College sports faces a growing dilemma on whether to allow players to be paid.
Just last week at the IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, athletic directors lamented about college sports appearing to be more like the pro game.
To date, college athletes do not make money from playing. However, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Solomon, after US District Judge Claudia Wilken’s ruling in the Ed O’Bannon case last August that would allow Football Bowl Subdivision players and Division I men’s basketball players to receive deferred compensation for use of their names, images and likenesses, the ruling would let the NCAA cap the amount at no less than $5,000 made per year.
In its appeal, the NCAA said the decision would amount to $7,500 per year over four years. The new benefits would start with the 2016-17 academic year and offers could begin on Aug. 1, 2015.
Jay Williams, the second overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and ACC Rookie of the Year while playing for Duke University believes that players should be compensated. “I think they should pay kids in college,” Williams told The Source.
Check Williams’ Moves At Duke
Williams, who led the Blue Devils to a 2001 NCAA National Championship under head coach Mike Krzyzewski is in support of compensation, but with rules set in stone for student athletes. “I think it can be an incentive to kids by saying we can pay you, but you cannot capitalize on this money until you graduate with a 3.0 [GPA] or 2.5,” said the current ESPN College Basketball analyst. “Put the money in escrow, let it sit, take a portion of what the school’s proceeds–their entity out of the year–let it sit and inflate over time and if you graduate you’re allowed to get that,” he said.
“If you’re not, then you can’t. But you incentify education, which takes a different approach to it, because the approach we have right now is pretty sad.”
