The New BCS Playoff System and Paying Players

[Yavin4]

Now that the BCS has a playoff system, I predict that the championship may get as big as, if not bigger than, the Superbowl in terms of ratings and TV deals. Additionally, the site of the game will be award based on bidding by different venues, and not a traditional bowl site.

In sum, there will be massive amounts of additional revenue heading to the NCAA which brings up a point that no one in the media seems to be addressing. How can the NCAA generate all of this additional revneue, and not pay the players?

The total amount of the NCAA's various TV deals and national championship deals may be on par, if not more, than the NFL's deals, and yet the players won't be paid???

This seems a little obscene and unfair. I propose paying the players a fixed amount, say $100,000 per athlete, if their teams make it into the playoffs and championship games. I believe that their scholarships do cover regular season games, but they should be compensated for playoffs and a championship, which are in addition to their regular season obligations.

[VWolf]

1. Honestly, I think they should be paid,

but not be required to attend college. If they choose to do so, they can, but they don't have to.

May as well, at this point, turn the whole thing into a farm system.

[joeybee12]

3. Agree...just forget college football...it has no semblance to amateur sports anymore...

Make them go to AAA before they go to the NFL.

[VWolf]

4. I think you still need to tie each team to a school. There's too much history there.

However, they really need to be completely separate financial entities.

[JonLP24]

2. Agree

Though not sure about implementation. I personally feel the athletes should have the same labor rights all Americans have so I feel it should be the same as hiring coaches. Schools compete for the services w/ varying offers. If fixed amounts (I see it as a bonus payment - I'm not sure how it is applied legally) are anything like salary caps you need a union - which is why owners in professional sports embrace unions.

W/ my proposal though a lot of schools will quickly dry up financially but anti-trust violations(they would be anti-trust violations in any other business except for college athletics) shouldn't be ignored to ensure firms stay viable.