Geno and UConn and NIL

[azfan]

The NCAA fought NIL as hard as it could but eventually folded under pressure. The NCAA is NOT responsible for NIL

NCAA to let athletes negotiate NIL deals before enrollment

The NCAA is dropping its rule that prohibited athletes from negotiating the terms of NIL payments until after they enrolled in school.

www.espn.com

No directly, the board of the NCAA did not vote to create NIL. In fact that inaction was intentional and myopic.

I would think that NIL would be an anticipated and perverse consequence of the NCAA opposition and battle to maintain control.

So in a significant, indirect way, the NCAA is responsible for both the chaos in college athletics and the subsequent government intervention.

From the NCAA web site: History
"The NCAA, a member-led organization, was founded in 1906 to regulate the rules of college sport and protect young athletes."

Really?

Does anyone believe that the NCAA is member lead?

Does anyone believe that the NCAA protects . . . . anyone, with the exception of the organization.

An analysis - by a NCAA WBB player:

Vermont Catamounts Forward Cassidy Derda

The Upsides & Downsides of College Athletics Within the NCAA: An Analysis of the Rules and a Personal Account of the Power of Resilience

https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2152&context=graddis

 

[BBallF]

I’m not sure where the 91% comes from, but it’s worth pointing out that for many years the college graduation rate for student-athletes has exceeded the graduation rate for non-athletes. In the most recent study it’s 70% vs 67% respectively.

The higher graduation rate for student-athletes is generally attributed to having a more structured schedule, the requirement to meet NCAA academic standards on eligibility and the fact that athletes more readily integrate into the college community through their association with a team.

That 91% is from NCAA.org. The rate is 17% higher than it was in 2002. I would think that a nice NIL check would also be an inducement to stay in school and have workable grades even if it's 3 schools. Perhaps an unintended good consequence of the "Wild West".

 

[BBallF]

I appreciate your analysis. And I know it feels like there’s an injustice of some sort here that needs to be addressed. It’s just that I don’t see universities as entities that can suffer an injustice. Neither are fans like us. I say this as both a fan and a university professor. I’m deeply tied to both perspectives. If anyone should feel aggrieved over what NIL and the Portal seems to be doing to my favorite sport, it’s me.

As far as I can see, the only group here that can suffer an injustice is the student-athletes, and they have suffered over the years quite a bit. The current “Wild West” appears not to do an injustice to them and may even benefit them greatly. I’m sad and frustrated to see the impact on WCBB, but I am also alert to the possibility that the system I’ve enjoyed watching for so many years is of dubious ethical standing. This unsettling thought won’t stop me from watching next season and every subsequent one.

Of course not. We are loyal fans and will always be. My point is that you can't just focus on the athletes because it is a systemic issue. If a mid-major can't compete financially in sports because that is the way most colleges are being forced to compete now it has consequences for the college in the form of decreased alumni donations, less attendance which means less revenue, less notoriety for the school etc. which can have consequences for the college itself. Right now, it's all about the dollars and it is distasteful to many fans. St. John's men is picking up players left and right this off season due to very high contributions(NIL) and they won the Big East last year and will be very strong this year. 14 teams from the SEC made the mens Big Dance as stated above. Geno has said publicly that we should stop the charade and treat the athletes like employees, which means contracts, buy outs if you choose to leave, etc. This is also the reason so many great coaches have bailed from the men's game and to my knowledge they all cited at least in part, the new arrangements. Coach K, Jay Wright, Roy Williams as examples.

 

[oldude]

That 91% is from NCAA.org. The rate is 17% higher than it was in 2002. I would think that a nice NIL check would also be an inducement to stay in school and have workable grades even if it's 3 schools. Perhaps an unintended good consequence of the "Wild West".

So I did look at NCAA.org, and I stand corrected. However, I don’t think that NIL is the reason for the higher graduation rates for the tracking period starting in 2004.

In 2003 the NCAA instituted academic progress requirements for athletes that set up annual benchmarks for completing their degrees over a 5-year period. Prior to that change, athletes could take easy courses with no real degree possibility, just to stay eligible.

While NIL might be an additional inducement for athletes to graduate, the requirements for real academic progress towards a meaningful degree is the primary factor in improved graduation rates.

 

[BBallF]

So I did look at NCAA.org, and I stand corrected. However, I don’t think that NIL is the reason for the higher graduation rates for the tracking period starting in 2004.

In 2003 the NCAA instituted academic progress requirements for athletes that set up annual benchmarks for completing their degrees over a 5-year period. Prior to that change, athletes could take easy courses with no real degree possibility, just to stay eligible.

While NIL might be an additional inducement for athletes to graduate, the requirements for real academic progress towards a meaningful degree is the primary factor in improved graduation rates.

I agree. I was being somewhat facetious. I just think it is important at some point to have a comprehensive analysis of NIL and the transfer portal and its effects upon college sports, the student athletes, and the colleges. I assume there are books or treatises out there about this which will make for good beach reading.

 

[Skeets]

I’m not sure where the 91% comes from, but it’s worth pointing out that for many years the college graduation rate for student-athletes has exceeded the graduation rate for non-athletes. In the most recent study it’s 70% vs 67% respectively.

The higher graduation rate for student-athletes is generally attributed to having a more structured schedule, the requirement to meet NCAA academic standards on eligibility and the fact that athletes more readily integrate into the college community through their association with a team.

Also a heck of a lot of kids go to college that have no business being there. If it's free and/or easy the attitude is why not try it? Student-athletes have to meet NCAA standards just to get into college, the general population just has to get the school to accept them. If you have the means to pay the tuition the acceptance is real easy at most schools.

 

[Bone Dog]

Also a heck of a lot of kids go to college that have no business being there. If it's free and/or easy the attitude is why not try it? Student-athletes have to meet NCAA standards just to get into college, the general population just has to get the school to accept them. If you have the means to pay the tuition the acceptance is real easy at most schools.

That probably describes me at 18. I just wanted to get away from home. How odd that over five decades later I’m still technically in college. Beware college. It’s a trap!!!

 

[cancontent]

That probably describes me at 18. I just wanted to get away from home. How odd that over five decades later I’m still technically in college. Beware college. It’s a trap!!!

Couldn't resist

 

[Bigboote]

I don't like the movement of the players nor the vagaries of NIL. But to add to what Bone Dog has said:

In the hard sciences, the vast majority of graduate students are supported in graduate school. You might be guaranteed a year or two of support (tuition plus stipend) as a teaching assistant, then join a research group and spend the next few years as a research assistant. In many larger schools, they accept way more students than they can accommodate in order to have enough TAs. Then they fail half them on the PhD qualifying exams, and they're forced to either take a "terminal" masters or go elsewhere for the PhD.

So universities can be guilty of using students in areas other than athletics. IIRC, TAs at the University of California tried to unionize several years ago, don't remember what happened with that.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don't like the movement of the players nor the vagaries of NIL. But to add to what Bone Dog has said:

In the hard sciences, the vast majority of graduate students are supported in graduate school. You might be guaranteed a year or two of support (tuition plus stipend) as a teaching assistant, then join a research group and spend the next few years as a research assistant. In many larger schools, they accept way more students than they can accommodate in order to have enough TAs. Then they fail half them on the PhD qualifying exams, and they're forced to either take a "terminal" masters or go elsewhere for the PhD.

So universities can be guilty of using students in areas other than athletics. IIRC, TAs at the University of California tried to unionize several years ago, don't remember what happened with that.

This is exactly what I saw in the humanities too. And I believe the UC TAs succeeded in unionizing. Our daughter was at Cal at the time.

 

[1974yankees]

As a taxpayer funded and maintained institution UCONN there needs to be open and transparent visibility relative to the sources of collective money and how and where it is distributed.

As a taxpayer funded and maintained institution UCONN there needs to be open and transparent visibility relative to the sources of collective money and how and where it is distributed.

As a CT taxpayer myself I agree.

For the record the two highest State Employees in CT are

1. Dan Hurley at around 6.8 million per year.

2. Geno Aureimma at around 3.4 million per year..

Teachers make very little.

I can only imagine what they are gonna start paying these athletes now since the NCAA voted to have the universities disperse funds.

I am of the belief that once you are getting paid to perform whether through endorsements or through the University then you are no longer an amateur. You are now a Professional Athlete. I wouldn't call them "student Athletes" either. Especially on the men's side when they play for one year and leave...How is that being a "student athlete" ?

Even on the women's side you have this "transfer portal" where every year you can transfer and go to the highest bidder.. and how is this a "student athlete" ?

I am just calling it what it really is... A business.

Sorry but the real students are the 30 other kids sitting in the same classroom (or the 9 other teammates who make nothing) who can barely afford a meal at Ted's on the weekend...

That is just my take.

 

[azfan]

I’m not sure where the 91% comes from, but it’s worth pointing out that for many years the college graduation rate for student-athletes has exceeded the graduation rate for non-athletes. In the most recent study it’s 70% vs 67% respectively.

The higher graduation rate for student-athletes is generally attributed to having a more structured schedule, the requirement to meet NCAA academic standards on eligibility and the fact that athletes more readily integrate into the college community through their association with a team.

Student athletes were not and are not a homogeneous group.

The higher graduation rates in the revenue producing sports football and men's basketball was due to a wide combination of factors including user-friendly coursework. ;-). This was clearly not the only Factor keeping football and men's basketball players eligible but one would be naive if they didn't recognize how significant these user-friendly courses have been. In the contemporary world we have online courses.

Other sports such as golf, tennis, well the secondary sports attracted students with greater motivation and ability to complete college coursework. Those sports and the practice requirements were also more conducive to student athletes as opposed to professionals were in college jerseys.

I would not credit the NCAA for any of the positives in terms of academics including graduation requirements. The term pathologically incompetent and corrupt does a nice job of capturing NCAA involvement in colleges.

 

[azfan]

As a CT taxpayer myself I agree.

For the record the two highest State Employees in CT are

1. Dan Hurley at around 6.8 million per year.

2. Geno Aureimma at around 3.4 million per year..

Teachers make very little.

I can only imagine what they are gonna start paying these athletes now since the NCAA voted to have the universities disperse funds.

I am of the belief that once you are getting paid to perform whether through endorsements or through the University then you are no longer an amateur. You are now a Professional Athlete. I wouldn't call them "student Athletes" either. Especially on the men's side when they play for one year and leave...How is that being a "student athlete" ?

Even on the women's side you have this "transfer portal" where every year you can transfer and go to the highest bidder.. and how is this a "student athlete" ?

I am just calling it what it really is... A business.

Sorry but the real students are the 30 other kids sitting in the same classroom (or the 9 other teammates who make nothing) who can barely afford a meal at Ted's on the weekend...

That is just my take.

Yep!

You really raise a critical and important point. Can't help but think of James Buchanan and his analysis of concentrated benefits and diffuse costs.

I'm not a Connecticut taxpayer I have the privilege of paying in Arizona. Therefore I bear none of the cost of the excellence of the University of Connecticut women's basketball program which I did a little checking on. In addition to Geno's 3 million you would guess CD in the assistants probably make another 2 million. In 2024 University of Connecticut reported that Athletics generated 57% of their expenses. We're talking millions of dollars and I believe the cost to taxpayers to subsidize and support Athletics at the University of Connecticut was around 35 million dollars.

Now I do receive huge benefits and pay none of the cost . . . that is for the Huskies. But living in Arizona I am obligated to pay to subsidize Athletics. Part of this coerced support accounts for the vigor with which I pointed out the incompetence of the nice coach from Delaware and CAA coach of the year in 2021. If we're going to subsidize these programs we should expect some accountability and hopefully some excellence.

I think it's also important that we acknowledge that this is entertainment. Given a finite budget we're enjoying this entertainment at the expense of very challenging issues that confront our society including homelessness, deteriorating education, property violence, criminal violence against humans, healthcare inequality will the list goes on and on and on.

So that sad I'm delighted that we all have the opportunity to enjoy this level of entertainment and I think at least for me part of the offsetting responsibility is to make certain that above and beyond the coercion the state imposes upon me through a tax code that I do have respond to an obligation for charitable donations and investment in my time to ameliorate the real challenges facing our society.

 

[oldude]

Student athletes were not and are not a homogeneous group.

The higher graduation rates in the revenue producing sports football and men's basketball was due to a wide combination of factors including user-friendly coursework. ;-). This was clearly not the only Factor keeping football and men's basketball players eligible but one would be naive if they didn't recognize how significant these user-friendly courses have been. In the contemporary world we have online courses.

Other sports such as golf, tennis, well the secondary sports attracted students with greater motivation and ability to complete college coursework. Those sports and the practice requirements were also more conducive to student athletes as opposed to professionals were in college jerseys.

I would not credit the NCAA for any of the positives in terms of academics including graduation requirements. The term pathologically incompetent and corrupt does a nice job of capturing NCAA involvement in colleges.

College students as a whole are not a homogeneous group, and they shouldn’t be expected to be a homogeneous group. User-friendly courses, otherwise known as “guts”, provided little or no benefit to college athletes progress towards meaningful degrees. That is exactly why the NCAA instituted their academic progress rules in 2003.

As a former D1 college football player with an undergraduate degree as well as an MBA, I can confirm that your take on the motivation and academic performance of the vast majority of college football players and MBB players could not be more wrong.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

College students as a whole are not a homogeneous group, and they shouldn’t be expected to be a homogeneous group. User-friendly courses, otherwise known as “guts”, provided little or no benefit to college athletes progress towards meaningful degrees. That is exactly why the NCAA instituted their academic progress rules in 2003.

As a former D1 college football player with an undergraduate degree as well as an MBA, I can confirm that your take on the motivation and academic performance of the vast majority of college football players and MBB players could not be more wrong.

Hey, wait a minute, when you were college age football had yet to be invented. He's trying to pull a fast one folks!

 

[oldude]

Hey, wait a minute, when you were college age football had yet to be invented. He's trying to pull a fast one folks!

That’s an exaggeration. I still have my old leather helmet without a face mask to prove it……

 

[azfan]

College students as a whole are not a homogeneous group, and they shouldn’t be expected to be a homogeneous group. User-friendly courses, otherwise known as “guts”, provided little or no benefit to college athletes progress towards meaningful degrees. That is exactly why the NCAA instituted their academic progress rules in 2003.

As a former D1 college football player with an undergraduate degree as well as an MBA, I can confirm that your take on the motivation and academic performance of the vast majority of college football players and MBB players could not be more wrong.

I agree - students and student athletes are clearly not homogeneous..... With one exception that I refetence at the end of this post

Let me clarify, the vast majority of football and MBB at the elite (top 25) level and those athletes in football and MBB who are committed to the "next" level view their college experience as a preparation and/or barrier to their career. So, user friendly courses at North Carolina, Auburn, Michigan, UCLA (see below) oh yeah. Is anyone naive enough to believe these are the only schools that systematically cheat? Of course not. Do athletes at Texas, ASU, Oklahoma, Alabama, . . . . well the list goes on.

But athletes in college should not be singled out - the vast majority of college students admit to cheating.
https://www.meazurelearning.com/resources/by-the-numbers-academic-integrity-in-higher-education

What I was pointing out was that for college football and men's basketball the elite institutions recognize these employees are acting in full time jobs and thus, to maintain the facade of student athlete provide user friendly classes. Do all division 1 college football players and men's basketball players take advantage? Of course not. But the vast majority do.

The State of Academic Integrity in Higher Ed

Studies and surveys have repeatedly highlighted the prevalence of cheating and its negative implications on the credibility of academic credentials, student outcomes, and the overall educational environment. But cheating in higher education is a complex and persistent issue, involving a tangled web of direct and indirect causes. Far from being a black-and-white matter, it requires a nuanced understanding of the entire integrity landscape.

Here are a few noteworthy research findings and some important context behind the numbers.

Between 50% and 70% of students admit to cheating during their academic career.​

This finding has remained relatively consistent in recent years, but it’s alarming for several reasons. The first and most obvious: Dishonest behavior is widespread, being demonstrated by more than half of the undergrad student population."

Yes, college athletes non homogeneous and if one contrasts revenue athletes in football and men's basketball with all other sports one might question the vast majority conforming to real academic norms. Also, they are not the only cheaters as cheating is endemic in college - the vast majority of students cheat - they actually acknowledge this.

"Professor Jasmine Harris of Ursinus College writes here that she believes it is naïve to think that athletes have time for their coursework. Her research, she says, shows that Division I football and basketball players “spend three times as many hours per week on athletics as they do on academics.” Therefore, Harris continues, athletes “aren’t able to fully actualize their identities as students to the same degree as their classmates.”"


The role of the NCAA is laughable and the North Carolina example (scandal) is representative of the incompetence, corruption, self seeking behavior of the NCAA.

Most of us recall the scandal at Bill Belichick;s employer

CNN: UNC report finds 18 years of academic fraud to keep athletes playing​

CNN: UNC report finds 18 years of academic fraud to keep athletes playing - Government Accountability Project

AND, unsurprisingly:

NCAA finds no violations at North Carolina. (Source: Inside Higher Education)
Breaking: NCAA finds no academic fraud by UNC

A recent book - little has changed
Recalling the Great UNC Sports Scandal—How Much has Really Changed? — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal
A series of investigations revealed the unsavory truth about collaboration between the Athletics Department and certain elements of the faculty to ensure that players remained eligible no matter how weak their academic performance. The African and African-American Studies Department was the guiltiest party, although Mary Willingham offered the opinion that many faculty members were afraid to give players bad grades. UNC’s administration feared terrible penalties would come from the NCAA and perhaps also the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the organization that provides accreditation for the university.

(It’s worth noting that the deep academic integrity problems that the investigations revealed had gone undetected by SACS, which would lead one to question how much good it and other accreditation bodies are.)

But instead of severe penalties, UNC got off with a slap on the wrist from the NCAA, some loss of scholarships, and a one-year ban on post-season play. SACS did nothing.


Not just North Carolina

UCLA and others

Summarized best in a quote from UCLA’s Josh Rosen stating “football and school don’t go together.”

“They just don’t. Trying to do both is like trying to do two full-time jobs. There are guys who have no business being in school, but they’re here because this is the path to the NFL. There’s no other way.” Rosen added.

There are those out there who would argue that these large universities have a responsibility to provide their athletes with the best academic prep for life, but when viewing the profits generated from these athletic programs it is clear to see why paper classes have become a growing trend.
College athletes cut corners with paper classes

Auburn
NY Times: Auburn Keeping Athletes Eligible via Fake Classes?

NY Times: Auburn Keeping Athletes Eligible via Fake Classes?​

Friday's New York Times breaks the story of Auburn's latest "academic" non-sense.

The long and short of it...the Auburn Athletic Department was driving student-athletes such as Cadillac Williams and 17 other football players towards independent study classes lead by one professor, Thomas Petee. That professor was a one man eligibility army keeping players academically alive for the undefeated 2004 season.

University of Michigan
Academic Scandal Rocks Michigan
John Hagen was, as he has been for decades, close to some of the most recognized athletes at Michigan. University records obtained by The News show that the veteran psychology professor has taught at least 294 independent studies from the fall of 2004 to the fall of 2007, and 85 percent of those courses, 251, were with athletes.

Why students cheat - five answers: panic, hyperbolic discounting, akrasia, ease, and The Experience Machine. Let’s take a look.
Why AI is Destroying Academic Integrity

 

[oldude]

I agree - students and student athletes are clearly not homogeneous..... With one exception that I refetence at the end of this post

Let me clarify, the vast majority of football and MBB at the elite (top 25) level and those athletes in football and MBB who are committed to the "next" level view their college experience as a preparation and/or barrier to their career. So, user friendly courses at North Carolina, Auburn, Michigan, UCLA (see below) oh yeah. Is anyone naive enough to believe these are the only schools that systematically cheat? Of course not. Do athletes at Texas, ASU, Oklahoma, Alabama, . . . . well the list goes on.

But athletes in college should not be singled out - the vast majority of college students admit to cheating.
https://www.meazurelearning.com/resources/by-the-numbers-academic-integrity-in-higher-education

What I was pointing out was that for college football and men's basketball the elite institutions recognize these employees are acting in full time jobs and thus, to maintain the facade of student athlete provide user friendly classes. Do all division 1 college football players and men's basketball players take advantage? Of course not. But the vast majority do.

The State of Academic Integrity in Higher Ed

Studies and surveys have repeatedly highlighted the prevalence of cheating and its negative implications on the credibility of academic credentials, student outcomes, and the overall educational environment. But cheating in higher education is a complex and persistent issue, involving a tangled web of direct and indirect causes. Far from being a black-and-white matter, it requires a nuanced understanding of the entire integrity landscape.

Here are a few noteworthy research findings and some important context behind the numbers.

Between 50% and 70% of students admit to cheating during their academic career.​

This finding has remained relatively consistent in recent years, but it’s alarming for several reasons. The first and most obvious: Dishonest behavior is widespread, being demonstrated by more than half of the undergrad student population."

Yes, college athletes non homogeneous and if one contrasts revenue athletes in football and men's basketball with all other sports one might question the vast majority conforming to real academic norms. Also, they are not the only cheaters as cheating is endemic in college - the vast majority of students cheat - they actually acknowledge this.

"Professor Jasmine Harris of Ursinus College writes here that she believes it is naïve to think that athletes have time for their coursework. Her research, she says, shows that Division I football and basketball players “spend three times as many hours per week on athletics as they do on academics.” Therefore, Harris continues, athletes “aren’t able to fully actualize their identities as students to the same degree as their classmates.”"


The role of the NCAA is laughable and the North Carolina example (scandal) is representative of the incompetence, corruption, self seeking behavior of the NCAA.

Most of us recall the scandal at Bill Belichick;s employer

CNN: UNC report finds 18 years of academic fraud to keep athletes playing​

CNN: UNC report finds 18 years of academic fraud to keep athletes playing - Government Accountability Project

AND, unsurprisingly:

NCAA finds no violations at North Carolina. (Source: Inside Higher Education)
Breaking: NCAA finds no academic fraud by UNC

A recent book - little has changed
Recalling the Great UNC Sports Scandal—How Much has Really Changed? — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal
A series of investigations revealed the unsavory truth about collaboration between the Athletics Department and certain elements of the faculty to ensure that players remained eligible no matter how weak their academic performance. The African and African-American Studies Department was the guiltiest party, although Mary Willingham offered the opinion that many faculty members were afraid to give players bad grades. UNC’s administration feared terrible penalties would come from the NCAA and perhaps also the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the organization that provides accreditation for the university.

(It’s worth noting that the deep academic integrity problems that the investigations revealed had gone undetected by SACS, which would lead one to question how much good it and other accreditation bodies are.)

But instead of severe penalties, UNC got off with a slap on the wrist from the NCAA, some loss of scholarships, and a one-year ban on post-season play. SACS did nothing.


Not just North Carolina

UCLA and others

Summarized best in a quote from UCLA’s Josh Rosen stating “football and school don’t go together.”

“They just don’t. Trying to do both is like trying to do two full-time jobs. There are guys who have no business being in school, but they’re here because this is the path to the NFL. There’s no other way.” Rosen added.

There are those out there who would argue that these large universities have a responsibility to provide their athletes with the best academic prep for life, but when viewing the profits generated from these athletic programs it is clear to see why paper classes have become a growing trend.
College athletes cut corners with paper classes

Auburn
NY Times: Auburn Keeping Athletes Eligible via Fake Classes?

NY Times: Auburn Keeping Athletes Eligible via Fake Classes?​

Friday's New York Times breaks the story of Auburn's latest "academic" non-sense.

The long and short of it...the Auburn Athletic Department was driving student-athletes such as Cadillac Williams and 17 other football players towards independent study classes lead by one professor, Thomas Petee. That professor was a one man eligibility army keeping players academically alive for the undefeated 2004 season.

University of Michigan
Academic Scandal Rocks Michigan
John Hagen was, as he has been for decades, close to some of the most recognized athletes at Michigan. University records obtained by The News show that the veteran psychology professor has taught at least 294 independent studies from the fall of 2004 to the fall of 2007, and 85 percent of those courses, 251, were with athletes.

Why students cheat - five answers: panic, hyperbolic discounting, akrasia, ease, and The Experience Machine. Let’s take a look.
Why AI is Destroying Academic Integrity

Clearly, you have an axe to grind that goes way beyond any discussion of student-athlete graduation rates. I am sure there is some truth to the examples you give. I can only tell you that I have been proud to know many, many successful student-athletes through the years that have become doctors, engineers, teachers, businessmen along with many other professions that contribute extensively to the benefit of our society.

 

[cancontent]

Clearly, you have an axe to grind that goes way beyond any discussion of student-athlete graduation rates. I am sure there is some truth to the examples you give. I can only tell you that I have been proud to know many, many successful student-athletes through the years that have become doctors, engineers, teachers, businessmen along with many other professions that contribute extensively to the benefit of our society.

Exactly. Laurent Duvarney-Tardif and Myron Rolle both became doctors after their NFL careers for example. Not to mention Warrick Dunn who has been helping to put families into homes who couldn't afford to do it alone. Collier and Stewart starting Unrivaled. Flaujae Johnson with her music career, real estate investments and partnerships with a company to help people better understand the importance of credit. The list is long and continues to grow longer.

 

[1974yankees]

Yep!

You really raise a critical and important point. Can't help but think of James Buchanan and his analysis of concentrated benefits and diffuse costs.

I'm not a Connecticut taxpayer I have the privilege of paying in Arizona. Therefore I bear none of the cost of the excellence of the University of Connecticut women's basketball program which I did a little checking on. In addition to Geno's 3 million you would guess CD in the assistants probably make another 2 million. In 2024 University of Connecticut reported that Athletics generated 57% of their expenses. We're talking millions of dollars and I believe the cost to taxpayers to subsidize and support Athletics at the University of Connecticut was around 35 million dollars.

Now I do receive huge benefits and pay none of the cost . . . that is for the Huskies. But living in Arizona I am obligated to pay to subsidize Athletics. Part of this coerced support accounts for the vigor with which I pointed out the incompetence of the nice coach from Delaware and CAA coach of the year in 2021. If we're going to subsidize these programs we should expect some accountability and hopefully some excellence.

I think it's also important that we acknowledge that this is entertainment. Given a finite budget we're enjoying this entertainment at the expense of very challenging issues that confront our society including homelessness, deteriorating education, property violence, criminal violence against humans, healthcare inequality will the list goes on and on and on.

So that sad I'm delighted that we all have the opportunity to enjoy this level of entertainment and I think at least for me part of the offsetting responsibility is to make certain that above and beyond the coercion the state imposes upon me through a tax code that I do have respond to an obligation for charitable donations and investment in my time to ameliorate the real challenges facing our society.

I agree with you that this is "entertainment" ..

I will also bet dollars to donuts that Geno, Dan Hurley, Nick Saben (before he retired), Dawn Staley or any other coach in America just goes out and recruits "student athletes".....

They go out and recruit superior athletes first and foremost.. The best of the best.....None of these coaches would have a job if they didn't...

College athletics is a big business period...This is "entertainment" and fans pay. The networks and universities profit from this....

But it all starts with the recruiting...

All of this throws the idea that it's about "student athletes" out the window.

I would argue that every single player getting paid with these NIL salaries knows the deal too. Its always about the dollars.

 

[cancontent]

I agree with you that this is "entertainment" ..

I will also bet dollars to donuts that Geno, Dan Hurley, Nick Saben (before he retired), Dawn Staley or any other coach in America just goes out and recruits "student athletes".....

They go out and recruit superior athletes first and foremost.. The best of the best.....None of these coaches would have a job if they didn't...

College athletics is a big business period...This is "entertainment" and fans pay. The networks and universities profit from this....

But it all starts with the recruiting...

All of this throws the idea that it's about "student athletes" out the window.

I would argue that every single player getting paid with these NIL salaries knows the deal too. Its always about the dollars.

Coaches do as well, let's not forget that. They've been profiting off of their name, image and likeness for decades. If BYers are going to bemoan the concept of "student-athletes", should we not be doing the same about coaches? They've been able to participate in TV ads, reality shows, open their own businesses, and earn six figure fees for speaking engagements yet not much is being said about this part of the business.

 

[1974yankees]

Coaches do as well, let's not forget that. They've been profiting off of their name, image and likeness for decades. If BYers are going to bemoan the concept of "student-athletes", should we not be doing the same about coaches? They've been able to participate in TV ads, reality shows, open their own businesses, and earn six figure fees for speaking engagements yet not much is being said about this part of the business.

Agreed. The coaches profit big time too. I remember when Geno/his mother had their jar sauce at grocery stores in Ct. People only bought it because the jar said Aureimma.

It just drives me nuts when an announcer repeatedly says "student athlete".....

No matter what game or what sport, there is always the mention of "student athlete" this or "student athlete" that..

Btw,

They all have personal tutors too. Especially football players. You know to keep that GPA up for eligibility reasons.

I don't remember any regular/Real students having personal tutors....

 

[oldude]

Agreed. The coaches profit big time too. I remember when Geno/his mother had their jar sauce at grocery stores in Ct. People only bought it because the jar said Aureimma.

It just drives me nuts when an announcer repeatedly says "student athlete".....

No matter what game or what sport, there is always the mention of "student athlete" this or "student athlete" that..

Btw,

They all have personal tutors too. Especially football players. You know to keep that GPA up for eligibility reasons.

I don't remember any regular/Real students having personal tutors....

Please stop.

The vast majority of college athletes are in fact “student-athletes.” Approximately 85% of college football players and MBB players earn meaningful degrees and most go on to productive careers in something other than sports…..and no, they don’t all have tutors. As I pointed out in another post, those graduation rates are considerably higher than non/student athletes.

When I played ball back in the dark ages, I learned to despise the word “jock” because there was often an unspoken adjective implied right before it, “dumb.” That’s exactly what your post implies.

Finally, what in the hell does Geno marketing a spaghetti sauce at his restaurants have anything to do with any of this.

Considering that this forum is dedicated to UConn WBB and some of the finest young ladies and student-athletes around, almost all of whom earn their degrees and go on to be productive citizens, I strongly suggest that you consider taking your rants about the academic deficiencies of college athletes somewhere else.

 

[cancontent]

Agreed. The coaches profit big time too. I remember when Geno/his mother had their jar sauce at grocery stores in Ct. People only bought it because the jar said Aureimma.

It just drives me nuts when an announcer repeatedly says "student athlete".....

No matter what game or what sport, there is always the mention of "student athlete" this or "student athlete" that..

Btw,

They all have personal tutors too. Especially football players. You know to keep that GPA up for eligibility reasons.

I don't remember any regular/Real students having personal tutors....

Personally I have no issue with the term "student-athlete" because the description is accurate. They are both and it's accurate. Just because some of them receive money via NIL, it doesn't take away the fact that they're students.

Like the NCAA ad says, majority of these athletes are going to major in something outside of the sport they're playing. I don't begrudge them one bit for leveraging their scholarship for their education.

 

[1974yankees]

Please stop.

The vast majority of college athletes are in fact “student-athletes.” Approximately 85% of college football players and MBB players earn meaningful degrees and most go on to productive careers in something other than sports…..and no, they don’t all have tutors. As I pointed out in another post, those graduation rates are considerably higher than non/student athletes.

When I played ball back in the dark ages, I learned to despise the word “jock” because there was often an unspoken adjective implied right before it, “dumb.” That’s exactly what your post implies.

Finally, what in the hell does Geno marketing a spaghetti sauce at his restaurants have anything to do with any of this.

Considering that this forum is dedicated to UConn WBB and some of the finest young ladies and student-athletes around, almost all of whom earn their degrees and go on to be productive citizens, I strongly suggest that you consider taking your rants about the academic deficiencies of college athletes somewhere else.

I guess you are the only one allowed to express an opinion on this forum. If anyone else disagrees with you they are screamed at and asked to leave.

Did you go to Uconn by any chance? I was there during the Taursi years just for the record. Not that it matters but I had an upfront seat. And yes many of them have tutors to help them along.

Also, this thread was about NIL and how it affects college sports in general. Someone brought up the fact that coaches are profiting big time too. I agreed and mentioned Genos jar sauce. So what.

For the record it was actually excellent sauce that I bought all the time at Stew Leonard's.

 

[Bone Dog]

Why is it a problem that students get tutoring? My college makes tutoring available for every single student. Not everyone takes advantage of the program, but they all can, for free. And it improves everyone's experience of their education. Class discussion is vastly improved if everyone is caught up on their homework. It doesn't surprise me that student-athletes make use of tutoring, given how tightly packed their schedules tend to be. And the fact is, tight schedules often make for better students, since greater focus and self-discipline is required.

Heck, I will even tutor a student if I'm asked and have the time. My one rule is I won't tutor someone who is actually in one of my classes. But any other student who asks, if I'm available I'll usually say yes. The simple fact is the most enjoyable thing about my job is talking to students. I'll read a draft of a paper, I'll help them figure out a math problem, I'll argue with them about Kant or Aristotle or St. Thomas or Adam Smith.

 

[1974yankees]

Why is it a problem that students get tutoring? My college makes tutoring available for every single student. Not everyone takes advantage of the program, but they all can, for free. And it improves everyone's experience of their education. Class discussion is vastly improved if everyone is caught up on their homework. It doesn't surprise me that student-athletes make use of tutoring, given how tightly packed their schedules tend to be. And the fact is, tight schedules often make for better students, since greater focus and self-discipline is required.

Heck, I will even tutor a student if I'm asked and have the time. My one rule is I won't tutor someone who is actually in one of my classes. But any other student who asks, if I'm available I'll usually say yes. The simple fact is the most enjoyable thing about my job is talking to students. I'll read a draft of a paper, I'll help them figure out a math problem, I'll argue with them about Kant or Aristotle or St. Thomas or Adam Smith.

I don't see a problem with tutors.

My problem is with the NIL and the entire NCAA in General. I think it just ruins all the sports. I also can't stand the portal.

Geno also believes this but he is absolutely limited in what/How he says things.

In private, I would bet Geno screams out loud (knowing how he is, very old fashioned) about the NIL/Portal situation.

 

[Bone Dog]

Geno also believes this but he is absolutely limited in what/How he says things.

In private, I would bet Geno screams out loud (knowing how he is) about the NIL/Portal situation.

You seem not to have seen many of Geno's press conferences. He speaks quite bluntly about the evils of NIL. Other coaches do as well. Check out Jeff Walz's pressers.

 

[oldude]

I guess you are the only one allowed to express an opinion on this forum. If anyone else disagrees with you they are screamed at and asked to leave.

Did you go to Uconn by any chance? I was there during the Taursi years just for the record. Not that it matters but I had an upfront seat. And yes many of them have tutors to help them along.

Also, this thread was about NIL and how it affects college sports in general. Someone brought up the fact that coaches are profiting big time too. I agreed and mentioned Genos jar sauce. So what.

For the record it was actually excellent sauce that I bought all the time at Stew Leonard's.

I have no problem with BY’ers expressing opinions that differ with my own. What I do have a problem with is BY’ers painting every student-athlete with a broad brush that implies they are ill-equipped and/or indifferent to the academic requirements and benefits of college, when nothing could be further from the truth for the vast majority of college athletes.

 

[Bald Husky]

I don't see a problem with tutors.

My problem is with the NIL and the entire NCAA in General. I think it just ruins all the sports. I also can't stand the portal.

Geno also believes this but he is absolutely limited in what/How he says things.

In private, I would bet Geno screams out loud (knowing how he is, very old fashioned) about the NIL/Portal situation.

Relax man, you've been on this forum for less than a month and already you are picking fights. We are all passionate with anything about our girls, so just enjoy the banter, but keep it somewhat cordial. But being a Yankees fan doesn't help with me. LOL