No real change is coming any time soon. Obviously, this will go through every appeal process possible and who knows, it may wind up failing altogether. But if it does come to pass and sweep through college athletics...that will be the end of college athletics. Not just as we know it. The end!
I've heard several "experts" this morning just like the one Wiregrass Tiger quoted, proclaiming victory because college football is a multi-bwadrillion $$$ sport. But this is not just about football. Title 9 makes this about the women's softball team. The men's golf team. The tennis teams....swimming...any sport that gives scholarships. We hear about all the revenue that college football produces and yes, it's staggering. But are these so-called experts naïve enough to think all this money stays in a separate bank account, earmarked solely for the football program? How do they think the lady's softball team travels to College Station for a series. Lodging, food, travel expense, equipment etc. How does the swim team spend a week in Athens Georgia for the SEC Championships? (Or wherever they're held) How does the track team make it to Fayetteville for a meet? It's not on the revenue any of them generate.
Title 9 says everyone will get equal treatment. The basketball team will have just as much right to be a part of the union as the football team. What is Bruce Pearl going to say when a union rep calls him up and says, "You know, we're not too keen on these 5:45 a.m. practices. We're thinking nothing before 10:00 a.m." It doesn't matter who generates the most revenue. They all get equal treatment.
Bringing up taxes again. If every student athlete on scholarship is eventually considered an employee under the law, then some or all of the benefits will become taxable. If a 4 year scholly is worth $100K at a particular school, who pays the $25-30K in taxes over that period. Am I off base in saying that at least half of the guys on football and basketball scholarships at AU, UA, Arky, Texas, FSU and on and on and on would never be able to afford to be there if it weren't for their athletic ability? Now, start telling mama and daddy they've got to fork over thousands each year because junior thinks he should be paid. No son, you're coming home.
I know...tl;dr...but this crap seems so short sighted and not thought through, it blows my mind.
This is by far the
most only insightful thing that you've ever said. The taxes make the most sense. Let's see how the fica is handled in those payroll taxes. I think it's about 3/4 of taxpayers pay more in payroll taxes than they do in income taxes. It would hurt a whole lot more in this situation, when not nearly as much cash is involved and it's more of a barter.
"Mamma, I need $5,700.00 in April for the tax man."
"You gonna need to bring yo ass on home, son."
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