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To National College Athlete Association (NCAA),
I am writing to you guys today on behalf of the athletes of the present and the future. Before I get into the main purpose of my letter, I would like to thank you for all that you have done for college athletics. Throughout the three divisions (D1, D2, and D3), you have continued to show your support for all athletes and teams equally no matter the level of popularity. I would really like to commend you for allowing institutions to offer student athletes an opportunity to further their education and prosper as a citizen in our country. Universities being able to help pay for an athlete’s education is lifechanging for some student athletes. Without a scholarship of some sort, many student athletes would not have the means to go to college and work to receive a degree. Also, I really appreciate how you put more emphasis on being a student before being an athlete. This shows that the NCAA puts more emphasis on growing great people instead of producing great athletes. It is because of your generosity that I am writing this letter to you right now. While it is generous for the NCAA to allow scholarships to be offered, I believe that student athletes should be able to be compensated for the exorbitant amount of time they spend on the field and in the classroom.
I have concerns about some of your extra benefit policies that you have in place. Most specifically, your rule on athletes selling their own personal memorabilia or receiving money. In the past decade, there have been many successful college athletes that have seen their college careers stalled because of the NCAA’s extra benefit policy. Todd Gurley is one of the long list of athletes affected by the NCAA’s extra benefit policy. These athletes were accused of selling their own signed memorabilia to fans or brokers and getting paid for doing it. Needless to say, most of these athletes were suspended for a portion of their season for their so called “wrongdoings.” Which required them to lose portions of their season and also made their draft stock gravitate.
Forty hours a week is the magic number that United States citizens associate with working a full-time job. Student athletes work well past the requirements of working a full-time job each week during their respective season. From early morning weights, classes, and practice all day student athletes have no time to get a job and earn spending money for themselves. Also, let’s not forget about all the projects, countless hours of tutoring, voluntary practices, and study hall these athletes have to go to. Just keep in mind they have to do these things to stay eligible for the season and still and satisfy their coaches. For some athletes, finding enough money to buy the necessities in life is very hard. An example of this is UConn’s guard. He spoke out about how sometimes he has to miss meals because of the dining halls being closed and not having the funds to pay for food . Student athletes come from many different walks of life. For one athlete money, might not be an area of concern, but for another athlete money may be hard to come by. Toilet paper, deodorant, soap, and food for their room are all things that NCAA does not allow an institution to provide to their scholarship student athletes. With so much of their days taken up with school and athletics, it would be nearly impossible to think about working a part time job to help support themselves. So, as anyone that is struggling would do, they accept any bit of help that they are offered regardless of the consequences. Some athletes do things that the NCAA deems illegal to help out their families. For instance, say that your mom is two months late on her rent and is about to get kicked out of her apartment. The next day one of the boosters recognizes you as an athlete as you scarf down your Allstar special at the local Waffle House. A conversation begins and somehow he ends up writing you a check for 5000 dollars. You know that if you are caught that you could be suspended because it is against the NCAA to accept extra benefits. But because of your mom’s financial situation you have to accept it. If the NCAA allowed student athletes to earn a monthly salary each month the amount of time they spend on the field, student athletes would not have to worry about finding other ways to get money.
If you won 10,000 dollars on a lottery ticket scratch off, what would you do with your money? Would you spend it all, invest it, or save it? These are the same questions that student athletes would have to answer if they were paid for their hard work. If the NCAA allowed universities to pay their athletes, they could make them attend a financial management class before they receive their first check. In this class, they would need to teach athletes how to manage bank accounts, save money, and starting a budget. This class would be very essential for the athletes to do the most wit their money. Also, many people not just athletes are not taught how to do these things. That is why you see a lot of professional athletes going broke at a very young age despite them signing multimillion dollar contracts. I guarantee you that there would be less student athletes that go broke after college. The biggest tool that I believe that athletes would learn if they were being paid is how to save money. Athletes should be required to put sixty five percent of their check in the bank and that money should be untouchable until they graduate college. Making this mandatory would help get the athletes in the mindset of putting a portion of their money into savings. Another plus of paying college athletes is that it could teach athletes valuable lessons on how to make a budget for their money. Many people do not know how to keep a checkbook or even a spending book. I believe that the NCAA should make each student athlete log their purchases that they make during the month. Then they should have to turn it into a financial advisor and go over their spending’s. The advisor could help advise them and maybe give them some tips that could last them a life time.
The NCAA it’s not too late to implement this new policy. Allowing student athletes to receive money does a lot more for student athletes than just give them a little piece of justification for their hard work. Also, it gives them an opportunity to start a savings account and it gives them the opportunity to start good financial habits. Student athletes do not ask the NCAA for a full-time salary despite the outrageous hours they put in.
I believe that we can come to an agreement on this very hot topic. I think that the best way for the student athletes to get paid is by boosters. Not directly from their pocket but through the money that they donate to the school. Athletic Directors from every institution should be in charge of making sure that every student athlete receives the same amount of money. Also, I believe that the NCAA should put a cap on all conferences. Just so know team in their opponent respective division has an unfair advantage in the recruiting game. I hope you take my thoughts into consideration. Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
Roury Glanton