by C. Spencer

Created on: July 27, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

The best argument in favor of providing compensation to collegiate athletes rests on the claim that players provide a lucrative service, which in turn brings in substantial amounts of money for the school or university. On the assumption that athletes are a source of profit, it seems fair to provide players with some sort of compensation.

The problem, however, is that it is not at all clear that college athletic programs bring in enough revenue to cover the costs of their own programs. In 2004, CNN reported that only about forty schools claimed their programs were bringing in enough money to match costs. Furthermore, about 60% of university programs relied on student fees to cover costs - sometimes as much as $1000 per student [see citation below].

The NCAA has recently reported that these trends have continued. In a report, they indicated that most Division I and Division II schools spend more on their athletic programs than is made up for in revenue. Only Division I-A schools seem to bring in enough to match spending, and then only by a slight margin [see citation below].

Given these numbers, it seems that college athletic programs continues to be a service that the university or college provides its students (and at a loss in many cases).

Although ticket prices have soared and merchandise abounds, and although college football and basketball players seem surrounded by as much hype as their professional counterparts, the fact remains that by-and-large, a collegiate athletic program is still very much analogous to a high school program: the ticket prices, merchandised items, concessions, etc. are all aimed at funding the game itself, and at providing an opportunity for athletes to compete, develop their skills, and supplement their academic studies.

In short: the so-called "big business" of college sports isn't a business at all; it is merely an extravagant extracurricular activity. Consequently, there is not a question of fairness at play in regards to the question of whether athletes should receive monetary compensation.

As it stands, athletes are provided with excellent compensation in the form of up-to-date equipment, excellent facilities, highly qualified coaches, trainers, etc.- all of which makes the athletic experience more enjoyable, comprehensive, and challenging.

LINKS TO CITED ARTICLES:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2004 -02-18-athletic-spending-cover_x.htm

http://www2.ncaa .org/portal/media_and_events/press_room/2005/june/20 050625_d2_summit_financialstudy_rls.html

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