Thursday, March 27, 2014

NLRB: College Athletes are Employees

An interesting take on college football.  Via Hot Air.
The ruling distinguishes walk-ons, who receive no financial benefit from playing and are given more freedom by coaches to behave like normal students, from scholarship recipients, who receive $75,000 or so in tuition and other benefits each year and who are forced to follow employee-like rules set by their bosses/coaches. They’re recruited for football, they spend most of their time on football, and they answer chiefly to the athletic department, not the academic faculty. Put all that together with the fact that their activities generate tens of millions in revenue for the university and ta da — you’ve got an employment relationship. Can’t wait for the first strike during bowl season.
I've said for years that the lowest level of professional sports is college ball.  There is too much money on the table to recognize it as anything but professional.  When the football coach at a state university is often the highest paid employee in the state, it's hard to argue that state priorities aren't out of order.

Let's go ahead and recognize college ball as professional, and the NCAA can just deal with it.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The ruling only applies to private universities. The Alabamas, Lsu's etc are not included.

If the Northwestern student atheletes are in fact employes then do you think the 70000 or so value of their scholarship and other stipends might be taxable? I think if this holds up in future hearings they may have crapped their bed.

Ben

Old NFO said...

Agreed!

Anonymous said...

May be sport in education will go back to being for the pleasure of the participants!!!