Student Athlete

• “I continued, however, to speak about the problems in college football. The system is dysfunctional. No wonder players take money from agents and boosters. We expect these young men, a large percentage of them from disadvantaged homes, to be satisfied with an athletic scholarship, which barely allows them to meet their most essential needs, while their more privileged classmates drive nice cars, receive allowances from their parents, and apply for any jobs they desire. Meanwhile, these same institutions, who preach the integrity of the “student-athlete,” earn millions by filling stadiums and selling team merchandise on campus and on the Internet. The athletes themselves perceive that they’re being exploited and don’t see accepting money as a moral issue. The solution is simple: Provide players with a monthly stipend depending on need. We are talking $500, maybe $1,000. They won’t live like the Sultan of Brunei, but they’ll receive enough to eat and dress reasonably well and take a girl on a date once a week and have access to a car and visit their folks during the holidays. I don’t quite see how offering these opportunities would destroy the integrity of the student-athlete, and it would certainly reduce the incentive to seek money in other, less overt ways.”  The Agent: My 40-Year Career Making Deals and Changing the Game (Steinberg, Leigh;Arkush, Michael) – page 60