There is a whole lot of discussion on this thread that talks around the main point of disagreement without directly addressing it. Both sides agree that kids are making bad choices. BLSS says they would make less bad choices if they were employees. Perhaps, or perhaps not. BTC says that making them employees is impossible because it would bankrupt the system, and that schools would simply give up athletics, which is probably true. Thus, the solution that would satisfy everyone seems to be to just make them employees, then have the schools drop athletics, after which there will no longer be a problem with kids making bad choices. Er, well, at least, not these particular bad choices.
The only question left then, is whether to apply this solution just to football, or perhaps to football and basketball? Or, should we apply it to all varsity sports? Schools can continue to offer club sports, of course. They don't need to have varsity sports and schools can get by with just club sports and intramural sports. And, having no varsity sports also solves the problem of highly paid coaches. See? Everyone will be happy.
The worst part of all of this will be the dissolution of (most) collegiate sports.
I unfortunately fell down a rabbit hole of nonsense with someone over Ohio State should be the first to draw the line. Ohio State Football(TM) is no longer associated with the Ohio State Athletic Department and others (Texas, Alabama, Clemson, etc) should follow suit. Ohio State only has one sport that generates revenue. Doesn't matter. Ohio State Football(TM) is no longer in charge of subsidizing any other sports. Those sports are now either funded through student fees, or donations. And this was the argument for all others to follow. Cut the fat.
The whole idea makes me sad. I've never went to an OU baseball game, but the idea OU would have to drop every single sport except for football and basketball (would we / could we figure it out?) is just a sad prospect. We have to drop the program that produced an MLB hall of famer, because the numbers just don't work anymore. Every womens sport. Every non-revenue generating sport... gone. What a bummer.
Top 20 Richest Athletic Departments:
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