Jay Bilas and The Epitome of Arrogance

Ok, so I didnt nail down a great title for this one but there are not many catchy ways of summing up the ignorance in Jay Bilas' recent ramblings about the need to "pay" college athletes (the quotation marks will make sense by the end). In an age where the cost of higher education is getting out of control and scholarship money is virtually non-existent (at least for those of us without a tragic story, a cure for cancer, or immigrant status- yes, I did say that about the DREAM Act), it is pure arrogance to start a campaign for additional compensation to the only group of students who continue to be comfortably compensated, revenue sport athletes. For the Bilas camp to argue that these student-athletes deserve a paycheck ignores the fact that they already do receive a paycheck in the form of a full academic scholarship, complete with more than adequate stipends for room, board, books, and materials. While Bilas and others have won many people over by arguing that participation in college athletics is a job and thus worthy of compensation, even this fails to recognize the arrogance inherent in the argument itself. So I guess after weeks of bantering on twitter with Bilas himself, its time to break down his argument and show the doubters why college athletes, especially those in revenue sports, are more than adequately compensated both for their time commitment and for their financial contribution to the school's coffers.

First of all, I cant say that I disagree with Bilas about participation in college athletics being a full-time job. Both as a basketball manager and as a sports writer, I have seen first hand the commitment required of student-athletes and greatly respect those who are able to balance their time in the classroom with their commitments on the playing surface. I would hire a student-athlete in a heartbeat for any job out there. So on that point, I have no problem with stance taken by the Bilas camp.

Where I diverge from the "pay em all" camp is that I feel they ignore the realities of compensation when it comes to the jobs college students, both athletes and non-athletes alike, are involved in. With their full academic scholarships, room and board stipends, book and material grants, and the numerous free meals and other items they quite legally receive, student-athletes figure to receive somewhere in the range of $45,000-$60,000 each year. How can Bilas say with a straight face that this is not compensation?

But other students are able to get "real jobs" and the time commitment of college athletics doesnt allow student-athletes the opportunity to take such jobs. I will concede this point as well, although there are many ways (sports camps, etc.) in which these student-athletes can work a bit on the side. That said, I think it is fair to say that they are unable to have a consistent job and thus need schools to fill in the gap.

Many people see this as the prime selling point. After all, revenue sport athletes are very much "employees" of the school, responsible for producing one of the main products a big time university sells to its students, alumni, and fans. But let's not forget that we arent talking about slavery here. The problem many people have is that they forget where most students throw the money they earn in their part-time jobs at school. Sure, their are some who use a job strictly for extra spending money, but the vast majority of today's undergraduates contribute to their own education by working themselves through school. For a big shot attorney and college basketball analyst (who went to, for free, to a school that charges its students $50,000-plus for a year's worth of tuition alone), this conspicuous omission is the epitome of arrogance.

The bottom line is that paying college athletes would only give them extra money to get in trouble, to pay for the booze, drugs, and fast cars that are the downfall of seemingly each and every flameout prospect. This money isnt going to pay for student-athlete's rent (that is already paid for), its going to pay for the Escalade, for the night at the bar, for the "bling".

We already pay our student-athletes a hefty sum, providing those of them in revenue sports a completely free education with all expenses (necessary expenses!) included. At a time when many students are deprived of this education because of those very expenses that student-athletes have taken care of, it is simply outrageous to call for additional compensation, money that would no doubt add to the troubles of college athletics.

Jay, if any student athlete wanted to give up their scholarship, they could go to the D-League, the UFL, or Europe and blaze their own trail. The allure of college athletics is that it gives student-athletes the opportunity to get a free education while continuing to pursue their passion. If a few of them find themselves not too interested in the "student" part, they are more than welcome to take their talents elsewhere. But I challenge each and every one of the wannabe Jeremy Tyler's out there to find another job that pays all their expenses, pays for their degree, and all of that just for playing a game they love. If they dont want that job, there's a line stretching as far as the eye can see of young men and women more than willing to take it from them.