A topic of disucssion at the Summit League meeting this week in Chicago is the NCAA proposal to add $2,000 to a student-athlete’s grant, legislation that is being pushed by NCAA president Mark Emmer and was passed on Thursday. The purpose is to help defray the costs of college taking into account athletes have limited opportunities to work outside of the classroom.
It still has some boards and committees to go through, but NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor believes it could reach the NCAA membership for a vote by April. (Correction later today from Taylor: Now that the Division I Board of Directors passed it, there will be no more committees or discussion). Suffice to say, adding $2,000 per athlete is rather concerning to the have-nots of Division I athletics — like teams in the Summit League.
Taylor said the conference will collectively have to make that decision for members to institute the additional grants. He also said there are a lot of questions, such as how will partial scholarships be affected or what are the implications to gender equity. Taylor said NDSU has yet to estimate what a $2,000 per athlete addition would do to its budget.
“I don’t want to say I’m concerned right now but if we as a conference say we support it … I don’t know,” he said.
I’ve read many of the comments from supporters and dissenters on this legislation. I understand some of this comes from extra fees, like costs for a lab, that are not covered by a scholarship that kids from low-income families struggle with. It’s not $2,000 to go to the local mall. Well, then itemize it and have to covered by the scholarship. My best argument comes from Boise State President Robert Kustra, who told ESPN. com try telling this to the rest of the student body “who are making minimum wage, collecting tips, trying to find their way into their next semester at the university … Go back and examine the life of a student-athlete in intercollegiate sports in America today, and see how privileged they are to be where they are and the opportunities they have.”
At NDSU, a full scholarship is worth thousands, somewhere around $80,000 to $90,000 over four to five years. They earn it, but it’s still a lot of money and it’s enough of a reward.
Well stated on the hardships of non athlete students. I don’t see it passing in the Summit if it comes to that.
Yeah, athletes get nothing but a free education at some of the best schools in the country. That and the infinite number of alumni and supporter contacts that lead to a job at healthy salaries that aren’t available to Joe student. Yeah, its a no brainer. Pay them, too.
If this passed, any idea on how much it would cost NDSU per year? Where would that money come from?
Just where are all of these supposed millions in profits going? Who is making all of the money off these student-athletes? If anything, it all goes back into the athletic departments, to build better facilities, to attract better athletes. Tuition keeps going up across the board and now there will be another rise in tuition if this goes through so athletes can be paid?? Yup, a no-brainer.
This is a pandora’s box if there ever was one. I understand paying the students something when the program, team they are on is profitable but 85% of teams don’t make money. Football, Basketball and Hockey are the only sports that consistently make money for a school, a few run profitable wrestling programs but it’s maybe 5-6 schools (think Iowa and Oklahoma). Its tough to say, “Sorry Tim, baseball doesn’t make money so you get nothing but Joe is getting $2,000 because the football team made $2 million last year.” Maybe this is the right answer but it comes with some large risks.
I smell NCAA sanctions glore if this passes.
All I care about is how it will impact NDSU. If Teammakers can raise the money and if it makes us a better program than I am for it.
If the other teams in the Valley don’t have the means to do it, so what. They all have decent stadiums and average 10k a game.
If only NDSU, UNI, and YSU can pony up the money, they need to figure out how to. Competition makes everyone better. Survival of the fittest.
I think the Valley should give teams the options to do up to 2k up to as many as they can afford.
If that means the Indiana States of the world can’t compete. So be it. Let them move to a weak non scholarship conference
Lets talked real data here…..
Budgets for Missouri Valley Football Conference Schools (Football)
Source US Department of Education 2009-2010
In millions of dollars:
NDSU $3.3
Southern Illinois $3.2
Youngstown State $3.2
Illinois State $2.8
UNI $2.5
Missouri State $2.4
Indiana State $2.4
Western Illinois $2.3
SDSU $2.0
So SDSU and Western Illinois have the smallest Football budgets in the conference but most schools are until $3 million.
Now if you look at Institutional Support for Athletics some school can leverage institutional money better than others. (Data from USA Today: NCAA Finance Database 2008-2009) – Also in Millions of Dollars
Southern Illinois $12.4
Illinois State $9.4
Indiana State $7.2
Western Illinois $6.9
North Dakota State University $6.5
UNI $6.5
SDSU $5.5
Missouri State $5.1
So in every example SDSU is near the bottom and some institutions have very large budgets athletics just not all going to football.
Here is some source materials:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ncaa-finances.htm
I had no idea what a jump it was from FCS to FBS.
NDSU total athletic budget is $14.4 million.
Here are some MAC schools:
Northern Illinois – $22.2 million
Western Michigan – $23.7 million
Central Michigan – $24.7 million
Miami (Ohio) – $26 million
I had no idea how much lower level FBS schools were spending on Athletics.
Yeah – Michigan $106.9 million.
Crazy stuff. Michigan can afford to pay their students.
As the parent of a former Division I athlete, I will state that the $2000 should be paid to these athletes. If you are a DI athlete, you do not have time to have a job during the school year and depending on your sport, it can be difficult to have a summer job. A full scholarship is actually quite rare in sports other than football and basketball.
Who can compete (Athletic Budgets – Revenue)?
Summit League – Athletics Budgets (In millions)
IPFW – $6.6 (non-football)
IUPUI – $5.8 (non-football)
UMKC – $11 (non-football)
NDSU – $14.5
Oakland – $10 (non-football)
South Dakota – $7.7 (I have no idea how they compete – seriously)
SDSU – $12.2
Western Illinois – $10
Data from USA Today College Athletics Finance Database
UND – $18.2 (Yep – Hockey brings in money but is also expensive)
NBOTN starts news at 10 sports with concordia??? After starting last.night with another team not NDSU.
NDSU pays these pricks?????
Pay the kids? Why, they make $80k in scholarahips already
Thay arent paying them. They are helping to cover the cost of attendance. There are many things that Tuition, room, board and standard books that arent covered. Lab materials for instance. Laundry, school supplies etc. There is also incidental personal expenses.
The student athlete doesnt have much earning potential during the summer either. Think of what it costs to live in Fargo during the off season when not on schlorship while working a low paying job. How do you save money?
Forgot to mention that many student athletes arent on full rides.
How do student-athletes make money? They do what a lot of the Bison football players do, get a job. I actually think that’s a major reason for their success; the incredible hard work they put in. The daily routine goes something like: lift at 5:30 a.m., work 7-4 and back to the BSA for running drills. Hard to duplicate that kind of dedication. Then again, as somebody who paid for every dime of my college education sometimes having three jobs at once, I’m probably tainted in my view of this NCAA proposal.
Thanks for the clarification. Yes, summer only.
Why not put hours worked in to perspective. How many hours does a player put in during the season? Including practice time, lifting weights, meetings, film study, travel and game weekends. Then lets take in to consideration off season work outs which most workout at least 5 days a week. Working 3 jobs would be a cut in hours to these guys.
Haven’t these students (or parents) been saving money for college? Why can’t these students/athletes take out loans like most of the rest of the students?
Given that the NCAA can’t police much of the policies they currently have in place, opening this Pandora’s Box seems a little silly. Granted, it must be tough for athletes to work and accumulate some spending money but how can anyone have faith that the NCAA can police this one?
Would have to be because of Title IX. Would have to equal amounts going to men and women. So what ever figure you come up for football, double it.
Lakes lies? I said $80k thats 4 years at $20k are you that stupid??
Kvly disgusts me, how does ndsu pay them?? Nothing on ndsu game this week.
I agree with you Lakes. Other than Jeff and Dom the Bison get very little press when you consider what they are doing in football this year. Back in the 80′s they were the lead story on all the local sports shows. I just don’t get it either!
Hey, gentlemen: I offer this scenario…….. Coach Bohl is visiting at the home of a recruit and his family. Coach says, “Young man, we want you to play football at NDSU and we will offer you a free education, plus an extra 1000 dollars a year to cover other expenses (laundry, lab fees, etc.) . The recruit relies, “That sounds great, coach. However, I can get that free education plus $1500 or $2000 at Northern Iowa. Come on, coach, can’t you do better?” Recruiting is being reduced to used car salesmanship. Do we REALLY want this coming to college athletics?
If you consider the rate of inflation and the increasing (major dollars) of school over the years. This is peanuts.
How would you like to have the same salary today as 2008 at your job? Computers, lab fees, etc… the students pay for on top of the classes.