topic Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union"" in Community Chat

College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:37:36 GMT

Michael Tarm of Associated Press reports that a group calling itself the "College Athletes Players Association" is forming "to ensure athletes' health during their careers and after they leave school. Some athletes have also raised the prospect of being paid."

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

scotttie — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:39:52 GMT

Hmmmm. I'll be interested in reading what everyone has to say about this.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

terrier3 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:43:09 GMT

I think its a great idea.

These schools make literally billions of dollars off these kids, and athletes don't even make money from the sale of their jerseys.

College athletes can suffer permanent injuries too...its about time they share in the wealth.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:43:19 GMT

It will be interesting to see how this progresses and what level of support it receives from the athletes.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Qwackertoo — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 19:55:11 GMT

I highly doubt it anytime soon.

Bet they wouldn't like IF they were barred from being eligible for the NFL draft until they had a completed degree and diploma in hand either.

Do college team jerseys actually have their names? Most of the time I've seen on FootballFanatics or FansEdge they are more of the generic jerseys without a player name on the back, they might offer different numbers but again, no name on most of them.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

terrier3 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 20:33:58 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Qwackertoo said:
I highly doubt it anytime soon.

Bet they wouldn't like IF they were barred from being eligible for the NFL draft until they had a completed degree and diploma in hand either.

Do college team jerseys actually have their names? Most of the time I've seen on FootballFanatics or FansEdge they are more of the generic jerseys without a player name on the back, they might offer different numbers but again, no name on most of them.

Yes, they have names...my old boss went to SU and had the jerseys of all the top basketball players over the years...I remember he bought one at SU when we had a conference there...but you can buy them all over.

It is one of the reasons the students want to unionize...the school makes the $$$, they can't even be paid for autographing a jersey!

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Qwackertoo — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 20:48:01 GMT

On 1/28/2014 terrier3 said:
On 1/28/2014 Qwackertoo said:
I highly doubt it anytime soon.

Bet they wouldn't like IF they were barred from being eligible for the NFL draft until they had a completed degree and diploma in hand either.

Do college team jerseys actually have their names? Most of the time I've seen on FootballFanatics or FansEdge they are more of the generic jerseys without a player name on the back, they might offer different numbers but again, no name on most of them.

Yes, they have names...my old boss went to SU and had the jerseys of all the top basketball players over the years...I remember he bought one at SU when we had a conference there...but you can buy them all over.

It is one of the reasons the students want to unionize...the school makes the $$$, they can't even be paid for autographing a jersey!

I just checked a couple of teams prior to posting. No names.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Qwackertoo — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 20:55:17 GMT

Don't watch basketball. Penn State recently, I believe an article from 2012 stated, made the unprecedented move to add names to the players jersey. But then since they are still being sanctioned, perhaps they decided not to follow the NCAA rules.

From the NCAA:

That’s because the NCAA prohibits any item with player names so they don’t have to pay players for use of their names and likenesses.

Because the NCAA doesn’t allow names on jerseys sold at retail, the only thing different from one jersey to the next at each school is the number. Most schools will sell only a handful of different jersey numbers. These chosen numbers rotate from one year to the next and are clearly related to the star players at the time.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Disneylandfan — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:02:36 GMT

I would imagine some of those athletes are getting full rides for college. So in essence they have been paid. When some institutions can cost upward of 100,000 I think they've done well for themselves.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

terrier3 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:03:29 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Qwackertoo said:
On 1/28/2014 terrier3 said:
On 1/28/2014 Qwackertoo said:
I highly doubt it anytime soon.

Bet they wouldn't like IF they were barred from being eligible for the NFL draft until they had a completed degree and diploma in hand either.

Do college team jerseys actually have their names? Most of the time I've seen on FootballFanatics or FansEdge they are more of the generic jerseys without a player name on the back, they might offer different numbers but again, no name on most of them.

Yes, they have names...my old boss went to SU and had the jerseys of all the top basketball players over the years...I remember he bought one at SU when we had a conference there...but you can buy them all over.

It is one of the reasons the students want to unionize...the school makes the $$$, they can't even be paid for autographing a jersey!

I just checked a couple of teams prior to posting. No names.

You are right...I'm wrong.

But they sell jerseys with their star players numbers on them - totally hypocritical!

They leave the names off so they don't have to pay the players, but fans know the star players' numbers!

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

AngusandBuddhasMom — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:08:02 GMT

It sounds good on the surface but would it encompass all divs and all athletes. My DD played college level field hockey and suffered multiple concussions. The last one was so severe she could finish playing her senior year.

She has had some memory loss and she now gets migraines. . BTW, since she was a starter and a key player on her team when she told the head Coach she would not be returning her Senior Year, the Coach informed her she was no longer welcome on the team. And for her teammates to not acknowledge her.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Luv2Decorate — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:08:59 GMT

If this ends up happening, the school could also demand 3.7 + gpa to play and say that they must stay at their university for 4 years not allowing the player to go pro like they can now. They could also make the players help pay for coaching, training, medical attention, travel, etc...

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

AngusandBuddhasMom — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:09:50 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Disneylandfan said:
I would imagine some of those athletes are getting full rides for college. So in essence they have been paid. When some institutions can cost upward of 100,000 I think they've done well for themselves.

Only Div I and select Div II schools give sports scholarships to Athletes in good standing. Div III does not.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Qwackertoo — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:12:10 GMT

I don't know what a good answer is. Between the scholarships and the housing for the athletes at some schools, that can be a tidy sum.

I don't know how many players are drafted into the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL straight out of high school. Or even how many might be ready for the "big leagues" right out of high school.

I only personally have known one. He was suppose to be the next Nolan Ryan. A pitcher. Straight out of high school. Had scouts out there at his high school games starting in his junior year of high school with their "radar guns" clocking his pitching speed. He opted to go straight to MLB instead of Univ. of Texas . . . for fear of getting hurt and never cashing in on the big bucks. He FLOPPED big time. Started out with the Farm League for the Oakland A's, then they moved him up to the A's, flopped, traded him to maybe he Rangers next, then back to the Farm League and back up again and then OUT THE DOOR. Of course he banked several/multi-million in the process and is set for life . . . but how many go straight from high school to big leagues? College is a stepping stone, further fine tunes their skills and abilities. And they are suppose to be getting an education too.

Will be interesting.

Some in America may rein in their love for college football or ??? whatever sport as they have become jaded with the strikes by the professional players over the years, not that it has tempered the money making or filling the stadiums . . .

Who know? Time shall tell. They do have a team of doctors and specialists on hand that take care of the players. Not sure what more they can do.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

terrier3 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:14:38 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Luv2Decorate said:
If this ends up happening, the school could also demand 3.7 + gpa to play and say that they must stay at their university for 4 years not allowing the player to go pro like they can now. They could also make the players help pay for coaching, training, medical attention, travel, etc...

The schools don't even care if the athletes graduate!

The only thing they use them for is selling tickets, jerseys, getting donations from boosters and using the teams for recruitment purposes...just look at what happened at Penn State!

They totally use them. Yes, they should get paid...or be allowed to make money themselves through appearances, autographs, etc.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Luv2Decorate — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:14:46 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Caravaggio said:
On 1/28/2014 Disneylandfan said:
I would imagine some of those athletes are getting full rides for college. So in essence they have been paid. When some institutions can cost upward of 100,000 I think they've done well for themselves.

Only Div I and select Div II schools give sports scholarships to Athletes in good standing. Div III does not.

Our son's best friend got a scholarship to a Division III school, it's not a full ride, but he only pays $3000 a year to attend a $40K a year school and he's on the JV team.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

terrier3 — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:16:07 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Caravaggio said:
On 1/28/2014 Disneylandfan said:
I would imagine some of those athletes are getting full rides for college. So in essence they have been paid. When some institutions can cost upward of 100,000 I think they've done well for themselves.

Only Div I and select Div II schools give sports scholarships to Athletes in good standing. Div III does not.

If the coach kicks them off the team or they get injured and can't play anymore, do they still get a guaranteed 4 year scholarship?

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Disneylandfan — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:16:40 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Caravaggio said:
On 1/28/2014 Disneylandfan said:
I would imagine some of those athletes are getting full rides for college. So in essence they have been paid. When some institutions can cost upward of 100,000 I think they've done well for themselves.

Only Div I and select Div II schools give sports scholarships to Athletes in good standing. Div III does not.

Most Div III schools are not getting most top name athletes. The top college athletes are usually the ones making the money for the school. I also know of several college athletes that went to div III schools that received a scholarship that covered all 4 years of their education including books and extra essentials.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

Disneylandfan — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:18:06 GMT

On 1/28/2014 terrier3 said:
On 1/28/2014 Caravaggio said:
On 1/28/2014 Disneylandfan said:
I would imagine some of those athletes are getting full rides for college. So in essence they have been paid. When some institutions can cost upward of 100,000 I think they've done well for themselves.

Only Div I and select Div II schools give sports scholarships to Athletes in good standing. Div III does not.

If the coach kicks them off the team or they get injured and can't play anymore, do they still get a guaranteed 4 year scholarship?

No, they would lose their scholarship. I'm sure there are exceptions but poor grades or removal from the team would impact their finances.

Re: ""College Athletes Take Step Towards Forming Union""

AngusandBuddhasMom — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 21:18:07 GMT

On 1/28/2014 Luv2Decorate said:
On 1/28/2014 Caravaggio said:
On 1/28/2014 Disneylandfan said:
I would imagine some of those athletes are getting full rides for college. So in essence they have been paid. When some institutions can cost upward of 100,000 I think they've done well for themselves.

Only Div I and select Div II schools give sports scholarships to Athletes in good standing. Div III does not.

Our son's best friend got a scholarship to a Division III school, it's not a full ride, but he only pays $3000 a year to attend a $40K a year school and he's on the JV team.

I didn't say you could not get a scholarship but it is not for sports. It is NCAA rules. My daughter played field hockey for her school, all her scholarship money came through Merit or private. But in no way is it allowed to come for being an athlete.