GAME CHANGER: University Of Texas Reportedly Earmarks $6 Million Annually To Pay Student Athletes
If money in the bank equated to talent on the field, the University of Texas would be an NFL factory and the most dominant football program in all the land. Unfortunately for Texas–who “was recently ranked as the top university in the country for athletics licensing revenue for the ninth year in a row”–they’ve been playing under the same rules as everyone else. But now, because of the Ed O’Bannon verdict in which universities are no longer required by the NCAA to withhold revenue earnings from student athletes, the game looks to be changing. A new era could be on the horizon, and it’s one that excites some, and scares the piss out of many.
University of Texas Athletic Director Steve Patterson reportedly announced plans to pay student athletes $10,000 each per year at a recent conference in Washington, D.C.
From the Austin Business Journal:
The University of Texas at Austin plans to begin setting aside $6 million per year in its athletics budget to begin paying student athletes $10,000 per year each in response to court rulings that require colleges and universities to fairly compensate players as employees.
If this goes down as Patterson reportedly said, parity in college football could be blown to pieces. Programs with fat wallets will prosper. Poor programs, of which there are many, will squander.
Patterson did not lay out a timetable for adding UT players to payroll, but it’s easy to surmise he’ll want to begin as quickly as possible. Recruiting is the lifeblood of every football program, and Patterson’s burnt orange checkbook is one that knows no bounds.
We’re now seeing some conflicting reporting from Darren Rovell, who claims Patterson was speaking merely of a hypothetical scenario.
Told Texas AD Steve Patterson was posed the HYPOTHETICAL of what they would do if they were required to pay athletes. Not actually doing it.
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) October 22, 2014
We’ll update the story as it progresses..
[via Austin Business Journal]
Image via Longhorn Network
UT= University of Tennessee
11 years ago at 4:23 pmOh, THIS argument.
11 years ago at 4:24 pmYeah because Tennessee has does something that actually matters… Said no one ever.
11 years ago at 6:23 pmtake a step back and kindly fuck your own face
11 years ago at 10:47 pmI wholeheartedly disagree with this ‘hypothetical’ move. This move will ruin the sanctity of college football.
11 years ago at 4:23 pmThe sanctity of the NCAA making billions off of uncompensated 18-21 year olds?
11 years ago at 6:20 pmI had to write a research paper on this topic last month, and there are definitely two very strong sides to this argument. Go watch “schooled” on netflix.
11 years ago at 6:36 pmI was referring to the game itself, not the business (NCAA). College athletes and athletics are far more enjoyable to watch because the kids aren’t (currently) playing for a paycheck. Yes, they’re playing for the potential of receiving a paycheck, but not at the moment. Look how muffed up the NFL and NBA have gotten since the large pay grade increases in the 1990’s. Schools are also just as guilty. Look at how much they get off licensed apparel, and not to mention all of the recent TV deals that have sprouted up. I could go on and on, but that’s where I’ll leave it.
11 years ago at 7:05 pmThings don’t lose quality after people start being paid to do them. Do you hate capitalism?
11 years ago at 10:06 pmDo you watch college football?
11 years ago at 10:31 pmRoundrock, with all do respect, you’re a fucking moron. If you don’t think money has compromised the integrity of ATHLETICS then you are greatly mistaken. Money in athletics literally does the opposite of what you just said.
11 years ago at 12:59 am^^ NF.
11 years ago at 8:28 pmI agree with you. On a purely athletic side of things, this will ruin college athletics altogether. If people really want the NCAA to contribute to the college system, have them set up a grant fund which is made up of half their profits. That way the money goes back into universities. It can be for scholarships, new buildings, etc
11 years ago at 3:12 amDon’t athletes already receive enough compensation. They receive free tuition (some get books), great training from great coaches, free clothing, shoes, and equipment, also have a fund for them to buy stuff with out university logos, free travel, free meal plans, and free room and board if they live on campus. Don’t pay these already spoiled assholes let them take loans or get grants like the commoners on campus.
11 years ago at 4:35 pmSomeone got picked last in dodgeball
11 years ago at 5:21 pmOh but the old fuckers that make billions of dollars off the student athletes aren’t spoiled
11 years ago at 6:26 pm^ Liberal.
11 years ago at 8:26 pmFully agree up until the last sentence. These “spoiled assholes” bring in significant funds for their schools, from which the “commoners” directly benefit. So don’t blame them since you got cut in HS.
96% of the NCAA’s revenue goes back to its member schools, so its not like they’re Apple hoarding loads of cash for their own enjoyment. With this money going to the schools, they do pay the athletes in the ways you mentioned, which is substantial. With tuition these days, those full ride scholarships far exceed the hypothetical $10k mentioned above. I understand why athletes see all the revenue numbers and try to make an argument they should be getting a piece, but they already are.
11 years ago at 7:24 pmYou provided several valid points, except you failed to mention that due to the rigors of most athletic programs, Student Athletes are unable to have a job for supplementary income. So while most athletes will receive the aforementioned benefits, they won’t be able to go out and spend money on eating out/vacations/etc.
As a college gymnast, I know we pay for just about everything out of pocket simply because so much more funding goes to other programs (football & baseball). I get little to no compensation beyond a free warm-up suit, uniform, and trips to Regionals and Nationals. Consider funding all Student Athletics equally before paying players directly.
11 years ago at 7:28 amThat is wrong the NCAA just removed bylaws saying that they are allowed to work and earn up $2000 bucks a semester which is supplemental to their stipends they receive each month.(which is usually more than the cost of attending the university)
11 years ago at 9:34 amI laughed at your name
11 years ago at 12:37 pmThis won’t be a “game changer” for parity in college football. NCAA rules state that the school cannot pay athletes as much as they want, and in fact, Division I programs have very little say in how much they’ll be able to give to their players. The $10,000 per year to each student-athlete isn’t actually that much when you consider where it goes: $5,000 goes into a trust (which is the legal cap according to the O’Brannon ruling), and the rest of the money is from a “cost of attendance stipend” (which under current rules, the scholarship cap for players is below the cost of attendance). It’s not like Texas can wave more cash in every 5-star’s face than any other power conference school, they’re bound by the same rules. Every weak power conference school is going to be allowed, and will be able, to pay the maximum amount that the richest schools will pay. Since no power conference school is going to be able to offer more cash to a recruit than any other, it won’t change anything about the balance of power.
11 years ago at 4:49 pmHow dare you bring facts and substantiated claims to the comments section!!
11 years ago at 6:27 pmUT will still go 6-6.
11 years ago at 5:59 pmDorn got so excited thinking about how UT could buy their way out of the shithole that is their program right now.
11 years ago at 10:34 pmIf you’re going to pay student athletes, which is a bad idea imo, they should be admitted to the university with the same standard as everyone else. I know kids on scholly who, let’s just say, lack a record of scholastic achievement expected of freshmen who don’t play football. Of course, if you do that then the on field product is watered down, the seats in the stadium go unfilled, TV money dries up… My point is, these guys should be grateful of the opportunity they have instead asking for more more more. Some of them are lucky to be where they are in the first place. Alot, certainly not all, could be kicked out of school tomorrow because they shouldn’t have been admitted in the first place.
11 years ago at 4:14 amThey’re not lucky to be there, they earned it! They worked their ass off to get to where they are now. They should receive a little bit of compensation for how much money they bring to their University’s
11 years ago at 3:03 pmBest way I’ve heard it put is that college football is the “World’s Greatest Internship”. Before you get paid, you have to put the work in.
11 years ago at 9:31 am[…] already seen Texas put aside $6 million to pay student athletes. As this lawsuit comes to an end, we may see more of this come to fruition. Regardless of how any […]
10 years ago at 10:15 am