TPWW Forums - View Single Post

**The Outlaw** · 05-21-2005, 05:45 PM

Some thoughts from some football players I know...

"I feel that we should get something. Some player need to receive some sort of money during the course of a school year. Our schedules are so demanding that we really don't have time for anything except athletics and school work. We are asked to be a "normal" student plus deal with meetings, workouts, practices, and ect. Its hard........real hard. No other student is ever asked to perform a chemistry experiment before a crowd of 80,000 people at Bryant-Denny or even 30,000 people at Legion Feild. The ball players at UA and other SEC schools are viewed as "gods" but when they're struggling noone can help them. Their was a linebacker at UCLA who was an All-American that went on a L.A radio station and talked about how he couldn't buy things like food, or even take a girl out to the movies. A couple of fans decided to help him out and he got suspended for a few games for recieving improper benefits. This is whats wrong with college sports. We give 18 year olds all this hype and press and paint them to be the savior of our teams but that same kid can't buy a pizza. Take a look at all of the Alabama paintings, pictures, shirts, and all of the other merchandise that is created because of sports. If it wasnt for sports noone would buy those items, if it wasnt for sports noone would yell 'Roll Tide, "War Eagle, " Go Blazers', or any other cheers. Sports gives opportunities to people and open doors to some individuals that wouldn't have those chances if it wasnt for their athletic abilities. Some kids who college presidents wouldn't even touch are given a chance based on athletic ability. Look at all of the internet sites, t.v stations, and magazines that glorify college athletics and athletes and we get no money or no cut out of all of that money being made off of your own athletic ability. CBS and ESPN U have signed multi-million dollar contracts to brodcast March Madness. Coaches are earning multi-million dollar contracts and multi-million dollar facilities are being constructed. I appreciate the opportunities given to me by Clemson and UAB and I'm taking advantage of my opportunities of getting an education, meeting new friends, learning about different cultures and ect but its sad to see teammates who can't afford a decent suit to wear on road games, or have to send their refund checks home to help out their families, or do the essentials. I feel that we should receive some sort of payment. Maybe a monthly or weekly check of maybe $150 dollars per week(that you're in school) or even $400 a month. Thats just my opinion."

"I could care less about the money. Right now I'm living a dream that millions of people would love to do. I got a chance to go to two great Universities and play the sport that I love. I get to travel and see places that most will never see(the inside of locker rooms and ect.). I've been inside Doak Campbell Stadium, and other legendary college stadiums. I got the chance to rub "Howard's Rock" and run "down the hill" on a Saturday night in Death Valley with 80,000 people screaming. I have been apart of amazing upsets (Florida State 03) and I have felt the love of an entire town called Clemson, South Carolina. I'm about to restart my career in a great city playing in a legendary stadium Legion Field. I get to play with a young program who is hungry to win. Athletics has done it all for me! Sometimes it feels that I should be paying the sport or the fans for even giving me the opportunity to show my athletic ability. I'm very greatful that Clemson and UAB see enough talent in me that they would make a investment worth thousands of dollars in me. Thats what these Universities are doing when they give scholarships, making an investment. I thank God for giving me the knowledge, the stregnth, and the wisdom to be able to play football and do well in the class room. Most college athletes don't see it like that. Its all about "me", start "me", pay "me", and its not about the team nor the people who put them in the position to play college sports. I feel extremely blessed to be able to play D-1 football, because millions dream of it but only a handfull get the chance. As a person I don't care about the money because I have been blessed with something that is priceless. Think about it. We get free air travel, stay in the finest hotels week in and week out, we eat at the finest places, and we get to play infront of thousands of people which is something that everyone dreams of."

"When you recieve a scholarship your scholarship is usually a set amount per semester. The amount that you will need to cover your tuition usually lower than the amount of money being payed per semester by your scholarship. Lets say that your scholarship pays $5,000 a semester but your tuition and all other cost come up to about $3,000 that means that $2,000 will be given to you and you do whatever you want with it. A refund check is simply the money thats left over after your fees are paid. For the people that I know and including myself most athletes refund checks on average are between $2,000-$3,000 per semester. To be honest some guys waste this money on clothes, rims, car stereos, jewlery, and ect. But some use it to pay rent on apartments, pay cell phone bills, pay for gas, food, and personal items"

05-21-2005, 05:45 PM	#12
The Outlaw Unofficial Legend Posts: 11,931	Some thoughts from some football players I know... "I feel that we should get something. Some player need to receive some sort of money during the course of a school year. Our schedules are so demanding that we really don't have time for anything except athletics and school work. We are asked to be a "normal" student plus deal with meetings, workouts, practices, and ect. Its hard........real hard. No other student is ever asked to perform a chemistry experiment before a crowd of 80,000 people at Bryant-Denny or even 30,000 people at Legion Feild. The ball players at UA and other SEC schools are viewed as "gods" but when they're struggling noone can help them. Their was a linebacker at UCLA who was an All-American that went on a L.A radio station and talked about how he couldn't buy things like food, or even take a girl out to the movies. A couple of fans decided to help him out and he got suspended for a few games for recieving improper benefits. This is whats wrong with college sports. We give 18 year olds all this hype and press and paint them to be the savior of our teams but that same kid can't buy a pizza. Take a look at all of the Alabama paintings, pictures, shirts, and all of the other merchandise that is created because of sports. If it wasnt for sports noone would buy those items, if it wasnt for sports noone would yell 'Roll Tide, "War Eagle, " Go Blazers', or any other cheers. Sports gives opportunities to people and open doors to some individuals that wouldn't have those chances if it wasnt for their athletic abilities. Some kids who college presidents wouldn't even touch are given a chance based on athletic ability. Look at all of the internet sites, t.v stations, and magazines that glorify college athletics and athletes and we get no money or no cut out of all of that money being made off of your own athletic ability. CBS and ESPN U have signed multi-million dollar contracts to brodcast March Madness. Coaches are earning multi-million dollar contracts and multi-million dollar facilities are being constructed. I appreciate the opportunities given to me by Clemson and UAB and I'm taking advantage of my opportunities of getting an education, meeting new friends, learning about different cultures and ect but its sad to see teammates who can't afford a decent suit to wear on road games, or have to send their refund checks home to help out their families, or do the essentials. I feel that we should receive some sort of payment. Maybe a monthly or weekly check of maybe $150 dollars per week(that you're in school) or even $400 a month. Thats just my opinion." "I could care less about the money. Right now I'm living a dream that millions of people would love to do. I got a chance to go to two great Universities and play the sport that I love. I get to travel and see places that most will never see(the inside of locker rooms and ect.). I've been inside Doak Campbell Stadium, and other legendary college stadiums. I got the chance to rub "Howard's Rock" and run "down the hill" on a Saturday night in Death Valley with 80,000 people screaming. I have been apart of amazing upsets (Florida State 03) and I have felt the love of an entire town called Clemson, South Carolina. I'm about to restart my career in a great city playing in a legendary stadium Legion Field. I get to play with a young program who is hungry to win. Athletics has done it all for me! Sometimes it feels that I should be paying the sport or the fans for even giving me the opportunity to show my athletic ability. I'm very greatful that Clemson and UAB see enough talent in me that they would make a investment worth thousands of dollars in me. Thats what these Universities are doing when they give scholarships, making an investment. I thank God for giving me the knowledge, the stregnth, and the wisdom to be able to play football and do well in the class room. Most college athletes don't see it like that. Its all about "me", start "me", pay "me", and its not about the team nor the people who put them in the position to play college sports. I feel extremely blessed to be able to play D-1 football, because millions dream of it but only a handfull get the chance. As a person I don't care about the money because I have been blessed with something that is priceless. Think about it. We get free air travel, stay in the finest hotels week in and week out, we eat at the finest places, and we get to play infront of thousands of people which is something that everyone dreams of." "When you recieve a scholarship your scholarship is usually a set amount per semester. The amount that you will need to cover your tuition usually lower than the amount of money being payed per semester by your scholarship. Lets say that your scholarship pays $5,000 a semester but your tuition and all other cost come up to about $3,000 that means that $2,000 will be given to you and you do whatever you want with it. A refund check is simply the money thats left over after your fees are paid. For the people that I know and including myself most athletes refund checks on average are between $2,000-$3,000 per semester. To be honest some guys waste this money on clothes, rims, car stereos, jewlery, and ect. But some use it to pay rent on apartments, pay cell phone bills, pay for gas, food, and personal items"