Mick and teejers are not my usual bedfellows but on this I couldn't agree with them more. Given everything going on in the world right now, my sentiment is essentially: a pox on both your houses.
The schools are finally having to pay the piper for years of running a business in the guise of a non-profit, one which primarily enriched the coaches, staffs, etc. (are you surprised Harbaugh is champing at the bit to play? In what universe should Michigan pay him $9mil if they don't?)
As for the players, at least at schools like Stanford, Cal, U$C, and Michigan, there are about 30,000 rejected students who would gladly take your spot and, based on my experience with my football classmates in undergrad, put the academic parts to much better use than they typically do. Few football players are polymaths like Andrew Luck. I am confident Stanford could find 75 students who would not only be grateful to be there, but would almost certainly avail themselves of much more than Arrellaga and its surroundings.
ETA: The one issue where I'm in total solidarity with the players is health insurance and post-graduation coverage: I think it's absurd that players play on their parents' health insurance and often have to rely on it post-graduation. I've never understood why universities don't have mandated and universal health insurance for all athletes.
The schools are finally having to pay the piper for years of running a business in the guise of a non-profit, one which primarily enriched the coaches, staffs, etc. (are you surprised Harbaugh is champing at the bit to play? In what universe should Michigan pay him $9mil if they don't?)
As for the players, at least at schools like Stanford, Cal, U$C, and Michigan, there are about 30,000 rejected students who would gladly take your spot and, based on my experience with my football classmates in undergrad, put the academic parts to much better use than they typically do. Few football players are polymaths like Andrew Luck. I am confident Stanford could find 75 students who would not only be grateful to be there, but would almost certainly avail themselves of much more than Arrellaga and its surroundings.
ETA: The one issue where I'm in total solidarity with the players is health insurance and post-graduation coverage: I think it's absurd that players play on their parents' health insurance and often have to rely on it post-graduation. I've never understood why universities don't have mandated and universal health insurance for all athletes.