2. Introduction
In 2012, the top 10 athletic programs each earned over 75
million dollars in total revenue in just the major sports of
men’s basketball and football.
T.V. broadcast revenues of college sports has soared to over
2 billion in 2012.
College sports merchandise licensing revenue from items
such as t-shirts, jerseys, hats, shoes and video games was
estimated at $4.6 billion in 2012.
Average athletic scholarship including room and board,
books and travel expenses is $41,000 per year.
3. Proposal to Congress
The distribution of athletic revenue should include more
than simply scholarship payments for student athletes.
The NCAA and individual universities should include
stipends to the college athletes who earn this revenue
through exploits in the schools television exposure and
advertising the players/teams.
4. Advertising Individual
Players
Every year at most major universities, the football and
basketball program feature individual jersey numbers.
Individual players are shown frequently on television and
on the internet. Advertisements for the school feature
individual athletes.
Past and current games are repeatedly shown on television,
again providing the school with free promotion without
compensation to the players.
5. Similar Lawsuit
Class action lawsuit led by former UCLA and NBA
basketball player Ed O’Bannon. Trial for July 2014.
Seeking a suit that states the NCAA violated anti-trust laws
and seek revenue from live and taped TV broadcasts of
college and football games along with merchandise licensing
profits from video games and clothing.
Seeking payment for past and future collegiate athletes
whose images appear in any media and want to establish a
trust fund for after they leave school.
Ruling would go against NCAA distinction of college
athletes as amateurs rather than professionals.
6. NCAA defines
“Amateurism”
College amateurism refers to the fact that athletes perform
their sport without compensation.
Rule was set in forth in 1940 through the Sanity Code.
Sanity Code established college athletes as strictly amateur
and not professional.
Sanity Code also allowed for the school to provide other
benefits other than monetary for individual students such as
room and board.
7. NCAA Control
NCAA has the right to use individual players names and
images for commercial purposes, yet the student athlete is
not allowed any compensation.
NCAA and the NFL have a rule that states athletes must be
3 years removed high school before entering the draft.
NCAA and NBA came to the agreement in 2005 to change
the entrance level to the draft from high school graduate to
at least one year removed.
8. Players Use/Lose
Marketability
Football is an injury prone game. Players must capitalize on
their peak entertainment value some of which is a younger
age.
Freshman QB Johnny Manziel won Heisman trophy in 2012
and generated $37 million in media exposure for Texas
A&M , of which he was paid $0.
Maurice Clarett case
9. Basketball Players Use
Advertising/Marketability
With forced one year out of high school rule many players
are taking advantage of marketability and entering the NBA
after just one year.
Others are signing contracts with foreign professional teams
such as Brandon Jennings in Italy and Acquille Carr in
China.
Players sign endorsement deals and professional contracts
by taking advantage of their high marketability at the time.
Something that a college basketball player currently cannot
do.
10. Who receives
compensation?
Football and Men’s Basketball programs at schools that
receive a high revenue from these programs.
Up to NCAA, Conferences, Universities, and Players
Association to decide how much each athlete and team is
paid per season.
Compensation would share some of the revenue with the
individual athletes that are helping bring it to the school.
Paying these athletes would also increase the level of play in
college and therefore increase marketability for themselves
and the schools.
Notes de l'éditeur
Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, played one season at OSU before being dismissed from the team. He left college football for one year and declared for the NFL draft. By declaring he then found himself ineligible for both leagues. He sued and a lower court found the rule violates anti-trust laws. Higher court overruled in Clarett’s case makkng him wait 3 years.