compensate those of the major revenue generating sports.

The Power Five Conferences

The Best of the Best

● Atlantic Coast Conference

● Southeastern Conference

● The Big 10

● The Big 12

● The Pacific 12

NCAA Autonomy

About:The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the nonprofit governing body for roughly 460,000 student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics.

The Rules:❖ Contracts with professional teams❖ Salary for participating in athletics❖ Prize money above actual and necessary expenses❖ Play with professionals❖ Tryouts, practice or competition with a professional team❖ Benefits from an agent or prospective agent

Most expensive Television Network contracts in College Sports in United States in 2013 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Ticket sales revenue from NCAA college basketball tournament from 2000 to 2013 (in million U.S. dollars)

Coaches Salaries:★ Urban Meyer’s basic annual salary is $4.5 million★ Alabama’s Nick Saban, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, Texas’

Charlie Strong and Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin all make at least $5 million annually.

Recruiting numbers-SEC schools from 2008-2013

-$580,000 average-University of Tennessee

-$1,300,000 -University of Utah

-117% increase in 2012

Ed O’Bannon vs. NCAA

-O’Bannon v. NCAA-Decided in 2014

-Plaintiffs totaled 20 former players along with O’Bannon

-Lawsuit challenged the NCAA’s use of student-athletes image and likenesses

-District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled in favor of O’Bannon

-NCAA in violation of antitrust laws

Ethical Dilemma-The ethical dilemma in this matter surrounds the fact that the NCAA and its member schools are free to profit in as many ways, and as much as they can, off of these student-athletes -Meanwhile, student-athletes are strictly limited in how, and how much, they can profit off of their skill and likeness

The Stakeholders

Student-Athletes -Academic exploitation -Financial exploitation -Restriction

NCAA-Amateurism-Rules Colleges and Universities

-Cost per athlete-Keeping up with the Joneses

● Universities exploit student-athletes talents through the revenue they generate from broadcast rights, merchandise sales, and video game sales

● Student-athletes do not see a penny from these revenues● Develop a fair and equitable way to compensate all student-athletes

○ Not only the athletes from revenue generating sports

Compensation System

● Will cover all student-athletes in the Power 5 conferences● 50% of broadcast revenues - split among all student-athletes● one-third of video game revenues - split among all student-athletes● Merchandise - 50% of the revenues from the sales go to that student-athlete

○ Include that players name and number on product● Money will be placed in a trust - gain access upon graduating or leaving

Revenue Sharing System

● Student-athletes will be able to profit off of their name and celebrity status● Some will profit more than others● Balances out the difference between high profile athletes and others

Name and Celebrity Status

Q&A● Do you believe amateurism is necessary in college sports? (Why or Why not?)

○ What ethical risks are associated with eliminating this term from college sports?

● Do you believe student-athletes’ compensation is equal to their contributions?

● In college athletics, do you believe there are equal opportunities for the NCAA, institutions, coaches, and student-athletes to benefit?

● Do you think it is unethical that student-athletes do not have a union to represent and protect their rights and interests in legal matters?

○ Do you think they should have one? *Note: In order to have a union, student-athletes would have to be regarded as employees of their institutions