Notre Dame President: School Will Leave NCAA If Players Start Being Paid

[IrishBlooded]

LINK

Despite pushback by the NCAA and many member schools, college sports are moving in the direction of more rights, and perhaps eventually pay, for its players. The process is a long one, however, and many of the most powerful figures in college sports have railed against the idea of college athletes profiting off of their abilities. In 2013, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney threatened that his conferencecould move to Division III, or a similar model, during the Ed O’Bannon supreme court case. Today, in a New York Times article, Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins has similar ideas about Notre Dame’s future in college athletics.

Father Jenkins, a passionate defender of his alma mater, has considered the arguments. He agrees that the N.C.A.A. is struggling to find its role on a changed playing field. And, in what may come as a surprise, he suggests that student-athletes should be able to monetize their fame, with limits.

But he adamantly opposes a model in which college sheds what is left of its amateur ways for a semiprofessional structure — one in which universities pay their athletes. “Our relationship to these young people is to educate them, to help them grow,” he says. “Not to be their agent for financial gain.”

And if that somehow comes to pass, he says, Notre Dame will leave the profitable industrial complex that is elite college football, boosters be damned, and explore the creation of a conference with like-minded universities.

That’s right: Notre Dame would take its 23.9-karat-gold-flecked football helmets and play elsewhere.

“Perhaps institutions will make decisions about where they want to go

— a semipro model or a different, more educational model — and I welcome that,” Father Jenkins says. “I wouldn’t consider that a bad outcome, and I think there would be schools that would do that.”

Notre Dame has one of the most powerful brands in college athletics, and assuredly one of the most lucrative. In 2014, Indiana finance professor Ryan Brewer gave the school’s football program a valuation of $811.5 million, second only to Texas. Jenkins, Delaney, and others may say that they won’t pay players if it comes to that, but with that kind of money being made by big programs, it sounds more like posturing more than anything.

 

[Bodizephax]

That is why ND must win the Championship this year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NDSMC78]

This should surprise no one.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

No way ND leaves the NCAA or the B1G becomes D3... there is posturing and then there is this.

 

[Duo]

leave the NCAA..............oh yeah, sure thing, no doubt

 

[schadenfreude]

leave the NCAA..............oh yeah, sure thing, no doubt

Schools could leave the NCAA just for the profit sports (football and men's basketball). But it seems more likely that if schools &/or conferences do break away, they will be the larger programs (mostly P5) that seek to pay players.

 

[BGI User 348]

There would be other teams that follow. I'd bet that ND vs say....Harvard...Yale....Duke.....Vandy....Stanford......would STILL sellout. Just would then be on nbc SN on cable. Oh yeah most players would still get "free rides" like at Harvard.

 

[NDEwing18]

There would be other teams that follow. I'd bet that ND vs say....Harvard...Yale....Duke.....Vandy....Stanford......would STILL sellout. Just would then be on nbc SN on cable. Oh yeah most players would still get "free rides" like at Harvard.

I doubt those games would sell out.

 

[South Bender]

I could easily see this happening. Schools would have to choose.....be a bastion of education
as Universities were originally intended or become "something else".

Schools that would choose education - Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke, Ivy League, Vandy, Military
Academies plus several, several others. These schools would form their own leagues and/or
conferences.

Others would choose to pay their athletes and would result in all sorts of backroom palm-greasing
and sleazy deals. The usual suspects would be in this category.

We all say the NCAA is pathetic, weak and corrupt. Here's a chance to flip them the finger and
cut ties with their ridiculous organization. Surely it would be tough at first, but I could see this
working out eventually.

 

[schadenfreude]

I could easily see this happening. Schools would have to choose.....be a bastion of education
as Universities were originally intended or become "something else".

Schools that would choose education - Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke, Ivy League, Vandy, Military
Academies plus several, several others. These schools would form their own leagues and/or
conferences.

Others would choose to pay their athletes and would result in all sorts of backroom palm-greasing
and sleazy deals. The usual suspects would be in this category.

We all say the NCAA is pathetic, weak and corrupt. Here's a chance to flip them the finger and
cut ties with their ridiculous organization. Surely it would be tough at first, but I could see this
working out eventually.

I don't know if Stanford would follow. I don't believe in paying players beyond an agreed upon stipend, but Stanford, Northwestern, etc are pretty liberal. I could see them siding with the paying group.

 

[IrishBlooded]

I'll worry about it, when it happens. Something tells me college football as a sport will get to the point they offer a better stipend to players which will essentially put away this argument over all.

Jenkins isn't an idiot he left plenty of room for ND in that story.

 

[Telx1]

Wonder what thoughts Jenkins has for athlete's being allowed to monetize their athletic fame? Perhaps apparel and shoe deals where money is placed into Trust until they graduate or move on. Seems to me that four elements are necessary. First, the free education and room and board. Second, a stipend sufficient to maintain a reasonable college lifestyle. Third, a disability insurance program for each athlete, the benefits adjusted annually on an individual basis tied to sports earning potential. Fourth, apparel and shoe deals allowed on an individual basis with the athlete's share going into a trust, etc...
While the lucrative TV deals and game rceipts are where the real money is made, seems to me that this is necessary to run the program and pay for the above, and to cover all associated costs for the sports programs that lose money, including the Title IX mandated expenses, etc... Plus, a university should be allowed to make profits to help support the general fund needs to the university.
I get that many think a free education at a place like ND should suffice, but think something along these lines would benefit all athletes to a reasonable level, provide income protection especially for those with legitimate NFL talent, and provide some financial rewards in the form of profit sharing via merchandizing deals for those that generate that level of fan interest. I expect others here have different and likely better thoughts and hope to read them.

 

[NDSMC78]

I don't know if Stanford would follow. I don't believe in paying players beyond an agreed upon stipend, but Stanford, Northwestern, etc are pretty liberal. I could see them siding with the paying group.

I don't see this as a conservative v. liberal issue.

 

[theskibro]

Wonder what thoughts Jenkins has for athlete's being allowed to monetize their athletic fame? Perhaps apparel and shoe deals where money is placed into Trust until they graduate or move on. Seems to me that four elements are necessary. First, the free education and room and board. Second, a stipend sufficient to maintain a reasonable college lifestyle. Third, a disability insurance program for each athlete, the benefits adjusted annually on an individual basis tied to sports earning potential. Fourth, apparel and shoe deals allowed on an individual basis with the athlete's share going into a trust, etc...
While the lucrative TV deals and game rceipts are where the real money is made, seems to me that this is necessary to run the program and pay for the above, and to cover all associated costs for the sports programs that lose money, including the Title IX mandated expenses, etc... Plus, a university should be allowed to make profits to help support the general fund needs to the university.
I get that many think a free education at a place like ND should suffice, but think something along these lines would benefit all athletes to a reasonable level, provide income protection especially for those with legitimate NFL talent, and provide some financial rewards in the form of profit sharing via merchandizing deals for those that generate that level of fan interest. I expect others here have different and likely better thoughts and hope to read them.

While Father Jenkins may be taking an admirable position, he should be cautious of making a line in the sand. This University is tied to football despite all its other accomplishments. Going to a model of playing like minded colleges would be the deathnell for ND No talented players would want to attend and would enroll elsewhere to advance their NFL aspirations. And ND as a university would wither as the trend of attending college to advance one's career is already suspect and the role of entrepreneur and alternative ways of making a living become more acceptable

There will be countless folks who disagree but they are only burying their head in the sand. This scenario is more likely than the one that predicts a successful transition to elitist football based on amateurism

 

[onlyonenow]

I would stand up and applaud if ND were to do this. Some things are more important then NCs.

Health care- definitely. Any injuries sustained playing for the University should be completely covered.
Allowed to cash in on jersies, etc. Yes. BUT as was opined it should go into a trust fund that a person could not touch unless its an emergency till he is say 30.

But PAYING THEM TO PLAY. Never.

 

[onlyonenow]

While Father Jenkins may be taking an admirable position, he should be cautious of making a line in the sand. This University is tied to football despite all its other accomplishments. Going to a model of playing like minded colleges would be the deathnell for ND No talented players would want to attend and would enroll elsewhere to advance their NFL aspirations. And ND as a university would wither as the trend of attending college to advance one's career is already suspect and the role of entrepreneur and alternative ways of making a living become more acceptable

There will be countless folks who disagree but they are only burying their head in the sand. This scenario is more likely than the one that predicts a successful transition to elitist football based on amateurism

you are among the many deluded here that thinks the tail wags the dog at ND. The University would go on quite well without a major Football program. You seem to have a blind area there. While we were suffering the bad years with Tytanic and Weis did the university suffer? No it did not. Try and peddle your snake oil to someone more gullible.

 

[NDSMC78]

I will add that the position espoused by Jenkins seems to be totally at odds with the Crossroads project.

 

[schadenfreude]

I don't see this as a conservative v. liberal issue.

Liberal schools are more likely to support paying players. Conservative schools are less likely.

I don't favor paying players a "free market" salary, but Michigan, Wisconsin, USC, etc are more likely to favor paying players than ND, Alabama, A&M, etc.

 

[schadenfreude]

I would stand up and applaud if ND were to do this. Some things are more important then NCs.

Health care- definitely. Any injuries sustained playing for the University should be completely covered.
Allowed to cash in on jersies, etc. Yes. BUT as was opined it should go into a trust fund that a person could not touch unless its an emergency till he is say 30.

But PAYING THEM TO PLAY. Never.

Agree on health care. If you blow out your knee playing college ball and need lifetime therapy the school should pay.

I wouldn't pay anything for jerseys or video rights until the player is out of school. And only for the percentage of jerseys sold with the player's name or perhaps number.

I think a stipend should be capped at around $5000. For most of those who enjoy playing football, this is a MUCH better deal than playing in Canada or in the Arena League.

 

[NDSMC78]

Liberal schools are more likely to support paying players. Conservative schools are less likely.

I don't favor paying players a "free market" salary, but Michigan, Wisconsin, USC, etc are more likely to favor paying players than ND, Alabama, A&M, etc.

There are some who would say that some of the more conservative schools, i.e., the SEC, have been paying players for years.

 

[schadenfreude]

There are some who would say that some of the more conservative schools, i.e., the SEC, have been paying players for years.

Yes, that is the rumor. But those alleged payments are not regulated and kept on the books. I don't think Auburn wants to be paying Cam Newton wages to a 4th string LB.

 

[South Bender]

I don't see this as a conservative v. liberal issue.

Nor do I.

I see it as do you want to "sell your soul for sports glory" or remain an institution of higher learning?

I think there's a lot of Universities that would prefer the latter. I.E. - those schools where the football
coach does not run the University. It's really not that far-fetched.

 

[theskibro]

you are among the many deluded here that thinks the tail wags the dog at ND. The University would go on quite well without a major Football program. You seem to have a blind area there. While we were suffering the bad years with Tytanic and Weis did the university suffer? No it did not. Try and peddle your snake oil to someone more gullible.

wow are you unable to comprehend what you read I never said the tail wags the dog I said it should cause if that model ever came to be, the school you think is so capable of existing without football of the highest level would struggle mightily No need to get defensive It is my opinion You have yours Its just that yours is misplaced.

As much as ND is a fantastic educational institution, it would erode mightily on many fronts without quality football. And you citing a few down years with Weis and Ty is not the same as playground football with no name schools. There would be ramifications like you cannot imagine. no worries, though, this too will pass and amateurism will prevail

 

[Nocalirish]

Agree on health care. If you blow out your knee playing college ball and need lifetime therapy the school should pay.

I wouldn't pay anything for jerseys or video rights until the player is out of school. And only for the percentage of jerseys sold with the player's name or perhaps number.

I think a stipend should be capped at around $5000. For most of those who enjoy playing football, this is a MUCH better deal than playing in Canada or in the Arena League.

According to ESPN's Recruiting Nation show yesterday Tenn and Aub are currently paying a stipend of about $5900 per year while ND pays $1900. UOJ even less at $1200, but we know they pay their players huge sums under the table. The SEC averages $3900 to the ACC's $2600. Unless ND steps
up they are going to lose more recruits. $4000 a year is a lot for some of these kids.

 

[BGI User 348]

I was blessed to watch a son play for Yale the last time they Beat harvard.....and saw 4 seasons of sellouts....so an ND at that level would still do well. But I doubt we ever see it.