College Athletics Unionization: The Money Game

By Christopher Bryant, Michelle Jones & Barbara Mukandekezi, Deseret News Published: Friday, April 18, 2014 11:06 a.m. MST

For decades, major college sports have functioned on the bedrock principle of the student-athlete, with players receiving scholarships to pay for their education in exchange for their hours of practicing and competing for their University. The ever-changing landscape of college athletics and the potential unionization of major college sports has ignited an volatile national debate. On March 27, 2014 Peter Ohr, the regional National Labor Relations Board Director (NLRB) ruled in favor of the Northwestern football players fight to form a union governing Northwesterns football team. A handful of former players seeking unionization feel that players deserve payment for their performances on the field Kain Colter, the former quarterback of Northwestern University, has organized a band of former Northwestern football players into an organization known as College Athletes Players Association (CAPA). The NLRBs has granted the legal right to CAPA to be official employees of the University. C.J. Bacher another former Northwestern starting quarterback

strongly disagrees with Colter and how CAPA is going about getting their recognition. Bacher heavily supports the notion of receiving an education in exchange for performances on the field The potential unionization of college football would change the entire environment of the sport by allowing players to receive a portion of the Universitys revenue from the football program. Some college football players feel they are entitled to profits not only brought in by television rights and future royalties, but also believe they are entitled to such extremes as lifetime medical benefits. The fact that football allows for 85 players to receive scholarships, these players are receiving in many instances up to $100,000.00 per year. At the end of four years they can graduate and have a degree that can provide a lifetime of opportunities. Current Jordan High School football coach, Eric Kjar, shares his personal and professional position on college sports. Coach Kjar also shares how the NCAA would drastically change if players were paid. Unionization of major college sports would wipe out the governing body known as the NCAA. According Nearly 60% of the to the NCAAs budget released on February 15, 2013, NCAAs revenue will the NCAA is expected to bring in $757 million through television and marketing rights. Nearly 60% of the be distributed to its NCAAs revenue will be distributed to its Division I Division I members members, with approximately $120 million earmarked for grants-in-aid, and another $60 million for student assistance. The NCAA reports that 96% of its annual revenue is returned to its member schools either in direct payments or in programs and services. The NCAA only uses 4% of its entire budget on administrative and staff salaries (Schlabach, Mark, ESPN.COM). One thing almost everyone associated with college sports can agree on is that NCAAs guidelines and restrictions need to be amended. The CAPA approach to unionization is irresponsible. It seems in the best interest of both the players and the NCAA to come to a middle ground and work-out their differences. It was just announced a few days ago that NCAA is implementing a new rule requiring all colleges give every player a full meal plan, regardless of whether they are on a scholarship. This is encouraging news, displaying a sign that the NCAA recognizes that changes are needed; however, rewriting the entire rulebook is unnecessary and reckless.