I agree that the disparity is a serious problem. However, I reject the notion that the solution is to pay the athletes. The fundamental problem is the intertwining of a business and an academic pursuit; colleges should not be in the business of sports, and the sports they have should be about amateur competition rather than fundraising or prepping athletes for the NBA, or the NFL, etc.

The solution is to divorce academic institutions from the sports business.

The solution is to get rid of ridiculous requirements that certain pro leagues (NFL, NBA) have mandating certain years of college experience.

This deprives no one their ability to make money & also gives student athletes the ability to either get an education or hone their skills.

Most of these high paid coaches and rules violations involve football and basketball anyway...

I can't imagine this lasts much longer -- it's such a charade to begin with that eventually there will have to be a major shift in how college athletics are handled.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/magazine/lets-start-paying...

I wouldn't consider full ride scholarships, personal tutors and assistants, as well as what ever kick backs they can get under the table from boosters and alums "nothing at all".

But there's essentially a modest salary cap. Whether you just made the cut for a scholarship or you're in the Heisman race and are responsible for a huge boost in ticket sales, you get ~$70k, which must be redeemed in the form of tuition, college room and board, tutoring, etc. You can try to supplement with under the table money, but it will still be pretty modest (like 10k max?).

On the other hand, coaches get to demand pay that is somewhat linked to the value they provide to the school, and they don't even have to risk career-ending and life-changing injuries (and incur almost certain subtle brain damage) in the process.

Oh, and as is common in our society, the people with the high-paid, safe job are mostly white, and there are many people of color in the exploited job (especially in the sports that make real money). Oh, and they're basically all men.

As we've seen from scandals at universities around the country, players don't actually get much of an education. How could they when they have to devote so much time to proper diet, practice, and then the games themselves?

What will be fascinating is to watch what happens with youth sports once they start paying college athletes. It will no longer be about little Johnny getting a college scholarship to play for Note Dame, it will be about real money. Can't wait to see what the sidelines sound like at your local youth sporting event.

I don't get this line of reasoning. Colleges will never be able to pay what pro teams do. They will never be able to afford to pay every athlete on every team. Certain colleges will always be able to pay more than others. This won't change anything. If anything, it will exacerbate the problem.

The "real" money will always be in the pros. Get the kids to the pros quicker, if they want.