Angry Fans

Former USC running back Reggie Bush recently gave up his Heisman Trophy as the result of an NCAA investigation that ruled that he was an ineligible player during his career as a Trojan. Although he never admitted he was guilty –– which is bizarre considering he a) gave up his trophy; b) was found guilty; and c) was OBVIOUSLY guilty –– it does raise questions about the nature of student-athletes in major college programs. These athletes contribute a tremendous amount to their school in terms of TV deals and popularity, but receive no monetary reward, and then get punished for taking advantage of their leverage. Is this unjust?

I (Spencer) say no. First, although these athletes do not receive a paycheck, they do receive a free college education, which we all know costs a lot. There are inherent benefits in going to college: it not only increases your earning potential if you cannot make it as a professional athlete, but there is also the unquantifiable benefit of education. Sure, many college athletes do not take advantage of their free education. But that’s their own fault. Second, rules are rules for a reason. In this case, Bush clearly broke the rules and he should have known better. Sure, it can be hard to resist the pressure of agents that are offering gifts. But recognizing the downside of losing your scholarship or your athletic eligibility is way more important. Finally, there are alternatives to playing college sports. Semi-professional leagues in the US and professional leagues in Europe offer a way to get paid to play sports without the nuisance of going to class and athletes can receive all the improper benefits they want. Choosing college is a conscious decision that has implications: you cannot break the rules.

I (Brad) say yes. Is the system flawed? Absolutely. Between massive TV deals, coaches taking advantage of every loophole in recruiting rules, and power brokers latching onto kids in middle school, amateur sports in America basically doesn’t exist. That said, I’m not entirely advocating paying the students directly. That would be a difficult process considering the extreme difference in marketability and professional aspirations between a D-I USC football player and a D-3 volleyball player. I am however, saying that unless the NCAA is willing to reevaluate the entire system of youth sports in this country, they cannot punish players for playing along when they are getting perks thrown at them before they can drive. It is possible that one day, players will be able to choose between semi-professional leagues and college athletics, but at the moment semi-pro leagues are simply a more risky option even if they do play for one season.  For every Brandon Jennings you have at least one Jeremy Tyler. For now, in order to be a professional athletic prospect you have to play within the system. To expect an 18-year-old kid to say no to a coach or agent is foolish, whether it’s because they are charmed by the perks and gifts or simply want to stay in the good graces of someone who can dictate the path of their professional career. Is it right? No it’s not, but rather than letting coaches like Pete Carroll run away to the pros with reputations unscathed, we should be punishing them for taking advantage of impressionable youth. Reggie Bush is not an isolated incident; he’s just a high profile example of the deep-rooted problems in the college recruiting process and college football as a whole.



–– Spencer Wright ’11.5 is from Burlington, Vt. and Brad Becker-Parton ’11.5 is from Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.