Will Paying Players Pay Off For Byu?

[JAHS]

"A faith-based institution paying its players? Who would have thunk it?

With the new cost of attendance regulations, college athletic programs can begin paying athletes above the traditional scholarships in time for the 2015-16 academic year. As the Salt Lake Tribune reported, BYU is going all in by doling out $4,500 each academic year, a figure that is in the top 10 percent nationally."

 

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=272&sid=34533460

 

Our tithing dollars at work?

[thesometimesaint]

 

"A faith-based institution paying its players? Who would have thunk it?

With the new cost of attendance regulations, college athletic programs can begin paying athletes above the traditional scholarships in time for the 2015-16 academic year. As the Salt Lake Tribune reported, BYU is going all in by doling out $4,500 each academic year, a figure that is in the top 10 percent nationally."

 

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=272&sid=34533460

 

Our tithing dollars at work?

 

 

Probably not. Football is a money maker for college/university teams. Ticket sales and concession stands would more than cover any added expense.

[The Nehor]

Kudos to them for this. I hope other colleges follow suit.

[Buckeye]

This will be a very big positive for most all of the student athletes. However, for the small number of elite football players that BYU lacks in order to compete for New Years Days bowl games, I doubt that this will have much of an influence.

[The Nehor]

Our tithing dollars at work?

 

No, and considering what many student athletics programs waste their income on in order to remain non-profit this is a much better use of the money collected.

[JAHS]

No, and considering what many student athletics programs waste their income on in order to remain non-profit this is a much better use of the money collected.

I agree. It coud be very helpful for BYU student athletes who are more likely to have already started a family while in school.

Of course they could give them jobs to earn the money like watching grass grow, or watering the lawns that have automatic sprinkling systems, or keeping the aligators out of the swimming pool. 

[The Nehor]

I agree. It coud be very helpful for BYU student atheletes who are more likely to have already start a family while in school.

Of course they could give them jobs to earn the money like watching grass grow, or watering the lawns that have automatic sprinkling systems, or keeping the aligators out of the swimming pool. 

 

Most college athletes do not have time to have a job if they are in the money-making college programs (football, basketball, etc.) It's more traditional to give their wife or girlfriend a university job.

 

College athletes have it rough unless they can transition to the professional leagues. Their degrees are generally simplified and not worth much. They do not have much time to study for the better degrees and if they are injured or do not make the pros they wasted several years of their life from an economic standpoint. I think all college athletes in big sports should be paid. They risk a lot and gain so little as it stands.

 

Edit: To be fair I consider both college and professional athletics to be bloated industries and I do not get the thrill of living vicariously by watching athletic games but I am clearly not in the majority.

[rpn]

A faith based organization realizing that it is unfair to profit off its athletes without fully compensating them?   I should hope the moral duty would be felt by all college teams.   And it certainly reduces the risk of a scandal or of an athlete going hungry or not being able to return home to see family.

[3DOP]

Most "student athletes" are getting a great deal by being allowed to make what they want out of a free university education. I do not mind if the one half percent who can make money on endorsements, commercials, or jersey sales do so. Revise that. But paying every college football player money over and above full health insurance, room, board, and a free university education? I do not feel their pain.

[The Nehor]

Most "student athletes" are getting a great deal by being allowed to make what they want out of a free university education. I do not mind if the one half percent who can make money on endorsements, commercials, or jersey sales do so. Revise that. But paying every college football player money over and above full health insurance, room, board, and a free university education? I do not feel their pain.

 

This is unfair. They get room and board and get to go to class. Their class choices are limited by the need to train. If they are in the big sports that means training roughly 3 times a day. Most do not get into the pro leagues. Most do not have enough time to study STEM degrees or the big moneymaking degrees. Throw in that a bad injury might cost them their scholarship and that they are stuck with the costs of medical insurance and there is no equivalent of worker's comp. God help them if the injury is debilitating in the long-term. I don't think they need to be making millions or six figures but when young people are putting their health and future livelihood on the line for the entertainment of others and those in charge (coaches) are raking in million dollar salaries some basic compensation is deserved for those actually taking the real risks.

 

Don't even get me started about the long term dangers of American football. I am not sure if players are brave or just don't care.

[3DOP]

This is unfair. They get room and board and get to go to class. Their class choices are limited by the need to train. If they are in the big sports that means training roughly 3 times a day. Most do not get into the pro leagues. Most do not have enough time to study STEM degrees or the big moneymaking degrees. Throw in that a bad injury might cost them their scholarship and that they are stuck with the costs of medical insurance and there is no equivalent of worker's comp. God help them if the injury is debilitating in the long-term. I don't think they need to be making millions or six figures but when young people are putting their health and future livelihood on the line for the entertainment of others and those in charge (coaches) are raking in million dollar salaries some basic compensation is deserved for those actually taking the real risks.

 

Don't even get me started about the long term dangers of American football. I am not sure if players are brave or just don't care.

 

The Nehor, its not bravery or carelessness. Its fun. Its camaraderie.

 

You don't even sound like you like football. It is the greatest team sport ever. Its beautiful in many respects.

 

So if you don't get to to study your STEMs, while playing college football, if it is unfair, I do not make a judgment. I know about football, but have never even heard of STEM. All I said, is that "I do not feel their pain." Sorry, but maybe they are like me and don't even know what they are missing. Nobody forces them. They can turn down the deal that offers football without STEMs. There is a reason why very few turn away from scholarship athletics and football scholarships in particular. It isn't because it makes them feel like slaves, or even unfairly treated, but because it is a privilege. It is truly a great deal. Pay them with money that should go to academics. Its fine. As a tax payer I know my money gets mostly wasted anyway. As far as taxes go, I don't care anymore. I'm just saying that if you give it to those who have college scholarships, it just makes a great deal unnecessarily better. Everybody already wants what they get now without more money being thrown at them. 

[mtomm]

This is unfair. They get room and board and get to go to class. Their class choices are limited by the need to train. If they are in the big sports that means training roughly 3 times a day. Most do not get into the pro leagues. Most do not have enough time to study STEM degrees or the big moneymaking degrees. Throw in that a bad injury might cost them their scholarship and that they are stuck with the costs of medical insurance and there is no equivalent of worker's comp. God help them if the injury is debilitating in the long-term. I don't think they need to be making millions or six figures but when young people are putting their health and future livelihood on the line for the entertainment of others and those in charge (coaches) are raking in million dollar salaries some basic compensation is deserved for those actually taking the real risks.

 

Don't even get me started about the long term dangers of American football. I am not sure if players are brave or just don't care.

 

Your argument is very well spelled out in the documentary "Schooled."  It's very one-sided, of course, but it's a huge eye-opener. 

[The Nehor]

Your argument is very well spelled out in the documentary "Schooled."  It's very one-sided, of course, but it's a huge eye-opener. 

 

Never seen it. My knowledge comes mostly from friends involved years ago.

 

 

The Nehor, its not bravery or carelessness. Its fun. Its camaraderie.

 

That was the argument for Roman gladiatorial games too.

 

 

You don't even sound like you like football. It is the greatest team sport ever. Its beautiful in many respects.

 

I prefer rugby. The long term damage from getting your head smashed around is coming to light and it is not pretty. We already have smart athletes retiring early based on what is going on. I personally think there are other sports that have a lot less potential for brain damage.

 

 

So if you don't get to to study your STEMs, while playing college football, if it is unfair, I do not make a judgment. I know about football, but have never even heard of STEM. All I said, is that "I do not feel their pain." Sorry, but maybe they are like me and don't even know what they are missing. Nobody forces them. They can turn down the deal that offers football without STEMs. There is a reason why very few turn away from scholarship athletics and football scholarships in particular. It isn't because it makes them feel like slaves, or even unfairly treated, but because it is a privilege. It is truly a great deal. Pay them with money that should go to academics. Its fine. As a tax payer I know my money gets mostly wasted anyway. As far as taxes go, I don't care anymore. I'm just saying that if you give it to those who have college scholarships, it just makes a great deal unnecessarily better. Everybody already wants what they get now without more money being thrown at them. 

 

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A kind of catch-all term for the technical degrees that tend to bring a hefty paycheck (except maybe pure math).

 

I don't think they feel like slaves either. The high of athletic achievement is intoxicating. I have felt it myself though with a lot less adulation then you get on a sports field. I just think they should be compensated for the risks they take and for the substantial likelihood that it will not go anywhere long-term. I don't see it as such a great deal. In just about every way an academic scholarship is better for your long-term future. Athletic scholarships are dicey and where there is risk there should be reward. If it is such a great privilege to be involved shouldn't their coaches be given bare-bones salaries or work just for the love of the game instead of raking in millions a year? Not to demean the advantages of having a good coach but they are not the ones on the field with the risks winning or losing.

[strappinglad]

Those who study pure math are well aware that it will never add up to much .

As for the OP , I am on the side of paying the athletes .I refer to the scripture > the laborer is worthy of his hire .

[3DOP]

Those who study pure math are well aware that it will never add up to much .As for the OP , I am on the side of paying the athletes .I refer to the scripture > the laborer is worthy of his hire .

would this precept apply to other college sports?

[thesometimesaint]

would this precept apply to other college sports?

 

Yes.

 

Ps; As was said a by an infamous college basketball coach. The first two years he could keep the basketball academically qualifiied.

[JAHS]

They only talked about football in the article. It would only seem fair that athletes in the other sports will also get paid?

[strappinglad]

If one participates in an activity that brings substantial revenue to the university, then payment should be provided. Someone on academic scholarship has to maintain good grades to renew said scholarship. In other words they are doing what they came to university to do. I will go so far as to suggest that a student who helps invent a new process in the chem lab which results in a profit to the university, should also have some compensation beyond whatever scholarship they might have.

[tonie]

Probably not. Football is a money maker for college/university teams. Ticket sales and concession stands would more than cover any added expense.

 

Many articles indicate that "football is a money maker" is a myth.  One article suggested that numbers found on FORBES and ESPN only apply to 8% of the college football programs.

 

Just for giggles, here are some number from 2008 regarding BYU as reported by ESPN

 

Revenue = 36,000,000

Exspenses= 33,000,000

 

Anyways, college football may pay for itself at some schools.

[thesometimesaint]

Many articles indicate that "football is a money maker" is a myth.  One article suggested that numbers found on FORBES and ESPN only apply to 8% of the college football programs.

 

Just for giggles, here are some number from 2008 regarding BYU as reported by ESPN

 

Revenue = 36,000,000

Exspenses= 33,000,000

 

Anyways, college football may pay for itself at some schools.

 

$3,000,000 is a lot of money. I'm not suggesting that student athletes get paid like the Pro's. I do think they should be compensated more that they are.

 

Anyways. My main thrust was that tithing isn't used to fund the BYU Football team.

[ERayR]

would this precept apply to other college sports?

 

Only if they generate the kind of revenue that football does.

[Okrahomer]

Many articles indicate that "football is a money maker" is a myth.  One article suggested that numbers found on FORBES and ESPN only apply to 8% of the college football programs.

 

Just for giggles, here are some number from 2008 regarding BYU as reported by ESPN

 

Revenue = 36,000,000

Exspenses= 33,000,000

 

Anyways, college football may pay for itself at some schools.

 

Would you mind posting the link to the ESPN article you've cited here? I'm wondering if the report you read is actually referring to the overall BYU athletics revenue and expenses, because even more recent data published by the US Department of Education (as recently reported here) indicates that BYU football revenue for 2012 = $22.4 million from which it posted a $7.41 million profit.  It seems that at BYU at least, college football does indeed pay for itself.

[tonie]

$3,000,000 is a lot of money. I'm not suggesting that student athletes get paid like the Pro's. I do think they should be compensated more that they are.

Anyways. My main thrust was that tithing isn't used to fund the BYU Football team.

My thoughts are, from an economic standpoint if something is paying for itself and has a considerable profit, then sure keep it.

As for paying extra stipends to football players, I would hope tithing monies are not used for it.

From a Gospel perspective of prudent living and not living beyond ones means, I do not accept paying football players more.

But the article suggested, pay more is a means of trying to stay relevant.

OKrahomer i think you are correct the numbers appear total athletic program

[The Nehor]

They only talked about football in the article. It would only seem fair that athletes in the other sports will also get paid?

I would argue it depends. In sports that consume only a few hours a day or less I think you are okay with making it unpaid as they are generally still competitive but not in a way that brings money to the school and the athletes do not have the sport consume their entire academic career.

[The Nehor]

From a Gospel perspective of prudent living and not living beyond ones means, I do not accept paying football players more.

Wouldn't this be more of an objection to the multimillion dollar coach salaries?