OT: Ole Miss distributes academic bonuses to all eligible athletes

[Storrs South]

 

[shizzle787]

If this is how they spend their athletic department profit, I’m fine with it. It breaks down to $500/month these kids can use for food, essentials, and gas.

 

[noeynox]

Widening the gap has always been the goal.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Good for them. Encourages them to be academically strong while getting some extra cash for playing.

 

[hank970]

Good for them. Encourages them to be academically strong while getting some extra cash for playing.

Of course, being academically strong at Ole Miss doesn't have the same import as it has at most other institutions.

 

[CL82]

academically strong

And by academically strong you mean “eligible.”

 

[DoctorWho85]

And by academically strong you mean “eligible.”

If they can keep a 3.0 and play football at that level then yes that's pretty strong. Sure they get tutors, but if I had tutors available for me at all times, I would have utilized them too. Let them have their money. Theyve earned.

 

[ScottVib]

If they can keep a 3.0 and play football at that level then yes that's pretty strong. Sure they get tutors, but if I had tutors available for me at all times, I would have utilized them too. Let them have their money. Theyve earned.

Yeah but the NCAA's requirements for eligibility are much lower than that:

Student-athletes must achieve 90 percent of the institution’s minimum overall grade-point average necessary to graduate (for example, 1.8) by the beginning of year two, 95 percent of the minimum GPA (1.9) by year three and 100 percent (2.0) by year four.

 

[Vowelguy]

Good for them. Encourages them to be academically strong while getting some extra cash for playing.

“Academically strong”
Lol

 

[Vowelguy]

So someone on track or gymnastics just got 6k ?

 

[UCFBfan]

You see this and I just shake my head at how schools are still making the jump up to FBS. For what reason? They can't compete with this kind of money. We can't compete with this kind of money. I look at the schools upgrading into CUSA and just wonder how they plan on cutting it.

 

[Stinger92860]

Good for them. Encourages them to be academically strong while getting some extra cash for playing.

IMO this encourages cheating like UNC. I don’t like it but I get it.

Most of these kids are not playing professional sports when their college career is over. I’d rather see the schools setup a trust for these kids to receive a few bucks upon graduation or healthcare coverage for life or both.

 

[ScottVib]

You see this and I just shake my head at how schools are still making the jump up to FBS. For what reason? They can't compete with this kind of money. We can't compete with this kind of money. I look at the schools upgrading into CUSA and just wonder how they plan on cutting it.

I don't think they are really intending to compete with Ole Miss (at least not unless the opportunity presents itself), but to take advantage of the greater revenue opportunities. As bad as C-USA TV money is, between that and the share of the CFB Playoff money that C-USA distributes, coupled with higher payouts for being a FBS team playing money games, not to mention the greater advertising profile should one of your games get picked up for Linear television (and the comparatively better opportunity to get those opportunities) all drive the motivation to upgrade.

 

[upstater]

But they have not gotten rid of the student sports fee! Regular students still subsidize it.

I mean, get rid of that fee and cut the coaches pay already. Cheese and crackers.