Nathan Worthington

English 1010-096

Jacquelyn N. Mantyla

Researched Argument Paper

Who Really Benefits From College Athletes and Their Skills?

In the early 2014 college football season we discuss which players have a chance at being
crowned at the end of the season, the greatest football player that year. The prestigious Heisman
Trophy is literally sought after by every football player as the recognition that all of their hard
work, long hours, and early mornings have finally paid off.

Entering week 6 of the college football season Todd Gurley, star running back of the Georgia
Bulldogs, is leading the field when it comes to those being considered hopefuls and favorites to
win the coveted Heisman Trophy. News breaks that same week that Gurley had received money
in exchange for signing his autograph onto jerseys and memorabilia, The NCAA levies and
indefinite suspension on Gurley almost as if what he had done was so heinous and unacceptable
that they can't even decide what the punishment should be. Gurley received roughly 3,000
dollars for signing his autograph for several different memorabilia dealers. Two weeks into his

suspension the NCAA finally speaks and says that Gurley will serve two more weeks in his
suspension; and also serve 40 hours of community service. The previous year the very famous
Johnny Manziel (Johnny Football) also was suspended for signing autographs and receiving
money, Manziel's suspension was only to not play the first half of the first game of the season. I
feel that the suspensions these two players are drastically different and not even comparable in
duration for such a petty crime, that arguably in my opinion shouldn't even be an issue or crime
at all. Although many people feel that college athletes receive plenty of benefits for playing
sports at whatever university or college that they attend, I feel athletes should still be able to
benefit from whatever financial gain from the use of their own name, receive good healthcare
and other benefits in case they are injured and they can't continue their sporting career, and have
more set and consistent suspensions for inappropriate behavior such as domestic violence and
criminal charges.
Todd Gurley returns to play after his 4 game suspension for the now ranked 15th Georgia
Bulldogs, who are taking on the 9th ranked Auburn Tigers who are their divisional rivals. In the
4th quarter of the game the Bulldogs are up on the tigers and adding insult to injury, Gurley is
tackled and tears his ACL in his first game back of what had started out to be a hope filled and
promising season. Gurleys injury very much can and is contributed to his not being in game
shape because of the suspension levied against him for receiving money for nothing more than
his autograph.

My question is why can a young man who has absolutely brought so much publicity to
the sport of college football, and is the face of a power house program, what is so wrong with
receiving extra money for someone who is willing to pay to have him sign some memorabilia?

Did he steal or rob somebody? Did he sexually assault a female? Did he sell or use drugs? My
answer to all of those is absolutely not. Gurley is and has been an upstanding student and athlete
who is respectful and doesn't gain public attention for immature acts. Unfortunately because of
the suspension Gurleys hopes and dreams of being a Heisman Trophy winner are completely
destroyed by ruining his body of work for the 2014 season.

Student athletes in all sports are lucky to have the opportunity to be given a Scholarship
in which their education is all but paid in full, Athletes receive way more than most students will
ever receive in recognition and financial aid, I just merely ask why can't an athlete who brings
millions of dollars to the school through jersey sales, ticket sales, and national attention and
exposure, why cant he receive a little extra money by the use of his very own name.

In a New York Times Article by Veronica Majerol in September of 2014, Majerol quotes
star point guard of the National Champion UCONN Huskies Shabazz Napier. There are
nights when I go to bed and I'm starving (New York Times P.2)student athletes aren't allowed
to benefit from the use of their own name while in college. The alternative we would rather have
them not have enough food to eat through out the day. Majerol goes on to point out Top college
football and men's basketball players put in up to 60 hours a week in games and practice.
Leaving them little time for academics. Injuries can saddle them with years of medical bills. Still
the average full scholarship athlete accumulates $3,200 in debt for each year they're in school,
according to a recent study, because meal plans and other incidentals often aren't fully covered.

In the case of college basketball what is the point of even bother staying in college for more than
one year , or even risking injury in some cases, if you are merely bringing in all that profit and
revenue for the NCAA and what ever university they play for, and you won't see a dime of it.
The NCAA take sin about 800 million in revenue each year from the March Madness men's
basketball tournament. Their have been so many success stories of athletes that never even
played in the NCAA, several noteworthy names, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady,
Jermaine O'Neal, Dwight Howard, and last but most certainly not least Lebron James.

With colleges and university setting such rigid rules on how an athlete can make money
and benefit from the use of his or her own name, I fear that athletes are being scared away such
an amazing experience and fun environment that is the college sports. I don't think that athletes
should be just given money or even be paid for their services in college sports, I just don't feel
that its right that athletes like Todd Gurley are losing their dreams of winning an amazing award,
or potential exposure to professional sports teams, all because someone was willing to pay that
person to benefit off of his name.

On Livestrong.org it talks about the frequency of injuries among all college athletes in all
sports, between the years of 1988-2004 The NCAA and the National Athletic Trainers'
Association recorded roughly 200,000 injuries, roughly 12,500 injuries per year. How many of
the injuries per year affect that athlete for years to come and even for the rest of their lifetime?
Why are colleges and universities benefiting so much off of athletes skills and abilities and not
giving them more compensation?

I feel very strongly that players of college sports deserve a more compensation for the
risk and entertainment that they provide. Colleges and universities gain so much in ticket

revenue, parking fees for games and events, and the food revenue they receive because of the
draw of these athletes. The NCAA takes in about 800 million in revenue a year for the March
Madness men's basketball tournament alone, that doesn't include any of the regular season games
or even the ernourmous revenue from football games. Players deserve more compensation, but
players deserve to be held to a higher standard for criminal conduct or team rules violation. I feel
that these players need to set a much better example for the younger generation and show the
importance of being accountable for their actions. The NCAA needs to institute a no nonsense
set of rules to show that sexual assault, drugs, underage drinking and other dissapointing actions
will not get you rewarded at any level: recreational, college, or professional leagues.

Works Cited
http://www.livestrong.com/article/513231-frequency-of-injury-among-college-athletes/
http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/10/29/todd-gurley-georgia-bulldogs-ncaa-suspension
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/10/11/todd-gurley-suspension-ncaaabsurd/3NRycWbSsKODqe23LpqhSM/story.html
http://magazines.scholastic.com/news/2014/10/Should-College-Athletes-be-Paid
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/september_october_2013/ten_miles_square/pay_
or_dont_play046444.php?page=all