NCAA's Financial Exploitation of Student Athletes

A group of good friends and teammates huddle around each other in the living room awaiting the start of the college basketball championship game. With their favorite players participating they think of all the money they earn through commercials, sponsors, and signatures, but little do they know that these athletes do not get the money you would expect. National Collegiate Athletic Association, or the NCAA, currently prevent student athletes from profiting from their fame. This means they are not allowed to accept money as gifts, be on commercials, or, sign signatures for money. This rule is put in place to maintain the player’s “ameture” status because when a player loses this status they become ineligible to play in NCAA competitions (Locke).

For instance, the cost of school supplies are at an all time high ranging into the thousands. Currently, many students are paying an average of $1,100 per year for their school supplies. A majority of students who enter college attend their school for 4 years, therefore they will send around $4,400 on supplies during college (“Books and Supplies”). With many financial commitments college students struggle to sustain a good amount of money. They need to have enough money for books; however, they still need to be able to buy gas, groceries, meals, and more. With all of these expenses college athletes could use well earned money to be in a better financial position. The money that the players could earn from signatures or commercials could help them pay for their school supplies and everyday expenses. From the money that the NCAA gains there is a portion that goes to the players; however, this money only covers areas such as catastrophic injury insurance, drug tests, student-athlete leadership programs, and a few more (“Where does the money go?”). Although these payments by the NCAA are put in place to benefit the student athletes, these are not the most important areas that the students need to pay for. If student athletes where able to profit from their own fame than they would be able avoid the stress and struggle that come from not being able to afford simple necesites. Recent research has showed that more and more college students start to struggle and even drop out due to the fact that they can not afford life's basic necessities (Goldrick-Rab And Broton). These struggle that come along with a lack of wealth is something that no one wants to experience. Many things would become easier for the student athletes if they could sign a signature and gain enough money for a meal. Consequently, it is imperative that these student athletes are permitted to profit