Because he wanted to make a difference in the lives of young men. That does not change here. They already arrive at Alabama with a long since established sense of entitlement. It might change for other schools, but Saban already deals with this every day.
Bear in mind that the bill in South Carolina is being sponsored primarily by two of the biggest plaintiff’s attorneys in the state and would benefit them far more than any student athlete. So far, it has not enjoyed a lot of support. People there understand that an in state league of USCe, Clemson and Citadel is not exactly compelling.
This is where we are headed. The NCAA, selfishly, knows that this is the beginning of the end for them. Their largest cash cows, NCAA men's basketball and NCAA football, whom they have ruled over with an iron fist since Day 1, is about to lift the vale on compensation and money changing hands.
Why shouldn't it? I worked for $3.15 an hour as a 13 year old. I have wanted to earn my entire life. Why should young people not be able to earn?
So only poor people should get scholarships? Never mind the idea of actually earning one - we only give them based on need?
Who said they shouldn't? Seriously, when have I, ever, one single time opposed the existence of semi-pro leagues, even ones paying 16 year olds or what ever?
So, these kids who are basically professional athletes should only get paid if someone rich enough and with enough business mind can create a competitive league that overtakes College football a hundreds of years old establishment. OK.
Well if you can't beat them destroy them right?
There appears to be an element of that now, with some schools only giving money based on need, or based on athletic ability. That kid that has the perfect test scores will keep getting offers, too, but that's not reaching enough potential students. Therefore, the lower income kids, and the athletes, continue to see increases in college funds, and of course, the wealthy kids don't have to worry with college costs. It's everyone who's average who will continue to pay their own way, and go deep into debt to do it.
And, you have just proven my point. Thank you for doing that. Being a semi-pro athlete isn't NEARLY as lucrative as the top levels of sport for the truly athletically blessed. Therefore, that truly gifted athlete that MUST attend college due to professional NBA and NFL rules is essentially foregoing the ability to make millions right away, because the sport he (and it will always be a HE until the rage builds enough) has chosen doesn't allow him to go straight from high school to the pros. So, we are going to arrange college sports now, officially, as a minor league for the NBA and NFL, because neither of those leagues could build a sustainable, money making model for that.
Well the NBA has a minor league. but College Football is already basically an NFL Minor League. It just doesn't pay players.
Again the NCAA has made deals with the NBA and NFL that have prevented semi pro leagues from acquiring 18 and 19 year olds. What these leagues lack are up and coming talent, and are mostly dealt busts and miss the cut players. MLB on the other hand said “screw you” to the NCAA, and has a successful farm system. That is a big reason to why there isn’t much backlash between baseball and the NCAA.
I agree with your higher level line of thinking, but don't want to confuse the two issues. Scholarship money can be better leveraged to allow middle class Americans a lower cost education. I just don't see that larger issue in any way connected to this.
I think this is the crux of the argument for those who are embracing it and those who aren't. There is a bit of maybe nostalgic stubbornness from me, for sure. When I think of college football, I think of homecoming bonfires on the quad, walking along and seeing Cornelius Bennett's cleat prints at Denny Chimes next to all the other great Crimson Tide heroes, and seeing athletes fight their way through biology and micro-economics because, hey, we are all struggling college kids.
Alabama football will survive even a cataclysmic shift in how amateurism is seen in college athletics. The end result may be an Alabama football program that looks like an FCS team because a real semi-pro option is materialized. Denny Chimes, the quad, a nice stadium will all still be around but it will be hosting a team that would look like a JV squad compared to our current roster. If you love the University and Alabama football then that should be okay so long as that is the reality for everyone else.
