How can a current athlete bring the issue to light… especially if he knows his teammates are taking gifts? It would create an investigation that would harm his school, his team, and his teammates, who are his friends. That’s the flaw in what you just said; there’s NO WAY a current athlete can step forward. The professional athlete, however, loses nothing. Even his reputation isn’t really affected. Did Bush’s stock drop because of what happened at USC? No. Injuries and his contract status did that.

And, the problem for the student athlete is that he KNOWS his teammates are taking gifts and money, because all the teams are littered with boosters and wannabe agents. So, it’s not a matter of “if” his teammates are taking gifts or cash, it’s a matter of how much and in what form.

And, the other issue is that this probably started DURING RECRUITMENT, even before the college player signed his letter of intent. So, how can any college athlete throw away his chances at a championship, a shot at the NFL, and / or a degree when 90% of the schools are engaged in this kind of activity and maybe 1 school a year is getting caught.

Current NFL Players can put a stop to this though, if they would just stand together and admit the issue.

How can a current athlete bring the issue to light… especially if he knows his teammates are taking gifts? It would create an investigation that would harm his school, his team, and his teammates, who are his friends. That’s the flaw in what you just said; there’s NO WAY a current athlete can step forward. The professional athlete, however, loses nothing. Even his reputation isn’t really affected. Did Bush’s stock drop because of what happened at USC? No. Injuries and his contract status did that.

And, the problem for the student athlete is that he KNOWS his teammates are taking gifts and money, because all the teams are littered with boosters and wannabe agents. So, it’s not a matter of “if” his teammates are taking gifts or cash, it’s a matter of how much and in what form.

And, the other issue is that this probably started DURING RECRUITMENT, even before the college player signed his letter of intent. So, how can any college athlete throw away his chances at a championship, a shot at the NFL, and / or a degree when 90% of the schools are engaged in this kind of activity and maybe 1 school a year is getting caught.

Current NFL Players can put a stop to this though, if they would just stand together and admit the issue.

I think everyone knows that this has been going on for decades. Paying college athletes is definitely a step in the right direction but you know that there will be underhanded dealing still going on. Maybe some kids would think twice about accepting gifts if they had some sort of salary. Who knows?

I think it was Michael Wilbon who said something along the lines of “the only way to stop boosters, etc from giving college kids money and gifts illegally is to get rid of college athletics altogether.”

It will be a big change to undertake, so hopefully someone in a position of power is willing to take the first step.

I think everyone knows that this has been going on for decades. Paying college athletes is definitely a step in the right direction but you know that there will be underhanded dealing still going on. Maybe some kids would think twice about accepting gifts if they had some sort of salary. Who knows?

I think it was Michael Wilbon who said something along the lines of “the only way to stop boosters, etc from giving college kids money and gifts illegally is to get rid of college athletics altogether.”

It will be a big change to undertake, so hopefully someone in a position of power is willing to take the first step.

I’m glad you guys are talking about this, but I’m not sure I agree with your comment that he should just shut up and play football. In my humble opinion, the NCAA is a bane to college athletes of ALL types. The rules they have are outdated, unenforceable, and serves to do nothing more than endenture a player to a school. And with title 9, football and basketball are sucking all the funds away from other men’s sports. Hester and ALL of the other players who recevied money from Shapiro should step up and say “yes, he gave me money. Guess what, if I wasn’t getting cash here at Miami, I would’ve been receiving free tattoos at Ohio State, or free cars at USC.” When do we stop pretending that college football players and basketball players aren’t getting cash from boosters and wannabe agents ALL THE TIME! (A friend of mine in college was a marginally good golfer from Asia, A GOLFER… and even HE had a wannabe agent that gave him cash EVERY MONTH as a means to entice my friend to sign with him after college.)

The NCAA is a joke. The concept of NOT paying these athletes is a joke. (Did you know that the average graduation rate for football players across the top 25 programs in the country is just barely above 50%). The amount of money that these colleges receive in donations during championship runs is rediculous and should make our heads spin. The fact that these same colleges have been increasing their tuitions significantly higher than inflation and for no good reason than they think they can is pitiful. I think we need to wipe out the NCAA board of directors, and introduce some national legislation re-writing the rules. I think college football players and basketball players should be paid (In fact, I think they should be paid the equivalent of tuition. If a school costs $30K, then that’s how much they should make). I think that Men’s AMATEUR sports should be re-invigorated and their funding significantly increased. And I think it should be a felony for someone to give money to an athlete OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL.

I believe that Devin should speak out. But he shouldn’t do it alone. If Urlacher got gifts or money at NM State, he should pipe up. If Lance, Julius, Matt F, or any other player received a gift, free clothes, cash or a prostitute, they should all speak up. It’s time to take down the NCAA.

City

I’m glad you guys are talking about this, but I’m not sure I agree with your comment that he should just shut up and play football. In my humble opinion, the NCAA is a bane to college athletes of ALL types. The rules they have are outdated, unenforceable, and serves to do nothing more than endenture a player to a school. And with title 9, football and basketball are sucking all the funds away from other men’s sports. Hester and ALL of the other players who recevied money from Shapiro should step up and say “yes, he gave me money. Guess what, if I wasn’t getting cash here at Miami, I would’ve been receiving free tattoos at Ohio State, or free cars at USC.” When do we stop pretending that college football players and basketball players aren’t getting cash from boosters and wannabe agents ALL THE TIME! (A friend of mine in college was a marginally good golfer from Asia, A GOLFER… and even HE had a wannabe agent that gave him cash EVERY MONTH as a means to entice my friend to sign with him after college.)

The NCAA is a joke. The concept of NOT paying these athletes is a joke. (Did you know that the average graduation rate for football players across the top 25 programs in the country is just barely above 50%). The amount of money that these colleges receive in donations during championship runs is rediculous and should make our heads spin. The fact that these same colleges have been increasing their tuitions significantly higher than inflation and for no good reason than they think they can is pitiful. I think we need to wipe out the NCAA board of directors, and introduce some national legislation re-writing the rules. I think college football players and basketball players should be paid (In fact, I think they should be paid the equivalent of tuition. If a school costs $30K, then that’s how much they should make). I think that Men’s AMATEUR sports should be re-invigorated and their funding significantly increased. And I think it should be a felony for someone to give money to an athlete OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL.

I believe that Devin should speak out. But he shouldn’t do it alone. If Urlacher got gifts or money at NM State, he should pipe up. If Lance, Julius, Matt F, or any other player received a gift, free clothes, cash or a prostitute, they should all speak up. It’s time to take down the NCAA.

City