Steve Spurrier proposes that coaches pay players out of their own pockets
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier believes coaches should be able to pay 70 players $300 per game out of their own pockets.
DESTIN, FLA. – South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier emerged from Wednesday afternoon’s meetings with SEC athletic directors and fellow football coaches with a crinkled piece of paper in his hand. And with a raspy, Godfather-like voice — he has been hoarse the past two days — he proceeded to tell media gathered here to cover the SEC meetings that he wants to be able to pay his players out of his own pocket.
“I presented a proposal that we give our football players $300 a game for game expense,” Spurrier told reporters in one of the lobbies in the Sandestin Hilton Beach Resor. “They can give it to their parents for travel, lodging, meals. Maybe they could take their girlfriend out Sunday night or Saturday night and so forth.”
For a fleeting moment it wasn’t clear if Spurrier was joking or being serious. Then he raised the piece of a paper from which he made his proposal. At the bottom were dotted lines with the names of the SEC football coaches underneath. Seven of them included actual the coaches’ signatures. Asked who they were, Spurrier read them off.
“The guys that were willing were [Will] Muschamp, Derek Dooley, [Nick] Saban, Les Miles, Houston Nutt, Dan Mullen and myself,” Spurrier said.
“A bunch of our coaches felt so strongly about it that we’d be willing to pay,” he said. “Seventy guys, 300 bucks a game. That’s only $21,000 bucks a game. I doubt it will get passed. But as coaches, we make all the money, as do universities and television, and we need to give more to our players. That was just something we need to get out there.”
Conspicuously absent from the list was Georgia’s own Mark Richt. I asked him about it as he checked out of the hotel to make his way back to Athens.
“The spirit of wanting to get more financial help for our players is unanimous,” Richt said. “But how to go about it, I’m saying that wouldn’t necessarily be the best way to do it. I didn’t sign it because I didn’t want to say that’s how I felt was the best way to get it done.
“In no way shape or form was I saying I didn’t want to help student-athletes. I 100 percent do. Every single coach in that room wants to do that. We all believe that. But how do you do it without hurting amateurism” How do you do it without tax implications? Maybe it’s through the scholarship becoming more valuable.”
Richt’s sentiments more closely matched those of SEC athletic directors, who generally didn’t take Spurrier’s proposal seriously.
“I don’t think you’re going to see anybody give a stipend to an individual,” Florida AD Jeremy Foley said. “I think this cost of attendance conversation is going to continue and I think that will probably gain some momentum. . . . Coach Spurrier’s desire is part of that conversation. You just couldn’t do it ikndividually in one sport. It will be national legislation.”
The SEC and other BCS conferences are getting behind legislation that would elevate the value of scholarship for student-athletes from just room, board, books, meals and lodging to full cost of living.
Spurrier is realistic in his expectations. More than anything, it seemed like he just wanted to make a point.
“We all make so much money,” he said. “It’s only $300,000 for 14 games. For what us coaches are making nowadays, we’d all love to do that.”
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226 comments Add your comment
Jerome
June 1st, 2011
6:17 pm
Wow, Richt won’t part with $21,000 x 12 = $240,000, he makes $3,000,000. That’s flat out stingy. 7 out of 12 coaches were willing to help the kids out. It’s a great idea.
dbalcer
June 1st, 2011
6:18 pm
Jerome Spurrier knew his proposal wouldn’t float. Richt wants to have real conversation so all NCAA student athletes are helped.
EW
June 1st, 2011
6:19 pm
Sounds like a recruiting tactic in disguise to me.
JAWJeRDAWG
June 1st, 2011
6:19 pm
Go back and read the article again, Jerome. Your post is very incorrect. .. Go Dawgs!
Bodda Getta
June 1st, 2011
6:21 pm
$300 a game?
No way would our players agree to that kind of pay cut.
General Mills
June 1st, 2011
6:21 pm
Yep ,he probably pays them already.Just like he hands out suspensions.Gives them, then takes them away according to their play or performance.
Poopdawg
June 1st, 2011
6:21 pm
Spurrier seems to talk from past experiences. I would need six hundred.
thomp
June 1st, 2011
6:26 pm
That would be a pay raise for spurrier since he already has been paying his players hotel, food, etc. The ole ball coach knows how to get it done on the side. Why else would anyone go to south carolina?
Spurrier wants to give players money … from his own pocket | Score News
June 1st, 2011
6:34 pm
[...] speak above a whisper Wednesday. "I lost my voice two days ago," he said, … read full news Published: Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:32 In category: NewsTags:Spurrier wants to give players money [...]
co dawg
June 1st, 2011
6:34 pm
Apparently, education no longer carries much value. That’s why the United States lags behind other countries. These players get room, board, education and food. Poor college student is part of the experience. If these players feel like they’re not getting a good deal, then find another way to the NFL. It’s possible to do. If they want some extra cash, take out a school loan like the rest of us. Elite college football athletes have a unique opportunity. They leave school and get paid big bucks. I’m not sure of any other profession that offers that opportunity. Doctors, attorneys, architects, engineers…they get to work as interns for years and tend to carry nice size student loans. With an average cost of a four year public degree at around 80k and a private school in the 120k range, that sounds like a really nice return. At times, I think that the majority of these ‘payment’ supporters never went to college and have little appreciation for a good education.
ClinchPanther
June 1st, 2011
6:35 pm
he said that because he is already paying his players more than that. he want to cut it down.
Dawg
June 1st, 2011
6:38 pm
Oh what a great idea, now kids in high will be wanting the same for their part in playing football. Some schools have been doing it for years so they will have to be creative in finding other ways to compensate the players, maybe a cruise or a paid vacation to their destination of choice. Not a good idea.
UGASlobberknocker
June 1st, 2011
6:46 pm
Sounds good but not practical..
but a monthly stipend pd by the athletic dept should be implemented. equal to the number of hours they spend on football times a fair hourly wage. just like the other college kids that work.
bharper4
June 1st, 2011
6:48 pm
co dawg – great comments! With 2 in college I know the $$$ that is not on the plates of the elite football player.
Daddy Newton
June 1st, 2011
6:49 pm
Great idea, Coach..but I think more like, say $15,000 per game..times 12 games thats 180K..yeah that sounds about right
Astropig
June 1st, 2011
6:50 pm
Kudos to the OBC. He’s played this game at a high level (unlike the wankers on this board) and he knows. He’s a Heisman winner. He played in the NFL for a decade. He’s got the standing ,integrity and credibility to address this issue from an intelligent viewpoint. No hypocrisy here- He played back when neither CFB or the NFL were the huge money machines that they are now. And he just happens to be right.
There will come a point shaving / game fixing scandal in big time college football sooner than we would like if the issue of profit sharing is not addressed.( Indeed, the case could be made that the Sugar Bowl was TAMPERED with by event organizers last January by allowing OSU players to play after they had been found to accept impermissable benefits and were clearly ineligible). The day is coming soon when Div-I players won’t feel that the compensation as student athletes is adequate. hen they do, the gamblers and fixers will move in and the sport will be ruined.
It’s better to try it Spurriers way than keep pretending that the system we have is honest.
Remarkable
June 1st, 2011
6:52 pm
What about the swimming coach, the golf coach, the volleyball coach, the baseball coach, etc, who don’t make that kind of money. It’s easy to grandstand if you are in the big money sport, but when push comes to shove is he going to pay some track and field athlete $300. per meet?
mgdawg
June 1st, 2011
6:57 pm
I don’t think people realize how much these players get. First of all a free education, having been to college without an athletic scholarship this can be worth a lot. Next free tutoring, not only do they give them the education they do everything possible to help them pass the classes and get the degree. Free room and board, most of these bigger schools have athletic housing I believe, it may not be the best housing in the world but I bet it is better then the regular dorms. Free insurance, you get hurt they pay the bills. Free food, this isn’t cafeteria food although if they want to go to the cafeteria with non-athlete friends then they can go there, they get better food. I have a friend that went to a big D1 school and every thursday was steak and crab legs day, who had that once a week while they were in college? Not to mention protein bars and shakes for free at the weight room. Free clothing, sure it isn’t jeans or whatever, but they can get school apparel almost at will. If your team is good enough to make it to a bowl game then you get all those gifts.
So in review, they get paid. Maybe they don’t get everything they want, but who does when they are in college. How many of you had ramen noodles when you were in college? Steak and crab legs sounds great. Not to mention how many of these kids would get into these colleges without an athletics scholarship.
UGASlobberknocker
June 1st, 2011
6:58 pm
@co dawg. Good points mostly..but you miss one major point.
Regardless of whether a kid is on a scholarship or not, they need cash beyond what the tuition costs. and while yes, loans are available, that isnt easy or a lock these days. Most kids just get a part time job somewhere to make some extra cash. Thats what I did.
The athletes cant do that because they already have a part time job..playing sports….so I believe a stipend to athletes is fair ..matching up to what they would make if they were working.
DawginMemphis
June 1st, 2011
7:01 pm
I see both sides of the coin:
(a) student loans–these guys wouldn’t be the first college students to be burdened by student debt if they need some walking around money. My wife and I are both lawyers and she has a nice little pile of law school debt that causes us to struggle. A pro athlete, however, could pay off our debt without needing to balance his checkbook.
(b) the counter argument is that your forcing many college athletes who won’t make it to the NFL to be saddled with student debt because the time spent on football is an opportunity cost incurred in not being able to have a job. That doesn’t really fly because if you weren’t playing football, your student loan debt would be much higher because you’d be paying tuition, books, and room and board. Most football players who can’t qualify for Hope probably don’t have much of a chance getting in anyway. So you have another perk that definitely has value. In that regard, its sort of hard to compare apples to apples.
SUGGESTION: what about holding money in trust for players until they graduate, with maybe a defined distribution amount while they’re in college. X money for certain grades, X money for winning games, and then tie it all to graduation. Deduct money for violations of the law and university conduct. Those who leave early presumably don’t need the money anyway and it can go back into the pot.
This way you reward the athletes without an NFL future for spending 4-5 years enduring the most demanding of time commitments by giving them a little financial breathing room to figure out what comes next after football. Remember, these guys haven’t spent their summers networking and getting their names in the job stream.
Dawgbreath
June 1st, 2011
7:06 pm
Spurrier knows exactly what he’s doing. He knew it wouldn’t pass but he has made it an issue and I guarantee that this iwll get NCAA attention one way or the other. As for you clowns saying Spurrier aleady pays his players blah blah. He has more integrity than anyone in the game. Always has.
@codawg
June 1st, 2011
7:06 pm
well codawg, your average “poor college student” isn’t obligated to two a day practices or sacrificing their bodies every day and every saturday, nor are they generating MILLIONS of dollars for other athletic and academic programs, ask yourself why does the Football Coach make more money than the College President and all the professors, student athletes especially football players at Major Division I schools deserve a lot more than $300/game.
gt
June 1st, 2011
7:11 pm
Spurrier’s honesty is refreshing. He out flanks the press even which drive them crazy. They want the truth to be their domain and most coaches assist them in that.
hmmmmmmmm
June 1st, 2011
7:24 pm
Wow, what a JOKE….. Paying college football players…. The beginning of the END!
Dawg4ever
June 1st, 2011
7:28 pm
Typical Richt. He still can’t make a decision. This guy is proving once again why he shouldn’t be a head coach at a major university. He back tracks yesterday on his stance about oversigning, and now he doesn’t vote in favor of helping players.He is getting his lunch handed to him by these rival coaches in recruiting, and they have all been kicking his ass on the field the past 3 season. Please Richt, sell you house, and take the money and build another Noah’s Ark, and sail away, far away.
hmmmm.....
June 1st, 2011
7:30 pm
i think ea sports needs to give out a debt card every year to all the kids they use the likeness of in their games
Hit A Single
June 1st, 2011
8:04 pm
I am not for paying anybody. They are getting a free education. Don’t give me that crap they need spending money. Maybe we need to get back to forcing families help their own kids. Most of these kids parents don’t want to deal with them unless they think they are going pro and they want a piece of the pie.That is why this country is broke now. This kind of thinking. I know many kids that would love to play for nothing. The experience is pay enough.
Indian Dawg
June 1st, 2011
8:06 pm
Sorry, but I disagree with the notion of paying players.
It is NOT a job, just another form of a student activity/organization. It’s just more glorified.
I’m in quite a few organizations myself that demand equal, if not more, of a time and effort commitment. You don’t see me getting paid. Instead you see me slaving away to meet my standards and become a surgeon. The vast majority of us college kids work hard for our degrees, don’t get anywhere near the amount of academic assistance that athletes get, have to live only on what can support us, and are preparing ourselves for a career that is meaningful for the benefit of society. Let’s face it, the majority of college football players are not concerned with their education. They simply want to make it to the NFL, get paid, and get laid. Yes I may be generalizing a bit, but being a student athlete is not the same as having a job title. When filling out their IRS forms, assuming they do that, they do not put “College football player” as their occupation and they do not put the name of their school as their employer. Playing college ball for Georgia is not a job. It’s a privilege and honor.
Hit A Single
June 1st, 2011
8:10 pm
Indian Dawg – I agree 100% with you.
dawgfan
June 1st, 2011
8:12 pm
Indian Dawg, let me know when 92,000 people show up to watch you take a biology test you effing goob. Also, please let me know when CBS offers your professors tens of millions of dollars for the rights to broadcast your test taking. Then you might have some semblance of a point.
Airborne
June 1st, 2011
8:13 pm
I served my country for 4 years and was there for the invasion of Iraq, I now go to school on the GI Bill which I earned. The current scholarships are about the same as the GI Bill. So theses scholarships are good enough for America’s vets but not prima donnas, who get opportunities that most people would kill for. If they need cash take out a subsidized loan for 3 gs a year…..whiners
Worm
June 1st, 2011
8:15 pm
Dementia has set in…Hope Steve remembers his 5-hybrid from his 5-wood…Ron Green took him to task in the Charlotte News Observer today.
j
June 1st, 2011
8:18 pm
Bold move Spurrier, you’ve only got a couple of years left, so it wouldn’t effect you.
Is Spurrier becoming the Jimmy Carter of coaches. Both of you need to sit down and shut up.
j
June 1st, 2011
8:23 pm
Auburns already doing that.
Hit A Single
June 1st, 2011
8:26 pm
Dawgfan – you let me know when all these guys get their degrees. Let’s put some responsiblity back on their families. That is just it, most of them don’t have families that care about them unless they are going pro or ones like Reggie Bush that don’t care about rules. Airborne you are right.
Ex Athlete
June 1st, 2011
8:36 pm
Paying guys to play ball with tuition going up each year for classes…hell to the no….not when most student-athletes and coaches BS their way through classes…not fair decision to the whole student body that coughing up damn tuition money.
pay it up
June 1st, 2011
8:40 pm
$300 per game is chump change for all the millions the schools make. The players should get a bigger cut of the profits, at least $2,000 per game.
Mark $ Richt
June 1st, 2011
8:52 pm
Hey Georgia fans, I can’t afford to pay my players $300 a game. Their legal expenses are killing me now.
James
June 1st, 2011
8:56 pm
How about the student athletes start paying for their classes just like everybody else and then they can get paid for playing sports that sounds fair to me.
Tomb
June 1st, 2011
8:57 pm
How about a stipend for Little League coaches that prepare youngsters for athletic endeavor and spend their own money and gratis time for same?
Gene
June 1st, 2011
9:08 pm
$300 per game – that would be a huge paycut for Auburn players.
AfghanHound
June 1st, 2011
9:12 pm
Disingenious! That’s the same as the school paying the players, since the school pays the coaches. The coaches will just get another raise to cover the players’ pay. Call a spade a spade.
Cleve
June 1st, 2011
9:24 pm
oh yeah… and they can’t get a job even if they want one.
mgdawg
June 1st, 2011
9:24 pm
Chip, junkyard blawg, somebody do an article and figure up how much a player gets for being an athlete at the school. I’m talking education, food, room and board, insurance (including rehabilitation at the school), school apparel, bowl prizes, etc. and figure it out on a per year basis. I think people will be amazed how much these athletes are paid. I think that would quiet a lot of these people arguing that the players should get paid.
BabsTolstoy
June 1st, 2011
9:25 pm
This looks like just another excuse for you sanctimonious dogs and your deified coach to climb up on your soap box. You’re reminding me of Vandy more and more in all sorts of ways everyday. You can’t win so you bail out with this new taking the high road routine, which is fine if that’s what you want to be. I just never figured you guys would roll over so easy. And over in Auburn if you have decided you can’t compete we will be happy to make you look like Vandy every chance we get. We’ll stretch out that series lead as far as you’ll let us, or as far as we want to. Be sure and drop by the Athletic Dept. on your next visit over and view the crystal football. With your coach it’s as close as you’ll ever get.(Unless you go on road games to LSU, Fla., Tenn,, and Bama too., whichever is the shortest drive.)
Cleve
June 1st, 2011
9:28 pm
The time they put in is unreal. The physical abuse they take will affect their quality of life when they are 50. While a scholarship is certainly valuable… it’s not nearly valuable enough.
Look at the return on investment these universities are making. It’s criminal.
WTF??
June 1st, 2011
9:31 pm
They already get enough. A lot more than the average student
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 1st, 2011
9:31 pm
Well Spurrier can just forgo his $22k a year membership to the Ocean Course in Kiawah if he is really feeling that generous.
AltamahaDawg
June 1st, 2011
9:47 pm
No Jerome, he is just not being a damn fool to suggest that coaches can just start paying thier players. That sounds like a real solid plan right there. What could possible go wrong with that? I speculated earlier that I thought Spurrier had about 2 yrs left before he was going to say the hell with the confines of being a serious coach.. This obviously mocking of the system convinces me even more.
Hey, I know what we shoud do Jerome. How about we to hold your record of personal giving to charity, or helping kids out, up against Richt’s?
jaxdawgfan
June 1st, 2011
9:50 pm
Add requirements for good grades and good behavior and I might support it. It shouldn’t be JUST for sports participation.
Marcus Dupree
June 1st, 2011
9:52 pm
$300 per game is way below what Trooper Taylor promised me.
Delbert D.
June 1st, 2011
9:53 pm
Here are some calculations:
http://www.ncaa.org/blog/2011/05/what-full-cost-of-attendance-really-means/
Bitter "ROUGE BOOSTER"
June 1st, 2011
9:55 pm
I have given more to all-burn playa’s after 2010 games than 300$ each——–go figure
——————-name of the game ————PAY FOR PLAY!!!!!!!!!SIGNED SCAM NEWTON
jim pierce
June 1st, 2011
9:56 pm
And just how would this be regulated? It couldn’t be.
jim pierce
June 1st, 2011
9:57 pm
Your aren’t very bright , are ya BOOSTER.
Big Bad Bob
June 1st, 2011
10:01 pm
Spurrier already pays his players. What is he talking about? He also only suspends them from spring practice. What punishment is that? Also, it apparently does not matter how many times you go against the rules, he keeps you on the team. I am sick and tired of hearing people rip Mark Richt a new one by saying he is too easy on his players. What in the heck do you think about Spurrier’s lack of discipline?
Dan
June 1st, 2011
10:02 pm
Punk arse football players get free school! F em!
Score Check
June 1st, 2011
10:04 pm
The problem isn’t 25 versus 28 scholarships.
The problem is coaches (Satan) who run off players with no hope of contributing in order to make room another group of prospects.
M-E-D-I-C-A-L H-A-R-D-S-H-I-P
hind tit
June 1st, 2011
10:04 pm
How much is he going to pay basketball players, softball, baseball,tennis, golf,track,gymnastics,soccer,lacrosse,archery,rifle,wrestling,rowing. Talk about opening a can of worms.
jim pierce
June 1st, 2011
10:05 pm
Mark Richt has more character and integrity than any coach in the game.
Bank of America
June 1st, 2011
10:06 pm
I don’t claim to know the proper solution but I think it’s fair to say that an entity (major NCAA college football) that generates billions of dollars should by no means consider itself “amateur”.
Bitter "ROUGE BOOSTER"
June 1st, 2011
10:11 pm
jin pierce—go back to your check out counter at the wal mart close to toomers corner—jack a
———–every body cheats———-checked the latest news ——-the ohio state—–read fool
Delbert D.
June 1st, 2011
10:12 pm
Don’t the arguments about sacrifice, long hours, etc. apply to non-scholarship players as well?
Bitter "ROUGE BOOSTER"
June 1st, 2011
10:13 pm
callbert d—-be real———-who shows up for class at the ohio st and all-burn
————-they just drive nice cars and well————–more nice cars———-hahahah-looser
AltamahaDawg
June 1st, 2011
10:16 pm
“Maybe they could take their girlfriend out Sunday night or Saturday night and so forth.”
He actually said that in the meeting? How on earth did that actually advance the conversation. Was his purpose to make sure the player never got the full cost of attendance raise? You know damn well those two goofy faced newbies were sitting in the back of the room thinking “crap I just signed that thing because he told me too”
Bitter "ROUGE BOOSTER"
June 1st, 2011
10:22 pm
altammydawg——-chief steve spur——put it for all simple minds to understand———then there,s
your pure breed mind————–he is trying to draw attention away from —–the ohio st/allburn U
———-they have allready implemented————-PAY FOR PLAY
Clay
June 1st, 2011
10:22 pm
I might feel like they need to be paid if every college football player I’ve seen wasn’t walking around with about 4 carats of diamond earrings and driving new sports cars.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
June 1st, 2011
10:25 pm
Hey, I know, why not let them sell their Independence Bowl Jersey?
Just kiddin Georgia, but really, what is the difference?
JBT
AltamahaDawg
June 1st, 2011
10:28 pm
The manager from the Whitney hotel called and said “make it 450″.
Huh
June 1st, 2011
10:31 pm
Just have a day before or after the season where players can legally sign autographs and make money rub by the ncaa. That’s capitalism. If you aren’t good enough to get anyone to pay, get better. That’s how the world runs.
stupid
June 1st, 2011
10:32 pm
why not just pay them the minimum wage x 20 hrs a week (the cut off for part time labor). then they can make a couple hundred a week for doing what they are getting benefits for doing anyway. The rest of us who made it on HOPE or any other circumstance pretty much did the same thing. Found a job paying X and worked as many hours a week as we could. sounds fair to me.
warlikecap83
June 1st, 2011
11:00 pm
I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, http://GoGetBids.com
Delbert D.
June 1st, 2011
11:01 pm
@10:06 pm – “..I think it’s fair to say that an entity (major NCAA college football) that generates billions of dollars should by no means consider itself “amateur”.”
Check this out for how the EUFA manages “haves and have nots” in European professional soccer as a potential example for major college football.
http://www.ncaa.org/blog/2011/05/financial-fair-play-works-only-in-a-different-division-i/
dinkdunk
June 1st, 2011
11:08 pm
yeah, great idea.. Until next year, then it’s $500, then $1000 a year after that, pretty soon you’re talking serious money.
Then the wrestlin’ team wants some, girls basketball, cheerleaders should get a little sumthin.’
Pretty soon the whole thing will look like downtown ATL nothing moves til’ you get that check..
Bad idea.
Dawg Whisperer
June 1st, 2011
11:21 pm
Once payola becomes a part of the equation, it’s a slippery slope from there. Unforeseen as well as foreseen issues will be the result and it will not cure the problem of improper payments, etc.
Does anyone really think that a few hundred dollars per game is the panacea for resolving what ails the NCAA on keeping the student-athlete an amateur? It will never be enough and players will see themselves as individuals competing for individual reward instead of sacrificing as a team. This is poor foresight and does not account for all the adverse ramifications associated with pay for play. As fans, we should expect these athletes to be students first, not athletes (I know, I’m in the minority on that one). Maybe, the NFL needs to fund a minor league. When’s the last time you heard a baseball player receiving improper payments or gifts?
KD
June 1st, 2011
11:28 pm
If it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it. I am an avid football fan and I am looking forward to the upcoming college football season (no lock there). I am afraid that if college players start receiving pay, then it will lead to other headaches ie, college presidents locking out the college players (smile). I think a good education, the best medical attention, great food, and sly booster hand shakes are enough…at least it would be for me.
beanster
June 1st, 2011
11:36 pm
Way to go Coach Richt. Yet another class act. There is indeed a way to go about it, but the SEC convention isn’t the place for that type of grandstand action. The SEC does NOT speak for the rest of the NCAA, or for college athletics in general. Shame on the coaches who signed on that agreement. The SEC may be minor league football, but it is awful arrogant to suggest it should be the SEC who changes the definition of amateur athletics. Spurrier, arrogant? Who knew?
tom
June 1st, 2011
11:41 pm
If only 100,000 fans would pay 40 bucks each to come watch a Math major take an exam.
S GA AU FAN
June 1st, 2011
11:48 pm
Don’t forget the kids in the band!
beanster
June 1st, 2011
11:52 pm
Man is it getting harder to hold back the disdain for Ol’ Coach Muschamp and the former AD’s son.
Joe
June 2nd, 2011
12:13 am
Publicity stunt. He knows that it will never go through. Just trying to score points with future recruits.
bigdawg88
June 2nd, 2011
12:15 am
dinkdunk I agree with you. It would only be a matter of time before they start getting NFL money their freshman year, then of course the high school players will want to be paid, etc.
As others said, you get a full ride, plus room and board, plus FREE tutoring! If your parents can’t afford to kick in a few bucks a week for incidentals, how the heck were they able to afford it when they were at home? Have you seen the size of some of these guys? Parents ought to be saving a mortgage on the food bills alone! Sorry fellas, get your FREE education and get a job, either in the NFL or at a “regular” job and be thankful for the opportunity. For every one of you there are another hundred kids at a DIV 2/3 school who would be happy to have a full ride without pay!
If you pay them, why bother with college football at all? Just start a minor league NFL.
Carlton
June 2nd, 2011
12:15 am
Wow-Spurrier’s talking about paying players? How much is he paying to keep Stephen Garcia around after running in the law 5 TIMES?
It will never work. If school’s start paying players, the top schools (or head coaches who make the most) will get the best recruits because they know they’re going to go to a school where they can get paid the most (who wouldn’t want to be under Mack Brown’s payroll??) Sorry Spurrier, wrong again.
murfdawg
June 2nd, 2011
12:18 am
maybe SOS will lead the movement for the top 25 teams to secede from the NCAA. Unlimited scholarships, pay the players and a playoff. This is what the American capitalism dream is all about.
Carlton
June 2nd, 2011
12:18 am
Problem solved? Let players collect on the memorabilia (such as jerseys, photos of players, signed autographs by players, etc) that they own. If AJ Green collected on every #8 jersey UGA sold, he would be a happy “student-athlete”
RED DOG 77
June 2nd, 2011
12:19 am
No question Steve Spurrier is using this issue to bolster his recruiting. Granted most kids who play college ball not only have very little money to spend, most come from a very poor background. There will come a time when kids will need to finally get a little spending money from the universities that they play for…………but it has to be discussed in depth in order to not be overwhelmed by unintended consequenses………..That said, while coach Richt is sympathetic with the players delima, his is the most mature and measured response to the issue…..And that my freinds is what Me thinks………….Regards, RED
beanster
June 2nd, 2011
12:19 am
Makes a lot of sense, Carlton. However, shouldn’t that idea best be introduced by our good friend Mike Adams? Or perhaps, in likeness of Senator Hatch, Senator Isakson or Chambliss? Seems a bit rich for a rookie and 2nd year football coach, IMO.
Tell the truth
June 2nd, 2011
12:20 am
And for the other men’s teams and all women’s teams?? And for the poorer conferences other than the SEC and Big Ten??? Will never happen!!!
Tell the truth
June 2nd, 2011
12:23 am
Do the university presidents have any ethics at all?? Do they have anything to add about the cheating going on and ways to combat it?? Are they all scared of the HBC like Gee???
bigdawg88
June 2nd, 2011
12:24 am
Carlton,
The problem with that is that unscrupulous boosters will start paying $10k per jersey, “because they love their school so much.” Next thing you know there will be huge bidding wars and the schools with the richest alumni will somehow get all the best recruits.
The real reason you can’t provide any benefits to the players (other than a free college education) is that there are too many snakes out there waiting to take full advantage of any loophole. So the NCAA is forced to seal the whole thing up like the ark of the covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Carlton
June 2nd, 2011
12:31 am
I agree with y’all, but if you let the “student athlete” collect say, 25% on every jersey, 10% on every photo sold, etc then there could be a fair collection across the board. Yes, the offensive linemen and women basketball players, etc wouldn’t collect the same as say, AJ Green, Reggie Bush, etc, but these athletes are also the ones generating the major revenue. Maybe the school’s could even re-distribute money to programs (such as women’s basketball, softball, etc) that don’t make as much money on a regular basis and pay those players a 10% stipend of the money generated by say football or basketball. Or would that make too much sense?
dawg150
June 2nd, 2011
12:37 am
Jerome…..go back and read the damn article you putz……Richt never said anything about not wanting to help the players financially. He just wasnt willing to put his name on a rough draft of a proposal. Comprehend before shooting your mouth off!!!!!
dawg150
June 2nd, 2011
12:48 am
What ever happened to representing your university because……….its my university and I’m proud to be a representative of it……..kids today have no respect for the school that pas their way….all they’re lookig for is a free ride to the professional ranks. Here’s a plan: 1. freshmen ineligible for varsity 2. If your GPA drops below a certain level you are automatically ineligible 3. Leave for pros before your graduation year then you must reimburse university for balance of your scholarship. Abide by these simple regs and THEN we’ll talk about compensating the players.( who by the way are already compensated with a 4-5 year cost of education including room and board)
beanster
June 2nd, 2011
12:51 am
Oops. I forgot the Louisiana Institute of Technology where the former AD’s son first exhibited the Dooley football prowess, going 17-20.
tyger
June 2nd, 2011
1:06 am
The slaves are escaping, the slaves are escaping!!!!
WtfWruthnkn
June 2nd, 2011
1:36 am
Hit a single wtf do u know about their families?
WtfWruthnkn
June 2nd, 2011
1:39 am
Players put their life and health on the line every practice and game
Stinger2
June 2nd, 2011
4:37 am
Most of the comments here indicate that those responding are younger folks. The fact is that college players back in the 50`s and 60`s were given some cash as a part of their “grant-in-aid” scholarships. It was not a large sum and was given to cover some of the cost of personal expenses such as laundry, etc. Furman Bisher can verify this.
Student Athlete
June 2nd, 2011
4:50 am
D1 football generates billions annually; i suggest the NCAA remove the restrictions currently imposed on football and basketball athletes, notice i didn’t say “student athlete,” because these guys are not on campus for the academics, there sole purpose is to win games and generate revenue, education is a ruse in these two categories; the athlete is being used by the institution for one purpose, generate $$$$$$$.
Let these athletes negotiate for compensation like any other party participating in the $$$$$$$.
For those that think my idea would ruin college i got news for you; College football is far beyond ruined, its in the decay stage and has been for quite a while.
MJ
June 2nd, 2011
5:19 am
Coach Spurrier’s desire is part of that conversation. You just couldn’t do it ikndividually
Sandestin Hilton Beach Resor. “
really?
June 2nd, 2011
5:44 am
If we start to pay college athletes ur looking at the end of collegiate sports . Some of you people are seriously retarded
jd
June 2nd, 2011
5:50 am
Well Steve jpay them and see if the IRS willl let that go without wanting some part of the pie.
ncaa
June 2nd, 2011
5:53 am
Dearest Steve – don’t hold your breath. The NCAA
joe
June 2nd, 2011
6:02 am
Come on…When old Stevie boy stands up in front of the SEC in conference and “proposes” this kind of action you can call it a Proposal. Until he does this what he has just done is duped the press and everyone else with more of his worthless talk. For those coaches that signed that “napkin” at a coffee table, they are worthless in this decision making process also. The press “duped” again by the master. He holds you in his hands.
GT81
June 2nd, 2011
6:55 am
sick of the socialistic thinking of I deserve to be paid because ytou make a ton of money……. any $$ paid out Must be tied to grades and class attendance/drug testing
chem
June 2nd, 2011
7:20 am
Does the math department require all students to maintain a certain max benchpress before they qualify to take an algebra exam?… No, of course not. Everyone is clamoring about the free education that athletes receive, but I see it as more of an impediment. I don’t understand why football players are required to pass classes they’ll never need for their careers. In fact, many promising football careers have been cut short by academic regulations of the NCAA. In my opinion, there should be a football major at every college. Look, if schools are graduating people with art history degrees then why not a football degree? They could go pro or coach somewhere. Not every athlete wants/needs a degree in business, so why force it on them.
All In
June 2nd, 2011
7:23 am
No chance anyone should be played to play a kids game. Without this sport these “people” wouldn’t even be accepted to college. Enough is enough, why can’t getting your education paid for and playing a sport not be enough. I will never understand, I guess its just “their culture” to want more..Football=College, Natural Intelligence=No where. Take what you have been given and quit asking for more.
gomdawg
June 2nd, 2011
7:23 am
THEY GET A FREE EDUCATION , more money would be more tatoo’s hell NO let them work like I did when I was in college.If they don’t like what their getting do like the others students work and pay your on way.
stipends for players
June 2nd, 2011
7:41 am
The university gives stipends to students who work on bringing in cash (via grants) to the school…often, this also goes along with a tuition and fee waiver.
So…what’s the difference? There isn’t any.
Offer a standard “stipend” for football players adjusted for cost of living. So, yes, you would get more money at So Cal, but the spending power would be equal to what you would get at UGA. Then, once the stipend is in place anyone who gets caught paying players over and above their stipend gets a one year death penalty.
Giving the players a stipend would be the same thing as legalizing drugs….or figuring out a way to stop using middle eastern oil….it’s a game changer….but it’s too “easy” of a solution for people to accept…and it takes power away from those who hold it so dear.
you may begin your bashing now.
let's go
June 2nd, 2011
7:43 am
This is just another way the BCS schools are trying to screw the small conference schools. They know the small boys can’t afford to pay players so if they are giving money then why in the world would a kid want to go anywhere but a place that is giving you money every week.
Heck they way Spurrier and the rest of the SEC coaches look at is “we are already paying them behind closed doors so if this passes we don’t have to worry about getting caught”.
Top Dawg
June 2nd, 2011
7:47 am
I agree 100% with CMR.
dmr
June 2nd, 2011
7:48 am
Each University should hire two (2) bank account compliance officers. Each player should be given a budget of expenses for every game home and away, also to include post season games. Each player should then be instructed to save all receipts. All receipts will be saved and submitted to the compliance office for reimbursement.
Also, each player should open a checking account with a compliance officer listed on the account. The account will be set up with “ONLINE BANKING” and the compliance officer would be authorized to review each account online.
Players would learn a valuable lesson in money management and how to “manage a small business”. They, in essence would be independent contractors, who, when tax time comes, must be able to verify all expenses.
This could be a good life lesson about business and responsibility. It could also open up education in handling money for those who may move on to the NFL or others who end up in business for themselves after college.
Mark Turner
June 2nd, 2011
8:00 am
The NFL needs to step up and develope players like Major League Baseball. Start a minor league system so kids coming out of high school have a choice of college or pro.
Henne Patchinko
June 2nd, 2011
8:09 am
Take up a collection at the games.
DawginLex
June 2nd, 2011
8:10 am
Keeping up with the paper trail on that would be huge fun
ESPN
June 2nd, 2011
8:18 am
Spurrier proposes $300 per game payment for college football players. If this comes to pass, 85 players at Auburn face huge paycuts.
don medeiros
June 2nd, 2011
8:25 am
Let the NFL teams develop a farm system on their own – no way colleges should be doing that. Create a system like baseball – if a kid wants to go to the “minors” in football, he should be able to do that, just like in baseball. Let college be for kids who want to learn and pursue a degree. Why should colleges be lap dogs for the NFL?
The Alpha Male
June 2nd, 2011
8:27 am
Jerome, you’re brilliant….. Richt is so selfish that he’s selling a 2 million dollar lake house to help the poor and needy. Don’t post stupidity.
Later Tater
June 2nd, 2011
8:28 am
Spuurier doesn’t care about helping kids… he wants to set up a bidding war for recruits so he can cheat legally. Come on to Carolina, kids…. whatever Saban is paying, I’ll double it.
AltamahaDawg
June 2nd, 2011
8:33 am
And what kind of DA signs a letter like that? I can understand the 3 newbies, Spurrier told them to sign it, they signed it. The other guys are already the main topic of the “what should we do about your crap” meeting. Ok, I guess I just answered my question.
Let us be very honest
June 2nd, 2011
8:37 am
I suspect that if asked, 98% of the 4 and 5 star kids would forego college to play in the NFL minor league. If they could earn maybe $50,000 per year, with health insurance, meal allowances and car allowances, while playing minor league football under contract for at least three years …………. they would go. 98% would, so let them.
My point? It is not the role, nor should it be, to house, put up with, and deal with these young men who do not want to be at school. No way should this be the case. It is the old style plantation system at its core.
The NFL needs to step up, create a minor league program and embark on it. They are getting off CHEAP at the player’s expense. Period.
The rest of the HS players ………. 2/3 star and some 4 star kids would play college ball, and I suspect that 98% of THESE kids would hang around and graduate, knowing that there is far more to like than playing ball and then, when age creeps in, you are done. The 5 stars will all go minor league chasing that $$ rainbow and they should be able to do that.
This is so simple ………….. why should fine universites put up with such a corrupted system? Jettsion this plantation system, downsize the programs and live with the consequences. The speed of the game is relative, if ALL so called NCAA teams are on board by a date certain, say 2015.
Look at the Ivy League. My bro in law played for PN and he was not on a scholly. He rec’d his fine diploma and has a fine career. What is not to like???
These poor HS kids are very poor. They will do anything just to have some nice clothes, a car and money for movies and regular stuff. Let them do what they do ……….. play ball for money ……………NFL MONEY, however, not alumni under the table cheating money and cars.
Enough is enough. Where are the black preachers and lawyers that surface on hot political issues within the black communities?? They TOO are sucking off of this system, so they too are corrupted. They should DEMONSTRATE for a minor league pro league.
Problem solved.
Go Dogs.
It is what it is
June 2nd, 2011
8:38 am
$300.00 now, $400.00 the year after..on and on it goes where it stops no one knows.. pandora’s box. Besides if players wanted benefits they should just go to Ohio State.
jerry
June 2nd, 2011
8:39 am
I have another idea. It is a known fact that many of the players will sign million dollar pro contracts. After they sign that big contract, why not make them pay the university for their scholarship that allowed them to intern for that big fat contract. And while they are at it, they can also pay the players who did not get a pro contract, but without their help, there would have been no pro contract.
AltamahaDawg
June 2nd, 2011
8:43 am
How about one of those cash grab wind tunnels in the locker room?
gdawginkalamazoo
June 2nd, 2011
8:43 am
Can somebody tell me who forces these kids to go play college football? I guess I haven’t seen the guard towers and guns around the practice facilities. Damn fine job of hiding them. I guess I would define getting a college education (that otherwise would not be available or realistic) for playing a sport for four years, an opportunity in life.
As with most opportunities in life either you take advantage of them or not. I have never heard of a college athlete being forced to play a sport.
Let us be very honest II
June 2nd, 2011
8:47 am
Jerry, you have one great idea ………… they love to redistribute wealth, right? So let the bonus babies do THAT wilth their former college team mates. Great idea, sir.
In other words, a pro running back now can pay back his college linemen who will become business men or teachers or pharmacists or MDs or attorneys or drop outs. I like it. HE DOES owe them for all that fine up front blocking. Moreno only did it for two years, so he was not leg worn and should pay some back.
Go Dogs.
Bobcat
June 2nd, 2011
8:59 am
What about the scholarships and free room and board the players are already receiving; and now Spurrier wants to give them more. I say it’s ok as long as Spurrier and the other coaches pay every student that attends the games the same amount. It’s only fair to all students. Better yet, how about requiring the players to attend classes and do their course work and actually earn a degree. That way they can get a job and earn money to take their girlfriends out.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 2nd, 2011
9:08 am
Why not have the NFL provide this money for the players. The NCAA football program is nothing but the minor league for the pros anyway. That’s why the kid is more concerned about going to a program that he considers having the best exposure to the pros. and maybe having a winning record more than another school. That is the motivating force for a lot of these kids today. Loyalty to one’s state is mostly a joke. Why pretend these athletes are amateur. They are all, or mostly all, interviewing for the pros. and training for 2+ years.
tiger
June 2nd, 2011
9:10 am
spurrier is the leader of this group, coming up with new proposals. saban also is good at leading the other coaches to his view. richt is dissapearing on the big stage.
chem
June 2nd, 2011
9:10 am
They give band members and cheerleaders per diem during out-of-state basketball tournaments. I don’t see a difference except that the players deserve it more. Grad students get free tuition and stipend to cover extra living expenses. It’s not a redistribution of wealth, socialism, or some form of welfare you paranoid rednecks. The players are the ones generating the wealth for the university! The distribution of the wealth is artificially skewed towards the people in control due to archaic rules protecting “amateurism.” The current system is a form of administrative welfare. It’s a very convenient argument to deny the players simple living expenses because it “hurts the sanctity of the system.”
casual observer
June 2nd, 2011
9:11 am
AJC comments sections are the septic tank of the internet. I don’t think half of you can read, and if you do, its not very well.
Mountin Dawg
June 2nd, 2011
9:22 am
Will the proposed $300 a game go against the SEC salary cap or just add to it?
From Where I Sit
June 2nd, 2011
9:40 am
Great Idea Coach Spurrier!
Enough Said!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
June 2nd, 2011
9:44 am
Mountin Dawg, salary cap? Isn’t that the Auburn cap the kids pull off the table on National signing day?
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 2nd, 2011
9:46 am
Who is going to monitor this money to insure nobody, (not that we all know any coaches that cheat at the drop of a hat), gets a little more money on the side?
If a kid gets money for 12 or 13 games and that is it, what does he do the rest of the year. Armed robbery comes to mind, in the case of some players.
What if that kid, decides to hold onto his bucks for the week, goes out and gets drunk and ends up with a DUI. A lot of them already do that without the extra money, so you wonder how they would be responsible enough to cease that practice and monitor their own behavior.
Do we only pay football players extra money? There are a fair amount of sports in college that don’t make any money at all. What about those athletes in those other sports? Basketball makes money for most universities so we would need to consider paying the players there as well.
No matter how you do it, the least sane way is to allow the coaches to control the process. Do you really think they would make sure that no extra money ends up in the players hand? Think about a scenario where the player suddenly needs some extra cash for an unusual expense, say, like new tires on his vehicle. Does the coach say, that the player can not have the extra money, or does that player somehow get that extra stipend.
There is no easy solution to this problem. Start paying athletes and you alienate probably the majority of the non-playing segment of the student population. You leave it open for a fair amount of abuse by some coaches and even players.
PMC
June 2nd, 2011
9:55 am
Just one more reason some of the stipulations from Title IX are unrealistic.
Football IS different from other sports. Treat it as such.
DollarDog
June 2nd, 2011
9:59 am
Show me the bones!
DawginLex
June 2nd, 2011
10:00 am
The paper trail on this would be a huge mess
AfghanHound
June 2nd, 2011
10:04 am
what don’t athletes who are admitted under special circumstances (i.e., they would not have ordinarily been admitted were they not exceptional athletes) be a part of the teams “non-degree” athletes, who could be paid a certain amount. This would cover 90% of a football or basketball’s players. The schools that would have fewer “non-degree” athletes would be held in very high esteem, while the others would be recognized for what they are. This might be an incentive for players to do well in school so as not be be so stigmatized as a “non-degree athlete”. How many “non-degree” athletes would your favorite school have on their team?
Dirty Dawg
June 2nd, 2011
10:07 am
Hey ‘dawg4ever’…I’d vote to say ‘4ever’ ends now, and you can take Jerome with you…fact is UGA doesn’t need your incessant Richt-bashing, or Jerome’s, or anybody else’s either. The man didn’t change his position on ‘oversigning’, he made it clear how he feels, and has felt about it all along.
As for the paying of players, this isn’t anything new and if it were as simple as ‘the old ball coach’ says it would have been done decades ago…whatayabet the guys that went along with the deal were all golfers and cooked this crap up on the 19th hole?
Clearly, some sort of process needs to be put in place to help these athletes and their families, but as was said, it would be a ‘game-changer’ and who knows how big of a mess we’d have then. One thing I would be in favor of is that these athletes ’should’ be able to sell their stuff..I mean, it’s their stuff so why shouldn’t they be able to do whatever they wanted with it? That’s the American way, ain’t it? Having said that, there should also be a limit on what they can get for it – $1,000 or so, tops – otherwise agents and their reps would just use it to ‘launder’ bribes to players for ‘future considerations’. Perhaps those proceeds should help fund some sort of ‘annuity’ to be paid out when a kid completes his/her eligibility and/or earns an undergraduate degree…then again, that just complicates the issue even more. Meanwhile, Coach Richt has a program to run and a season to show the naysayers and the media that loves to fan those ‘fans’ , that Georgia’s still a ‘big-dog’ in this fight.
AltamahaDawg
June 2nd, 2011
10:09 am
I don’t think that anyone, coaches or players, are saying that a college education isn’t payment enough for what they do. The problem is that because of the NCAA’s rules are so restrictive that these kids can’t even get a ride home without it being an infraction.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
June 2nd, 2011
10:14 am
[...] bump would be distributed.Mark Richt wasn’t in favor of Spurrier’s proposal, but “the spirit of wanting to get more financial help for our players is unanimous.”Florida AD Jeremy Foley points out that money couldn’t be paid in one sport only and one [...]
Thy Hypocrisy of the Humper Nation
June 2nd, 2011
10:20 am
So tell us honorable Dawg fans, how much was Hershel paid? You people have short memories!
AfghanHound
June 2nd, 2011
10:23 am
Do you think that schools should admit athletes who do not meet normal admission requirements? I’d rather reserve those spots for students who were not admitted because they “barely” missed the cut-off. I.e., they scored 1225 instead of 1250 on SAT. Who deserves to be at UGa, a 990 athlete or a 1225 non-athlete? I know who I want my tax dollars to support on this one.
Punter
June 2nd, 2011
10:28 am
Chip-
June 2, 9:11 a.m. comment
AJC comments compared to a septic tank?
Please ban this person’s ip since he finds this blog so disgusting. I don’t like being insulted and compared to septic tanks. 1st grade comments are over the line.
I think your blog is a pleasure to read.
Thank you Chip.
no way.....
June 2nd, 2011
10:31 am
no way….they already get more than the vast majority of their college peers. tuition, room, food, access…… these kids want to live the nfl lifestyle while in college. sure the university makes money off the programs. it is not like that is hidden, everyone knows that going into signing a scholarship.
if the kids don’t want to play football and get an education, let them go get a job. i am sure there are countless kids who would step in and take their place.
Louder
June 2nd, 2011
10:31 am
Ya’ll just let me handle this situation for the whole conference,
rather than just for one school. It’s worked out over here for
decades. Besides, I’m gonna need something to do soon and
I will have plenty of time to handle it ethically.
ugaclassof2004
June 2nd, 2011
10:32 am
I don’t know if I’m particularly for or against players getting a stipend to play. I do know these guys do get quite a few incentives for making a bowl game( play stations etc.), so I’m not sure that a weekly stipend is necessary. I DO however wish these guys were able to get some part-time jobs, especially in the off season. That would at least give them some walking around money. I don’t worry too much about football players during the season. Trust me, when you win, people are more than happy to buy you drinks, food etc. But in the off-season,it gets tight. Not sure what the NCAA rules are for players having part-time jobs, but allowing some leeway on that would be a good middle ground.
MW
June 2nd, 2011
10:33 am
Pay for football players? Are they willing to pay college baseball players, basketball players and other athletes? What about the women’s programs? Shouldn’t honor students get the same since they give a school prestige as well?
CM
June 2nd, 2011
10:39 am
Point made on a recent college talk show.
There are a lot of athletes that are playing football
on scholarships, rather than baseball, cause there
is only a limited number of scholarships available
for baseball. Same goes for all other sports. Football
players shouldn’t benefit over other sports and athletes.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 2nd, 2011
10:39 am
Title IX! Enough said, move on. Nothing to see here except Spurrier getting free publicty for South Carolina and stirring the pot. Typical Spurrier and alot of dummies jumping on board with him.
Eddie Murphy
June 2nd, 2011
10:40 am
give em a Coke and a smile and tell ‘em to shut the f#@k up.
AfghanHound
June 2nd, 2011
10:41 am
MW, don’t you want to change your last statement? “honor students give a school prestige AS WELL”. It is indeed the student and faculty that brings prestige, not the athletics program. Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton????
Ted
June 2nd, 2011
10:41 am
Good idea. Easy to understand. I like it. Discuss the message, not the messenger.
Punter
June 2nd, 2011
10:44 am
Chip,
Please permanently ban the person calling your comment section a “septic tank”. June 2, 9:11 comment. I am tired of people disparaging your work, if they don’t like, and resort to grade school name calling, ban them.
down south fan
June 2nd, 2011
10:44 am
ok for 1 thing all the people complaining about this and that . stop it when football seasons get here you,ll all loving the players sacks, so make up your minds in or out
heartofdarkness
June 2nd, 2011
10:47 am
Sounds like a lot of dawg fans are waxing nostalgically for Ivy League football. What explains the universities and booster associations reluctance to give it to them?
Ryan2White
June 2nd, 2011
10:54 am
Pay them boys! They make millions of dollars for their school and the NC double @$$holes (NCAA)..
UGA Insider
June 2nd, 2011
11:01 am
I think Mike Slive should pay it out for his $1,000,000/ year bonus he gets paid by the SEC to have a BCS Nat’l Camp.
Chuck
June 2nd, 2011
11:01 am
Using the narrow minded Spurrier approach, I am sure it wouldn’t be long before these coaches salaries would be raised to cover the paltry $300 a game they were so gallantly dealing out. These same coaches that jump jobs for bucks have no intentions of giving any $$$$ up. They know in the end it won’t be their money the kids would be getting.
Chris
June 2nd, 2011
11:01 am
Pay ‘em!! And all you hypocrites who say they shouldn’t be paid. Well, you have probably never played an organized sport in your life. Believe me, the risks far outweigh the benefits.
For you couch potatoes who sit at home and yell at these guys through the T.V., on Saturdays, mad because these guys have already made more of there lives at 20 years old, then you have at 45, Bite Me!
ATL Sports Fan
June 2nd, 2011
11:02 am
This will never happen. What are coaches going to do at smaller D-1 schools? If they are only getting paid 500K a year, how do they pay 300K a season to their players? What about the other 15 players on scholarship? I guess the players being red-shirtted will not be paid. Talk about having a team divided. Last but not least, what about the other sports? This would be against title ix.
ATL Sports Fan
June 2nd, 2011
11:04 am
The NCAA is already concerned with boosters paying players. What kind of issues do you think will emerge if you have coaches paying some players 500, 1000 or more to certain players. I can see it now. I decided to go to this school because the coach pays some players more and i might be that player.
AltamahaDawg
June 2nd, 2011
11:08 am
I can’t imagine the NCAA has an absolute ban from getting part time jobs in the summer. They used to all gop home and work, or whatever. But that before they all stayed on campus to basically train yr round. It’s probably more a matter of time, than rule.(maybe both) I suppose there is some fear of something appearing preferencial with part time jobs on campus or at “dealerships”.
Maybe, part of the equation is: If you are home, alls fair, if you are on campus, it’s a differnt rule? Somebody aught to be able to clarify this.
BartBuzz
June 2nd, 2011
11:09 am
This would open up one big can of worms. Once you start down that path college football will never be the same. Let me see. Football players get a tuition-free education, free books and free food. And I’m sure there are other freebies we don’t know about.
bgdawg
June 2nd, 2011
11:14 am
wait no Gene Chizik on that list??? Wha???
DIT
June 2nd, 2011
11:21 am
Serious question – I have been gone from Athens for about 25 years. Without a scholarship, what’s it cost these days for a student to attend one year at UGA?
DawginLex
June 2nd, 2011
11:28 am
Spurrier needs to start using his AARP benefits and go play golf
janice
June 2nd, 2011
11:29 am
Isn’t the quality education the players are getting (which includes free tutoring and structured study halls to help them pass their classes) for FREE payment enough? The players should be grateful, not greedy. They get to run around on the field and high five their way through college instead of trying to work to make money to stay in school. I would rather play a sport for one semester instead of work 5 nights a week to pay for classes.
AfghanHound
June 2nd, 2011
11:33 am
Chris, you’ve probably never made a positive contribution to anything outside of sports, to which you pay ultimate homage. You my friend, are a sports junkie, meaning it has taken over your life.
NICK
June 2nd, 2011
11:37 am
Funny, all the nut-jobs in the SEC signed off on that proposal.
Hmm.
bgdawg
June 2nd, 2011
11:37 am
i believe that college players should sell what they earned. they earned the jersey they wear they earned the trophies, they earned the rings. if they want to sell them while they’re in college then they should have that freedom but what spurrier is implying might just kill college football.
Call it like it is
June 2nd, 2011
11:40 am
This is beyond silly. Free education, free food, free tutors. Pay them, I dont think so. Lets face the facts more then likely 75% of these guys would never qualify to be at the school their at. Their picked to play football and in return they are given the “rare” opportunity to get an education, to which many of them don’t take. Out of 70 players how many will make it to the NFL, 2, 3 average. The rest not so much. They have benn given a great gift, its up to them to run with it.
*Do the schools make huge amounts of money of them? Yep so what. That money is then filter out to the whole school. Don’t like it, then dont go, dont take the free education, stand your ground, or you could step back and look at the kids who have busted their ass their whole entire life to get to that school and work 2 jobs so they continue to be at that school. You want to pay someone, pay the kid who has the grades and overall will be better for society then some hack who played ball for 2 years, didnt make it to the big boys and now is a bag boy at the local Krogers.
Captain Obvious
June 2nd, 2011
11:42 am
Umm… the document is symbolic. It expresses a valid concern shared by most college coaches. I don’t think anyone in the meeting thought it would be adopted verbatim. Its meant to start the process, not end it.
Dwayne
June 2nd, 2011
11:43 am
We can not pay the football players because the money they should get goes to the badmitten team.
bluedevils
June 2nd, 2011
11:44 am
why would some of the players want to take a cut in pay to just $300 a game?
gomdawg
June 2nd, 2011
11:48 am
Over 15 % of the players leave early for money. So we don’t need to pay a player .He or she knows this when they come to a school
a nony mous
June 2nd, 2011
11:48 am
Only thing I hate about this idea is that I have to agree with Spurrier on something. Another old ball coach from Alabama named Bryant also proposed this idea long time ago.
Jonkdawg
June 2nd, 2011
11:52 am
Let the judge decide , who is it? The blood sucker NCAA that’s who! they are the one who will say yes or no to everything, it is not up to Mark Ritch or Spurrier. Think before say kiddo.
NWGA Dawg
June 2nd, 2011
11:52 am
Got to hand it to the “Ole Ball Coach”…at least what he is proposing is getting people talking, which is exactly what needs to happen. I don’t know how this is going to be done, but I agree it needs to happen. I played Div I baseball, and had to buy a loaf of bread and bologne to just have lunch/dinner for 2-3 weeks out of every month. I’m not saying we need to pay the players, but we definitely need to up the ante a bit and help them out. I cringe when I see people on here who don’t agree with this, b/c quite frankly they have never played big time college athletics. Kudos to Spurrier for taking up for the student athlete…
Blackberry Cobbler
June 2nd, 2011
12:03 pm
co dawg
June 1st, 2011
6:34 pm
Apparently, education no longer carries much value. That’s why the United States lags behind other countries. These players get room, board, education and food. Poor college student is part of the experience.
co dawg– You could not be further wrong and off-base. Education does matter is and is valued. But, these players are also there for something else very important– to play ball and that raises millions of dollars for the unviersity and coaches salaries. Player scholarships, as you say, pay for things like tuition and room and board but gives the player nothing for “spending money”. Many students work while in school. Players can’t do that. So why shouldn’t they get a little money? I think it could be funded through the athletic associations and included in the scholarship.
Joshua Barlowe
June 2nd, 2011
12:05 pm
The SEC already pays their players.
DUMB.
1eyedJack
June 2nd, 2011
12:08 pm
Then he got an idea!
An awful idea!
THE OL’ Ball Coach
GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
Hasn’t college athletics gotten along fairly well without paying atletes? Why now all of a sudden should athletes be paid? Because the conferences and the schools make boat loads of money? No one forces anybody to go to college and play sports.
If they want to get paid then they should get drafted and play in the NFL minor leagues. What? Well if the NFL is not willing to pay to develop them then we’re trying to wring the neck of the wrong chicken.
Dr. H
June 2nd, 2011
12:10 pm
Laugh all you want, but Coach Spurrier is trying to get a needed discussion started. Just try to get any of the Presidents of any SEC school to tell you what would happen to their school’s budget without football income. Bur first, you would have to get the Preidents’ heads out of the sand!!!
MyPatooti
June 2nd, 2011
12:11 pm
He would be “opening up a can of worms” as anyone with common sense and logic can see. The very first thing that would happen would be the ladies golf team filing a lawsuit for their money. There has to be a way, but no this way.
1eyedJack
June 2nd, 2011
12:13 pm
Shouldn’t about 80% of these guys qualify for Pell Grants? That’s some serious coinage.
Skyler
June 2nd, 2011
12:16 pm
RE: Sounds like a recruiting tactic in disguise to me
I have to agree strongly. It is a “I look superior tactic.”
Crimson Nation
June 2nd, 2011
12:31 pm
@ bgdawg…you leg humpers are still whining about your sorry ass team from last year. typical losers. Chizik was not the one caught “paying”….that was Mississippi. If you’re going to be sore, at least get your facts straight.
From the great state of Alabama where not ONE but TWO teams went back to back….2009 National Champs, Heisman Trophy Winner and 2010 National Champs, Heisman Trophy Winner.
Crimson Nation
June 2nd, 2011
12:37 pm
But back to the REAL story…bad idea all the way around. $300 will become $500 will become $1000, etc., etc., and then eventually baseball players, track and field, gymnastics, basketball, swimmers. The coaches SAY the money will come out of their own pocket but come on..REALLY? I guarantee you their salaries will be increased to that exact amount to cover those “out of pocket” expenses. The professors and administrators across the board will all have to give up something in the budget whether it’s their own compensation or classroom materials. Or tuition will be raised to cover the costs associated with paying players. There are too many scenarios to list as to why this is a BAD idea!
Atlanta87
June 2nd, 2011
12:38 pm
As an Auburn fan, I actually agree with you Crimson Nation. These mutts are so bitter about how sorry their football program is that they have to have something else to talk about. The Newton jokes are old. Shut up and go pee on a tree or go chase a mailman.
schmeckdawg
June 2nd, 2011
12:39 pm
1eyedJack
June 2nd, 2011
12:13 pm
Shouldn’t about 80% of these guys qualify for Pell Grants? That’s some serious coinage.
GREAT CALL!!!!!!!!!!!
and the winner is ...
June 2nd, 2011
12:40 pm
How much do the players get for practicing? How much do they get for rehabbing blown knees? Instead of paying atheletes, how about paying every student actually enrolled at a school for the purpose of learning something that will help their careers (and not leave them 10 years in debt) by reducing tuition. That could be accomplished by paying head coaches $24,000 a year, and make all assistants be volunteers. They could return to using leather helments (saves on paint) and play on fields of dirt and clumps of grass, with just a few aluminum stands. Free admission to all students (50 cents to all others), and the scoreboards are like on a little league field.
Or, they could leave their attachments to educational institutes and call a spade a spade. They are for-profit businesses that need to pay all employees a living wage and become the minor leagues to professional sports, without making everyone in the world pay for their little games, whether or not they care about their little games.
Red
June 2nd, 2011
12:42 pm
I say go after the NCAA with pitch forks. They are the ones in control of who makes money out of these student-athletes. Everyone besides the student-athletes are making money out of them. Sure they get full scholarship and good education but that doesn’t compare to the millions that NCAA, Coaches, Sponsors, private companies make off of these kids. Once their athletic career is done, most student-athletes only receive a diploma, pat in the back, and a spot in the unemployment line. I say give them $100,000 at the end of their four years. That’s $25,000 per year. This way, they are more prepared to go out in the real world and have enough save in case they don’t immediately get jobs. Some will blow this money but that’s their choice.
I say go after the NCAA with pitch forks. They are the ones in control of who makes money out of these student-athletes. Everyone besides the student-athletes are making money out of them. Sure they get full scholarship and good education but that doesn’t compare to the millions that NCAA, Coaches, Sponsors, private companies make off of these kids. Once their athletic career is done, most student-athletes only receive a diploma, pat in the back, and a spot in the unemployment line. I say give them $100,000 at the end of their four years. That’s $25,000 per year. This way, they are more prepared to go out in the real world and have enough save in case they don’t immediately get jobs. Some will blow this money but that’s their choice.
I say go after the NCAA with pitch forks. They are the ones in control of who makes money out of these student-athletes. Everyone besides the student-athletes are making money out of them. Sure they get full scholarship and good education but that doesn’t compare to the millions that NCAA, Coaches, Sponsors, private companies make off of these kids. Once their athletic career is done, most student-athletes only receive a diploma, pat in the back, and a spot in the unemployment line. I say give them $100,000 at the end of their four years. That’s $25,000 per year. This way, they are more prepared to go out in the real world and have enough save in case they don’t immediately get jobs. Some will blow this money but that’s their choice.
Crimson Nation
June 2nd, 2011
12:43 pm
Back at ya Atlanta87. The Newton jokes out of Athens shows desperation on their part. But then what do you expect out of a fan-base that doesn’t have anything better to talk about or remember other than 1980? Hope the Oak Trees will be okay. Bantering back and forth about who’s the better team in our state is a long-time tradition but one idiot resorting to that kind of destruction takes all the fun out of our great state rivalry.
DawginLex
June 2nd, 2011
12:45 pm
Spurrier should start cashing in on AARP benefits and go play golf.
Ole’ boy has got issues
GOLDMAN SACHS
June 2nd, 2011
12:46 pm
`
I thought $purrier and $aban were already paying their players.
.
Columbus
June 2nd, 2011
12:53 pm
It is definately a recruiting tactic for Spurrier and while there is NO way ot will EVER happen, if I were Richt, I would sign it for recruiting purposes. But them man is honest and had integrity and knows much more about the behind the scene and big picture than any of us so he doesn’t agree with it because he knows it will NEVER work so I respect that. But me? I would have signed it just in case it helped a little with recruiting and to avoid having to explain to recruits why I did not.
AltamahaDawg
June 2nd, 2011
12:54 pm
Spurrier didn’t start the discussion. Maybe jacked up some blog hits.
The reason this is even reported is because this was his odd input ABOUT a topic of discussion already on the agenda. Raising your hand and interruptiong a discussion in progress, isnt how you start a discussion . If anything, what he put out is a distraction from serious people trying to come up with a solution etched in reality.
Mike
June 2nd, 2011
12:58 pm
The value of a college degree cannot be measured. I don’t think players should be paid. Amateurism would be taken away. They are getting enough as it is – the ability to get a free education without having to make the grades the other 99% have to make to get in. My daughter had a 3.9 GPA out of High School, a hight SAT, six AP certificates and three IB certificates, plus activities. This is typical of what it takes the “ordinary” student to be admitted. The athlete gets in on grades and scores that are embarrasing. They get enough as it is …
Columbus
June 2nd, 2011
12:59 pm
No way coaches in ALL sports or small conferences could EVER do this. Spurrier needs to be slapped or something for this self-serving recruiting tool. Is he a genius or has he lost his mind?
Mike
June 2nd, 2011
1:02 pm
These are supposed to be sports played by college kids. To call most of these kids “college” material is embarrasing. Most of these kids can barely read out of high school. We need true college-level sports – create a semi-pro or minor league for these morons that only want to play ball and dream of the pros. I’m sick of these idiots. Give them more? You’ve got to be kidding.
Warner
June 2nd, 2011
1:04 pm
Some things amiss here.
Richt was in the moniroity on the pay players a small stipend proposal.
Richt was the lone dissenter on the move to keep player signings at 28, not 25.
It appears that Richt is stubborn.
Not open
to any new ideas not his own.
Steve Spurrier
June 2nd, 2011
1:15 pm
I have been paying my players all along. How do you think I did so well at Florida?
DawginLex
June 2nd, 2011
1:15 pm
Coach Richt is the only one in the room with the guts to stand up for his principles..
All the others are sheep being led to slaughter.
RiffRaff
June 2nd, 2011
1:16 pm
CMR – “Maybe it’s through the scholarship becoming more valuable.” Seems the more reasonable solution. Once you start giving out cash it will become abused and out of hand.
DawginLex
June 2nd, 2011
1:21 pm
Spurrier will do anything to avoid going 2-5 versus Richt head to head while at the chicken coop.
RiffRaff
June 2nd, 2011
1:28 pm
What would Jim Tressel do?
David
June 2nd, 2011
1:30 pm
C O dawg, nice article. Did you say take out a loan for extra money??? Clark Howard would have great dialogue with you. You have to be kidding right? I’ll tell you what. That 80K-120k you mentioned, let the school be responsible for finding a job anywhere in that range (we will take the low end) the day after completion of a degree and watch how things change about free this and free that. The schools are making at least that much from every player, the least they can do is enable you be able to pay YOUR loan back. Now, I bet your range will probably go to 20K-30K now. Bottom line, the players are getting pimped, screwed, etc. You must know what I mean. I am an average sports fanatic who went to college, worked and paid as I went. I didn’t bring the university a dime or in other words they didn’t make any real money from me. I saw I had more extra money than the athletes and that is a damn shame.
The Dawgfather
June 2nd, 2011
1:51 pm
Pay them!! College football players being labeled as “amateurs” is a joke. Accept it or not, NCAA football has jumped into the entertainment industry and generates big $$ and big profits. So why does everyone keep trying to believe it’s still pure? Anyone who thinks that Mark Richt is more valuable to Georgia than AJ Green, Knowshon Moreno, Stafford, or David Pollack has their head in the sand. When’s the last time you saw someone wear a CMR jersey? And as far as a “free” education… that dog won’t hunt neither. Less than half of football players graduate so most aren’t getting one. And I’ve never seen someone without a scholarship having to attend “mandatory” and “voluntary” workouts that impedes their ability to take on extra jobs for money. Next time you see your team playing on National TV, enrollment for your university going up, or visiting the state of the art facilities on game day, thank your athletes for their $0.50/hour labor.
Hollis
June 2nd, 2011
1:53 pm
As a life long Dawg fan, I’ve never thought too much one way or the other about the “evil genius”, except when we were playing Florida. I gotta admitt he’s dead on on this one.
gatorhoop
June 2nd, 2011
1:58 pm
pay the players a percentage of the profits and leave it in an account for when they graduate they can have access to it. it keeps them in school and keeps them on a good path.
UGA’s Michael Adams expects ‘robust discussion’ among SEC presidents on over-signing | UGA sports blog
June 2nd, 2011
2:09 pm
[...] is traditionally known as the quiet day around here, which is in stark contrast to yesterday when Steve Spurrier was proposing paying players, Nick Saban was storming out of meetings and the conference leaders were retooling men’s [...]
dumbdawg
June 2nd, 2011
2:09 pm
While we’re at it, why not pay coaches the same as the teaching staff. IF I was a star collegiate player from a poor background, it would be hard seeing all the revenue and nothing for me.
dansfae
June 2nd, 2011
2:22 pm
If the NFL needs a minor league, it should start one, pay the players and leave the colleges and universities out of it.
Aubie the Tiger
June 2nd, 2011
2:24 pm
We pay a lot more than that!!!!
AltamahaDawg
June 2nd, 2011
2:30 pm
Warner…try reading first.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
June 2nd, 2011
3:09 pm
Right on, AIRBORN, so many of these athletes have such big egos no one can stand to be around them. Not all but many seem to think they should be worshiped and adored. One pro football player some months ago actually had the audacity to compare himself to a solder in battle. He was quickly reprimanded by his coach. And by the way let me say THANK YOU AND ALL MILITARY FOR YOUR SERVICE. I will have more respect and admiration for you brave people than any athlete.
G8R GRAD
June 2nd, 2011
3:25 pm
Increase the scholarships’ coverage to include costs of living.
To pay these kids outright would inpose taxable income liability and lead to student athlete unionization.
cadawg
June 2nd, 2011
4:22 pm
let operation “talk about anything but oversigning” commence…
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 2nd, 2011
5:03 pm
I think the ole ball coach is getting senile, coming out with something like this. The news wires are already having a ball with this one. Just the kind of notoriety the SEC needs. I think ole stevie boy done opened his mouth too wide on this one.
AltamahaDawg
June 2nd, 2011
9:02 pm
Good of Stevie to wait till he is going to retire next year to have such a revelation about his paycheck.
F Spurrier
June 2nd, 2011
9:57 pm
Hey Spurrier, go F yourself!
Mon, Wed, Fri LINKS | RIsportslink.com
June 3rd, 2011
7:10 am
[...] —Chip Towers/Atlanta Journal-Const: Steve Spurrier wants to give players $300 per game (out of his own pocket). [...]
Mobile Dawg
June 3rd, 2011
9:13 am
An “opportunity” exists for a great education. If an athelete doesn’t want to apply themself, whose fault is that? Personally I think an “allowance” should be part of the “scholorship package” for all students that fall into the category of being a “full time athelete”. Seems there could be odd jobs at the University, or the local businesses, or charities that could use some help so they could earn money for personal use. I don’t know the actual number of students who would fall into that category but imagine that it wouldn’t be a number to large to absorb.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 3rd, 2011
10:14 am
Mobile,
Not sure about that jobs idea. I think that got OSU in trouble with that concept. Paying players for a job, and they don’t do any work at all at the place of employment. The idea of including the stipend as part of the scholarship could have merit, provided someone would monitor these kids a little. A lot of them have not seen a lot of money or even an amount like 300 per month and would not know how to manage it. It would still be a problem though, since every athlete, no matter their sport on an athletic scholarship, probably has the same problems the football player does.
co dawg
June 3rd, 2011
11:18 am
Clark Howard would more likely say keep your spending down and finish your degree. The conversation should be less about paying these players and more about finishing the degree. Why? Well, just take a look at unemployment rates from May ‘11.
Less than a high school diploma – 14.7%
Some college or associate degree – 8%
Bachelor’s degree and higher – 4.5%
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t04.htm
It’s really time to stop worrying about paying some student athlete 300 bucks a game. A lifetime of employment is worth far more especially, since statistically speaking, these kids are NOT going pro. An extremely small percentage get a shot and even fewer make it. 32 starting quarterbacks in the nfl and Brett Favre had one of those jobs for roughly 20 years.
Let them take out a small loan each year. And let’s be honest, it would be small since they are not paying for their tuition, housing and meals. 3k a year = 12k after 4 years. Since these are most likely subsidized loans (which is pretty much free money), I am quite certain that the 50 to a 100 bucks a month is something that college grads can afford.
Not sure who made the networking comment but you are way off. UGA football players are unable to network. Huh? Seriously. Come on. That’s absolutely absurd.
Get the degree and feel fortunate to have a good education for very little out of pocket.