[Goose]

Ivy League universities had sequestered 35 admissions spots for football players in the 19th century. The college presidents were trying to dial it back to 25-30 spots. In 1905, Harvard's first professional football coach Bill Reid made $7,000, 30% more than the highest paid faculty member. They worried about gambling by the athletes. Harvard's baseball players played in the Cape Cod summer league, everyone knew it. Shamateurism has always been with us, the amateur model had migrated from the UK.

I was going to make no further comments, but I really can't let this one pass. You are of course aware that the NCAA was founded in 1906 to, among other things, attempt to ensure "amateurism" was required. Harvard was one of the participants in this activity, albeit under pressure from the US President.

I am hearing here the equivalent of the following argument:
We all know that lots of people cheat on their taxes. We all know that while the IRS catches some of them, most get away with it. Therefore, it must be true that cheating on your taxes is just fine, even laudable. We should all do it.
Obviously, that argument is absurd. Because some people do it doesn't make it "right". Arguably amateurism shouldn't be part of college sports. I don't agree, but that's a different discussion. However the fact some people knowingly violate the rules doesn't validate that concept.

It also has nothing to do with NIL. NIL isn't illegal. It is now "part of the game" and will for certain destroy amateurism in college sports. The fact some people don't get paid doesn't preserve amateurism. Those people will lobby to get paid and IMO will eventually succeed. While it can be argued that legal decision regarding NIL wasn't ever intended to support "pay for play", it is being treated as if it did. That is where we are right now.

[Goose]

Ivy League universities had sequestered 35 admissions spots for football players in the 19th century. The college presidents were trying to dial it back to 25-30 spots. In 1905, Harvard's first professional football coach Bill Reid made $7,000, 30% more than the highest paid faculty member. They worried about gambling by the athletes. Harvard's baseball players played in the Cape Cod summer league, everyone knew it. Shamateurism has always been with us, the amateur model had migrated from the UK.

I was going to make no further comments, but I really can't let this one pass. You are of course aware that the NCAA was founded in 1906 to, among other things, attempt to ensure "amateurism" was required. Harvard was one of the participants in this activity, albeit under pressure from the US President.

I am hearing here the equivalent of the following argument:
We all know that lots of people cheat on their taxes. We all know that while the IRS catches some of them, most get away with it. Therefore, it must be true that cheating on your taxes is just fine, even laudable. We should all do it.
Obviously, that argument is absurd. Because some people do it doesn't make it "right". Arguably amateurism shouldn't be part of college sports. I don't agree, but that's a different discussion. However the fact some people knowingly violate the rules doesn't validate that concept.

It also has nothing to do with NIL. NIL isn't illegal. It is now "part of the game" and will for certain destroy amateurism in college sports. The fact some people don't get paid doesn't preserve amateurism. Those people will lobby to get paid and IMO will eventually succeed. While it can be argued that legal decision regarding NIL wasn't ever intended to support "pay for play", it is being treated as if it did. That is where we are right now.