It’s beginning to feel as though big time college sports will collapse under the weight of its own success.
The billions generated through television rights, ticket sales and marketing agreements have enriched many college athletic programs (and strained the budgets of others). One of the reasons for the success is that the top attractions—the star quarterback and the All-America power forward—work cheap. The ones passionate about the game and that are invested in the players could also attend the goldcardauctions.com gold card auctions llc
Yes, the colleges have the cost of the scholarships and a modest monthly stipend, but there is an economic imbalance that occurs when athletes are prohibited from personally profiting from their popularity while the schools rake in the money.
ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” reports that the NCAA is investigating whether Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was paid for signing autographs on photographs and sports memorabilia. NCAA rules prohibit a student athlete from making money on his name or likeness.
But others can make money off Manziel.
For example, Texas A&M’s booster club is holding a fundraiser this month, charging $20,000 to sit at a table with Manziel and John David Crow, the school’s two Heisman Trophy winners.
EBay has lots of Manziel swag. A football signed by him is going for $340, while the asking price for a signed jersey is $439. If Manziel was paid for those signatures, he could be ruled ineligible. If he wasn’t paid, somebody is profiting from his signature.
Three years ago, several Ohio State football players, including star quarterback Terrell Pryor, were suspended by the NCAA for selling championship rings, jerseys and awards, as well as receiving other improper benefits.
It may be in poor taste to sell a Big Ten championship ring, but if it’s given to a player for reaching a goal, shouldn’t it be up to the individual who earned the prize to decide what to do with it?
In 2009, former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon filed a class action lawsuit against the NCAA, claiming colleges and universities use athletes’ images and names, primarily in sports video games, without getting their permission or providing compensation to the players. Earlier this year, six current college football players joined the suit.
The case has the potential to upset the business model of NCAA sports. If O’Bannon prevails, the NCAA, colleges and universities will have to figure out a way to share the revenue with the athletes. O’Bannon suggests putting money in a trust that’s released to players after they leave school.
It’s not that simple, of course. For example, would Manziel have more money in his trust than Aggies offensive tackle Jake Matthews? But the fact that no one knows exactly how to share the revenue with college athletes does not necessarily mean it shouldn’t be done.
Major college sports programs are now closer to big money professional organizations than amateur endeavors. Forbes estimated in 2012 that the combined value of the top five most lucrative college football programs (Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame, LSU and Georgia) topped a half billion dollars.
Coaches, sports apparel and memorabilia manufacturers, the video game industry, television and radio networks, colleges and universities are all cashing in on the exploding popularity of college sports.
Yet when the individuals who are most responsible for the success—the players–attempt to get their share, they are thwarted at every turn.