College Athletes ARE Paid

(This is in response to Rell's thoughts...)

College athletes are paid. Out of state tuition alone is $8774.26 per semester. After fees, housing, meals, and books, that's pushing $30,000 a year. Yes they have to put in the hours, but they get an education in return. I work 40 hours a week, and I won't make $30,000 this year. I'll be lucky to make half of that. This is all not to mention the other opportunities (both for money and experience) that student athletes are given.

Second, an education is the most valuable opportunity you can give a person between the ages of 18 and 22. As the NCAA ads say, most college athletes will be going pro in something other than the sport they play. That education is the setting stone to success for the rest of their lives, should the athlete choose to make the most of that opportunity.

Finally, for the athletes that will go into playing their sport professionally, college athletics provides a stage to develop and to gain stature. Their game is more developed and the potential is more realized due to their time at the college level.

College athletics do benefit a lot from the college athletes. But the athletes benefit from the universities as well.