Half Measures
Is It Time to Professionalize College Sports
The recent scandal at UNLV, where a star quarterback quit mid-season over unfulfilled payment promises, is just the latest symptom of a broken system. It's time we face reality: college sports have become a profession in all but name. The charade of amateurism is crumbling, and it's high time we rip off the Band-Aid.
For decades, we've known that players are being paid under the table. The current Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules were supposed to bring transparency, but they've only muddied the waters further. Now, we have a tangled web of collectives, verbal agreements, and murky promises that leave athletes vulnerable and institutions dancing on the edge of NCAA violations.
The UNLV situation is a perfect example of this dysfunction. A player was allegedly promised $100,000 to transfer, only to find the deal evaporating upon arrival. This isn't just about broken promises; it's about the fundamental dishonesty baked into the current system.
Let's be clear: money is already flowing through college sports in countless ways. From multi-million dollar coaching salaries to lucrative TV deals, everyone seems to be profiting except the athletes who draw the crowds. The pretense that these are just students playing for the love of the game is not only disingenuous but actively harmful.
By fully professionalizing college sports, we can bring everything above board. Players could sign proper contracts, have union representation, and enjoy protections similar to other professional athletes. Universities could operate their athletic departments more like the businesses they've become, without the constant fear of NCAA sanctions.
Is this a radical change? Absolutely. But the alternative is continuing down a path of hypocrisy and exploitation. The day may even come when we see peewee football leagues signing preteen players to developmental contracts. Ludicrous? Perhaps, but it's the logical conclusion of our current trajectory.
The transition won't be easy, and there will be challenges to overcome. But it's better to face these issues head-on rather than continue this elaborate dance around the obvious truth. College sports are big business, and it's time our policies reflect that reality.
