The NCAA needs a change of policy. Since its beginning, the NCAA has taken action against programs and individuals that violate official rules and regulations. The University of Michigan basketball scandal, for example, was a six-year investigation of the relationship between the University’s mens basketball team and team booster Ed Martin. As a result of the investigation, the Wolverine men’s basketball program was punished for numerous NCAA rules violations, principally involving payments booster Martin made to several players to launder money from an illegal gambling operation.
This, however, is only one of many incidents involving payments to college athletes in American collegiate history. Currently, prominent teams including Auburn, Ohio State, Oregon, and Miami are being investigated for questionable integrity. These stories all find a common denominator in the involvement of a scheming business agent, benefiting from the athletes’ work and illegally offering money in return. I would like to shine some light on one story–the UNC Football Scandal–and then propose a solution to these NCAA woes.
The UNC scandal was centered around former players’-agent Gary Whichard, now deceased. Whichard, who played football in college and the NFL briefly and was even the inspiration of the movie Jerry Maguire, represented notable pro players such as Jason Taylor, CJ Spiller, Terrell Suggs, and Darren Sproles. The investigation was provoked by Whichard’s offering of illegal benefits to a few of the Tarheels most prominent professional prospects. Whichard was also sued for referring a client to a financial advisor that mismanaged $2 million in funds.
Unfortunately, this situation is not an isolated one; rather, it is one of the most repetitive in college sports. According to NCAA rules, is it illegal to offer players such benefits. It is obvious, however, that no matter how many teams face sanctions there will always be cases of such illegal agreements.
So what’s the source of this recurring issue? Dig deep enough and once finds the origin of the problem in the unfair treatment of college athletes. Without a doubt, universities make profit off of these athletes–some universities finance their entire athletic departments with football revenue. Revenue streams include jerseys, tickets, concession, TV deals, and bowl game bonuses. The players themselves, however, don’t receive any percentage of the revenue from these games. A university can make $3 million off of its star quarterback–a star quarterback who, earning no revenue from his games, is living under dyer straights. These unjust conditions, undoubtedly, are often a motivating factor for the athlete who chooses to enter into an illegal financial deal with an agent.
It doesn’t have to be this way, though. I would like to propose three solutions to these recurring integrity issues in college sports:
First of all, Student athletes should be allowed to have jobs:
At the very least, a student athlete should be allowed to work a part time job to make some pocket money. A scholarship simply isn’t enough compensation for what these students go through, including classes, studying, weight training, conditioning, practice, film sessions, and public appearances. It seems quite unfair that normal students are allowed to have jobs while the student athletes who make millions of dollars for their schools cannot.
Secondly, all Agents should be “certified public accountants”:
Currently, all one needs to qualify as a sports agent is a bachelors degree in Sports Management or Business Administration. After getting the bachelor’s degree, it’s simply a matter of interning at a good agency or getting a masters before these agents are representing major athletes and making big bucks. This overly-simple system allows dishonest college graduates with limited financial experience to handle the finances of trusting young athletes. To solve this problem, all agents should be required to pass a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam. This requirement would hold agents to a higher educational standard and filter out all of the slick-tongued opportunists trying to make a quick dollar.
Finally, There should be an emergency fund for student athletes:
As explained above, student-athletes live pretty rough lives, which often motivates them to enter into illegal deals with agents. To change this, there should be a grant fund in place to assist these athletes. Similar to asking for a company loan, athletes would be required to fill out an application and, if they met the conditions, funds would be provided by the NCAA.
In conclusion, suspensions and over rule violations simply aren’t enough anymore. The NCAA needs to map out a policy, working to ensure both aid to student athletes and the legitimacy of agents, to prevent these back alley deals from occurring and tainting the name of college sports.
