[berettafan]

If your athletic skill is helping to fill a 60,000 seat arena every game day i think you deserve more than a meal and a place to sleep. Yes they get a free 'degree' but let's be serious, these kids jobs are the sport. They are working stiffs from the moment they step onto campus. My son's athlete buddy was home for a few days at Christmas then right back to work. Didn't have time to come home for Thanksgiving. It's a friggin job for these kids, they should absolutely share in the wealth. The vast majority are not gonna obtain any other valuable skills while in school so they are very clearly trading years of their lives to bring glory to the field for the benefit of the school.

And that glory translates into ticket and jersey sales, hat sales, and admissions applications. It's a mess but the kids are the engine so they should be paid.