College Sports

The college bowl season is upon us (or, rather, some of you).  The money will come flowing in to the colleges.  And, after the hype of the bowl games cools a bit, there will be more talk of paying the college athletes, namely the football and basketball players.

Despite all of the money that Michigan, Notre Dame, Alabama, and like universities get from football and basketball, most Division I schools I am told actually lose money.  Oh, the big conferences like the SEC and Big Ten (How can it be called "Big Ten" when there are more than ten schools?) still roll in football and basketball dollars.  But those not fortunate enough to be in one of those five or six conferences struggle.  I'd guess that's why, say, the University of Maryland dropped out of the ACC, with its traditional rivals, to join the Big Ten.  So, I think it's important to remember that many Division I schools have financial problems with their athletics, including football and basketball.

Now, as to paying college athletes, particularly basketball and football players, consider this.  The average Division I basketball college spends just under $40,000 for each player.  And Kentucky dishes out well over $200,000 for each player.  All this is according to the US Dept of Ed.  In football, Ohio State doles out $109,000 per player, with more than 100 players on the team.  $109,000?  $217,000?  What do these individual players get??????  And some are claiming it's only right to pay these kids?

This will never happen, but Division I should take some tips from Division II and, especially, Division III.  Sports, esp football and basketball, but some others in some conferences and at some schools, need to be de-emphasized.  Money, of course, will prevent that. But for colleges, Divs II and III should be the model.  And, at least at Div III schools, the players go to class and do the work!

While I am at it, I might be the only guy in the US who doesn't care for a Division I playoff to determine an ultimate champion.  Who cares?  Bring back the old traditional bowl games, with the four big daddies on New Year's Day.  Then, imagine the great debates the rest of the year over who was really the best!

I, for one, will not be caught up in the bowl frenzy and, at present, have no plans to watch any of the games.