Should College Athletes be Paid?

Should College Athletes Be Paid?

            College Athletes should not be paid, because it takes away from the college experience and the natural fun of the game. College athletes can range anywhere from 18 years old to 23 years old, so the youthful fun would be lost if money was involved. Pro ball is what all aspiring college athletes look up to, and the paychecks make the game so much more fun. College ball is a buffer between the juvenile High School ball and Professional. The buffer of college is a great way to mature an athlete, so that he spends his money wisely and does not become another Ricky Williams or Mike Tyson who blows all their money.

            College Athletes should not be paid, because they are already paid indirectly in the form of scholarships. A free education should be enough pay for the college athlete. The benefits are countless for the college athlete, so college athletes are actually paid for playing ball, just not in the form of a paycheck. If you give a college athlete a significant amount of money, then there is a good chance that he will not focus on his education, since he is already making the big bucks. Everyone needs an education, because life is uncertain. What if the athlete breaks his neck in his first game? He will need to have his education to fall back on, since he can no longer play the sport. It’s sad that education is often overlooked when considering college pay. A scholarship can sometimes be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. That is not too shabby for the “out-of-High-School” phenomenal athlete.

            College sports are liked by many because they are an untainted form of the sport that has everyone trying to succeed to the top so that they can be picked high up in their respective pro draft. Without this succession of events, college sports would lose their competitive hype. If an athlete was being paid, then his competitive drive would not be the same, since he was already reaping the benefits of a pro athlete. Most viewers enjoy the draft, because it pays the hardest workers the most. College athletes would slack off if they received a paycheck the first day on campus. The counter-argument would be that they would work harder, but the opposition needs to consider that the buffer of college is more competitive than pro, since they are playing with their future careers on the line.

            The bottom line is that athletes need time to grow as an individual in college. Grow in the fact of maturity, education, and money management. The other fact is the athletes need to learn competition, because only the best get drafted. College ball is a blessing, because it requires its players to play for the love of the game, rather a paycheck. This is why it is preferred over pro football in many states.