Reid McAvoy

Mr. Droski

English 11

11 December 2019

Argumentative Essay

First founded in 1906, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was

originally intended to prevent injuries that had been sustained during college football games.

Since then, it has turned into a billion dollar industry, and has become just as popular than any

other American sports league. Throughout the years, a hot topic that has remained relevant is

whether or not student-athletes should receive compensation for their efforts. In 2023, a new law

will be implemented where NCAA athletes will be able to profit off their likeness. While most

opponents of this law argue that athletes receive partial or full ride scholarships as a form of

compensation, NCAA athletes deserve to receive compensation because of the amount of money

top-tier coaches make, The fact that student-athletes don’t have time for jobs, and popularity

compared to professional sports. (Yankah)

Why is this topic a big conversation in the first place? The NCAA has certain standards

that every athletic program must adhere to. Of course, colleges cannot pay their athletes, but

instead can offer scholarships, and of course the NCAA sets limitations on them. There are six

reserved collegiate sports where an athlete can receive a “full scholarship” (covers tuition, room

and board). These sports are football, men and women’s basketball, tennis, volleyball, and
gymnastics. In total, more than 2.9 billion dollars is given out annually through athletic

scholarships at the Division 1 and Division 2 level. (Compensation for College Athletes)

When the new law goes into effect in 2021, NCAA will allow their employees to be able

to profit off of their name, image, and likeness. What this means is that athletes will be able to

make money off of advertisements and selling gear without consequences, unlike the past.

Previously, there were many cases in which athletes profited off their likeness, and subsequently

received punishment. In 2010, Ohio State football players were forced to sit out a season because

they traded championship rings and jerseys for tattoos. With the new law enacted, the players

could sell the jerseys. (Compensation for College Athletes)

NCAA athletes deserve to receive compensation because their own coaches receive large

paychecks. In collegiate sports such as football, which is just as popular as any of the four major

American sports, the top coaches make millions annually. In 2017, The University of Michigan

head coach Jim Harbaugh made 7 million dollars (Martelle). Many teams that make the NCAA

men’s basketball tournament, offer incentives to their coaches. In 2012, Indiana head coach Tom

Crean received fifty thousand dollars for advancing through the sweet sixteen. North Carolina

head coach Roy Williams received two-hundred thousand dollars for accomplishing the same

feat (Affleck). College coaches are receiving benefits that pro-level coaches receive, so it is only

right that their players receive them as well.

Another reason college athletes deserve to receive compensation, is their lack of time to

hold a job with steady income. The average student athlete devotes forty hours a week to their

craft (compensation for student athletes). College athletes essentially have working hours, but are

unable to receive an earnings for their duties. The option to do a quick commercial shoot, or have
the ability to sell a jersey, provides these athletes an opportunity to make money, just like any

other college student.

As previously stated, in 2021, student athletes will be able to receive compensation based

on name, image, and likeness. The main way college athletes can acquire money this way is

through endorsements. In 2015 alone, NBA star LeBron James made fifty-five million dollars

just on endorsements (Athletes and Sports). Many college athletes receive just as much attention

as LeBron James, but are unable to have large contracts with companies. The New Orleans

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson was rumored to have contact with shoe companies while he was still

in college at Duke. This would have been very controversial if found to be true, but luckily this

will be perfectly legal in 2021.

Although there are many proponents to college athletes receiving compensation, many

people oppose it. The main reason people are against this topic, is the fact that a majority of

student athletes are already compensated through athletic scholarships. Four years at a public

university can be upwards of 100,000 dollars, and full ride scholarships eliminate that (Should

College Athletes Be Paid?). Unfortunately, only a select few sports (football, men’s and

women’s basketball, tennis and gymnastics) actually offer full ride scholarships. Other sports can

only offer partial or no athletic scholarships at all. This is why the new law that will start in 2021

is so beneficial to student athletes.

Through the long evolution of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the

allowance of student athletes receiving compensation through name, image and likeness will

prove to be a landmark decision. This decision is well deserved because college coaches rake in

millions, these athletes don’t have time for a job to make a solid income, and their popularity
rivals their pro counterparts. With this monumental step for college athletes, the future looks

bright for the next wave of American athletes, many of whom will be icons of our society.

Affleck, John. "March Madness Fans Need to Know How Much Coaches Are Getting

Paid." ​Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection​, Gale, 2019. ​Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/AOWRMQ844707866/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=O

VIC&xid=5ec9bc2d. Accessed 5 Jan. 2020. Originally published as "March Madness

Means Money—It’s Time to Talk About Who’s Getting Paid," ​The Conversation,​ 14

Mar. 2016.

"Athletes and Sports." ​Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection​, Gale, 2019. ​Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3010999341/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVIC&xi

d=047a1d07. Accessed 5 Jan. 2020.

"Compensation for College Athletes." ​Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection​,

Gale, 2019. ​Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IVYNOB621544042/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVI

C&xid=e1cdd0a3. Accessed 16 Dec. 2019.

Martelle, Scott. "Top-Tier College Athletes Are Professionals Who Deserve a Bigger

Slice of the Pie." ​Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection​, Gale, 2019. ​Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/SPQRBZ039250763/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVI

C&xid=8542ec8d. Accessed 5 Dec. 2019. Originally published as "Despite Court Ruling,

College Athletes Deserve a Richer Slice of the Pie," ​Los Angeles Times,​ 30 Sept. 2015.

"Should college athletes be paid?" ​Junior Scholastic/Current Events​, 13 Mar. 2017, p.

22+. ​Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A490623035/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OVIC&xid=

e6bf6d2b. Accessed 9 Dec. 2019.

Yankah, Ekow N. "The Call to Pay College Athletes Misdiagnoses the Problem." ​Gale

Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection,​ Gale, 2019. ​Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints​,

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/DOPDKK665950770/OVIC?u=lom_accessmich&sid=OV

IC&xid=5fa1355c. Accessed 5 Jan. 2020. Originally published as "Why NCAA Athletes

Shouldn’t Be Paid," ​The New Yorker​, 14 Oct. 2015.