Should College Football Athletes Be Paid?

College football is it work or is it fun?  Some would argue both.  The athletes have fun running, catching, blocking, and kicking.  They don't necessarily enjoy 4 and 5 hour practices, daily film sessions, and weight lifting.  Much of what they do is fun.  Also much of what they do is work.  With that in mind, should they be paid?  Also keep in mind they produce millions of dollars for their schools and risk life and limb.

     They have fun.  They have worked their whole lives to get to the point where they are able to perform at the college level of athletics.  They put in long hours of training and perform at high levels to produce wins and put people in seats.  There is no doubt that what they do is work.  This is why they give scholarships to the best of these athletes and provide housing and meals.  Is that enough?  Should they be paid?               

     Many colleges bring in as much as 45 million dollars a year from the football program.  Notre Dame brings in 101 million a year from athletics.  College football coaches are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars and even millions in many cases.  The football program provides money for the entire department of athletics.  Football players are given scholarships but no money.  They produce a great deal but aren't given any money.  I think they should be given a monthly per diem of at least $1000.00 per player.

     Yes they risk life and limb with no monetary compensation.  There have been athletes to receive substantial injuries from playing football from paralysis, to hip injuries, to ankle injuries and sometimes even death.  These injuries  have ended possible million dollar careers.  They play a gladiator sport that involves violence.  Athletes should be compensated monetarily for this risk and in many cases this occurence of injuries.

     The NCAA does not allow for the paying of college football players and athletes.  They risk life and limb and work extra hard for their schools.  They bring in millions of dollars and provide millions of dollars for other athletics at these universities.  They should be paid.  No doubt!