Players receive over $200,000 worth of eduction, housing and food. The idea these guys get nothing is ridiculous.
More. MUCH more. They get tons of free clothes, gear, etc. They get tons of additional help not available to other students in terms of tutors and advisors. They get access to classes, on-campus housing and medical not offered to other students. They get stipends now. Eventhough it's not supposed to be allowed, they get discounts at local stores/restuarants/events because they are either told it's covered or get reduced bills without asking....things that are almost impossible to trace without someone keeping tabs and ratting like Nevin. I won't even talk about the fake grades and diplomas some earn. The list goes on. I lived it at my school, saw it at others and heard about it endless times.
The problem is, many of these kids live in a dream world and think they are owed so much more, so they never truly take advantage of what they have at their fingertips. Most of these kids will never make the league, but how many really take advantage of the education and all the resources at their disposal? How many of these kids would even have a shot at an education without college football? Yes, i understand the NCAA makes a ton of money on these games. I'm not stupid. But you can say that about any business, any system out there, even for non-athletes. College football makes a lot of money because these Universities have rabid fans, alums and students who shell out tons of money to support them. Try starting a minor league system and see how much money it makes.....i bet these kids would hate it, having to use their 30-40k a year to pay rent, utilities, taxes, medical, food, etc. Also lost in this is how much of the money these schools put back into their programs and how many are actually in the red. Didn't a school like UCONN or someone lose money the other year by GOING to a BCS Bowl Game?
You take the rules off and it becomes the wild west....an arms race that will end badly. There will be much bigger divides between the "haves" and "have nots", not only amongst the schools, but individually with players on the same team. If you don't think that would cause a rift, you are sorely mistaken. If you think kids wouldn't continue to push the envelope and want even more or do other things against rules/laws, you are also mistaken. Nothing ever seems to be enough in today's world and less seem to want to work for it every year.
College football is a choice. You either chose to enter that world or you don't. But if you chose to, you chose to do so with the understanding and acceptance of the rules in place.
