Research Blog #10

Abstract: My research paper discusses the unfair rules and regulations surrounding the NCAA, highlighting amateurism as a big problem. College sports generate millions of dollars annually. Due to the rules of amateurism within the NCAA, college athletes aren’t allowed to receive any compensation or extra benefits for their participation. The NCAA’s rules overall are misleading and unfair. They state that student athletes are students first, athletes second when really they are treated much differently. Student athletes are often celebrities on campuses and represent great value on a national stage. As more and more NCAA infractions continue to occur, the system is in clear need of some sort of change among the rules.

Bibliography

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Lit Review #5

Shropshire, Kenneth L., and Timothy Davis. The business of sports agents. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2003. Print.

This books discusses the definitions and ideas of amateurism. It elaborates on the meaning of amateurism in the NCAA's eyes while also establishing the traditional idea of what an amateur athlete represents. 

"Shropshire serves as Special Counsel at the global law firm Duane Morris LLP,working primarily on sports related matters.  Shropshire’s blend of legal and business consulting clients include the National Football League and Major League Baseball."

Key terms include amateurism and "NCAA's vision on Amateurism". Amateurism is the idea of someone playing a sport without compensation and only out of joy and love. NCAA is defined as the organization that runs college athletics and their idea of amateurism is much more strict and serious.

"Ironically, if these student athletes cannot find time to earn money from working within the framework of NCAA rules, they are forced to ask their families for extra money in order to pay for things that range from clothes, to expenses for a date, to a stereo system like the one possessed by the student in the dorm room ext door," (Shropshire 118)

"By the early twentieth century, there was probably no college in America which was able to preserve amateurism in men's sport, as competition for money and non-money prizes, contests against professionals, collection of gate receipts..." (Shropshire 122)

"The societal desire to retain the oldest forms of amateurism is one of the strongest impediments to cleaning up the sports agent business," (Shropshire 127).

This literary source helps to elaborate on my research involving amateurism. I want to discuss the origins of amateurism dating back to when it was originally involved in the NCAA and point out how times are changing.

Research Blog #9 Counterargument

I believe that the title of a student athlete being known as an "amateur athlete" needs to be changed. Maybe there was once a time where that label made sense, but in today's world there's nothing amateur about the results of student athletes. The system needs to be altered and fixed so that student athletes can be treated fairly. Many people have similar views as me, however there are still a large amount of supporters in favor of the way things are now.

The definition of an amateur student athlete is a student first, athlete second (NCAA.org). The NCAA makes it seem like the academic part of being a student athlete is the most important, however statistics disagree. "(The median athletic spending for institutions competing in the top tier FBS) was 92,000 per athlete in 2010 while the median academic spending per full-time student was less than 14,000," (American Institutes for Research). Clearly these universities are spending the most money on what they believe to be the most important. With all the money generated by these student athletes it's of no surprise they are treated differently from all the other students. Student athletes are a separate class from students.

Research Blog #8 Interview

I interviewed my former high school soccer goalie. He's now the starting goalie for the Rutgers team in only his freshman season. Since my paper pertains to student athletes, I figured it would be most beneficial to interview my friend to ask him about the schedule and commitment that comes with being a Division I athlete. As expected I learned that his dedication to the team is a year round process. In season, they practice everyday with a few games per week along with required study hall sessions after practices. The offseason consists of conditioning and fitness just about everyday.

The commitment of a student athlete is very time consuming. Between practice, games, weight room visits, and school work there's not much time for leisure, let alone maintaining a job. This interview will only help my case that student athletes simply don't have enough time to make money on their own.

Quotes
"Practices are almost everyday (in season)."

"In season, things get hectic due to the traveling."

"Last year we traveled a bunch of times. If it's far we fly out."

"After practices are classes and we are required to do study hall."

"In the off season is a lot of fitness and conditioning, we only play 5 games and practices are in the morning and classes after."

Research Blog #7 My Case

I believe the system the NCAA needs to be completely changed. College Athletes should not be considered amateurs, and should be allowed to receive money if they rightfully earned it. I don't believe that college athletes should necessarily be paid by the school, but instead they should have the right to use their value to sign endorsement deals, autographs, accept benefits from agents, and others. Recently, the football players at Northwestern University have voted to unionized. This ultimately means that the Northwestern football players are now considered employers of the school. Though they still are under NCAA rules and will not be allowed to accept money or any extra benefits, it's a monumental step towards a much different future in college athletics. The player's frustration with their rights is a serious issue in my paper. They've had enough and are finally starting to stand up against the NCAA and it's unfair treatment of the student athletes. If there's any chance of change in the future, it has to start with the players and this is a scenario where the football players of Northwestern have made some noise.

Research Blog #6

This image is responsible for the foundation of my paper. It displays the increase in revenue each of these 10 big division 1 schools brought in from 2000-2001 through the 2011-12. As evident through the graph, in just a decade, the revenue by each of these schools has increase. Ohio state went from generating around 250 million to over 600 million in just a decade. This demonstrates the millions of dollars that the top schools generate and provides evidence that these schools will continue to rack in the cash. Ultimately, these top division 1 schools will keep making loads of money all because of their student athletes.

Literature Review #4

Porter, David. "Lawsuit seeks to end NCAA's 'unlawful cartel' ." sports.yahoo.com. N.p., 17 Mar 2014. Web. 25 Mar 2014.

This article brings my research paper topic to life. It elaborates on a lawsuit against the NCAA claiming the organization is an "unlawful cartel" making loads of money off collegiate players without paying anything to athletes specifically within the 5 major college conferences. The artcile highlights 4 plaintiffs, all descent college athletes with minimal to no chances of making it professionally, and their pursuit to recieve justice in their eyes.

David Porter is a writer for the Associated Press out of Newark, New Jersey

(2 concepts and ideas from the article)
"The suit also seeks an injunction to stop the NCAA from prohibiting any of its member institutions from negotiating to give or providing compensation to football and basketball players and rejected the argument that the current rules ensure competitive balance."

"And Northwestern University football players are trying to form what would be the first college athletes' union in U.S. history. Attorneys have said the regimented structure of football at the school essentially makes it a business, and the relationship between the school and the players is that of an employer to employees." 

Quotes
"In addition to the NCAA, the lawsuit targets the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Pac-12, Big Ten and Big 12, and seeks monetary damages as well as a declaration that the defendants' practices violate federal antitrust laws."

"'This class action is necessary to end the NCAA's unlawful cartel, which is inconsistent with the most fundamental principles of antitrust law.''

"Former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon has led a long-running legal battle against the NCAA over, among other things, the unauthorized use of college athletes' likenesses in video games."

Everything I'm trying to touch upon in my research paper is highlighted through this real life scenario. College athletes are taking action in this situation. My research question deals with student athletes at the college level and their unfair situation which is vehemntly discussed through the lawsuit against the NCAA in this article. This article will only help my case, as I will be able to show college athletes taking a stance towards what's right while reconizing their poor treatment.