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And now they're saying "It's up to you"?... by gregmorrissey

The NCAA is amazing. Rather than work proactively to help member institutions develop a support structure to protect athletes from unscrupulous con artists that will be popping up, they spend years pushing a plan that more or less tried to replicate the old "amateur, can't get paid for anything" model with slight allowances.

Now, at the 11th hour, they throw up their hands and say "we can't do anything, it's up to the individual schools"?!!

It's not that hard. Any individual should have the right to negotiate whatever they can for themselves (with parent/guardian oversight or requirements for minors). It's happened for decades with child actors in Hollywood. The idea that these athletes are amateurs is comical. Will it change the nature of the fandom? Maybe, I guess. Personally, I don't care if Gurley Leep wants to give every fencer at Notre Dame a new car. But, I care if Gurley Leep requires something of that athlete that is unethical or greatly harms their educational experience. Which is where the NCAA and schools would have been better off focusing their efforts over the last few years. Building monitoring and support structures rather than sticking your head in the sand and fretting the gravy train was over.

Ultimately, my guess is that 5 years from now looks like the last 5 years. Top players have been getting paid under the table for years at all of the top universities. Now, it's no longer illegal, and maybe they'll get a bit more. But, how many of these guys are going to sign million dollar contracts? Maybe 1 or 2 a year.