Why Shouldn’t College Athletes Be Paid? Look At The Off-Season

A few bad apples ruin an entire bunch. Heard the phrase before? Sure you have. Each year, whether we are in the midst of college football season or in spring practice, the headlines seem too familiar: Some player has been arrested for doing something stupid.

Let’s take a look back at the current off-season shall we?

Since Auburn played in the BCS National Championship, we’ll consider the offseason beginning January 8^th. The following arrests may or may not have lead to prosecution and all those mentioned are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

January 11, 2014: University of Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham arrested for suspicion of felony drug possession charges. He was 20 at the time of the arrest.

January 13, 2014: University of Georgia cornerback Shaq Wiggins arrested for driving with a suspended license after being stopped for speeding.

January 17, 2014: University of Kentucky wide receiver Demarco Robinson arrested for disorderly conduct which led to resisting arrest … which would result in his arrest.

January 19, 2014: University of Alabama cornerback Tony Brown arrested for failure to obey and resisting arrest.

January 20, 2014: University of South Florida defensive back Kenneth Durden arrested for possession of marijuana.

January 20, 2014: UNC-Charlotte running back Alan Barnwell arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.

January 22, 2014: University of Nevada running back Chris Solomon arrested for domestic battery charges. He was 19 at the time.

January 24, 2014: University of Missouri wide receiver Levi Copelin arrested for disturbing the peace.

January 29. 2014: University of Mississippi cornerback Bobby Hill arrested for sexual battery.

February 10, 2014: East Carolina University receiver Danny Webster arrested for driving while impaired.

February 18, 2014: Georgia Southern University fullback Dominique Swope arrested for aggravated battery.

February 18, 2014: Texas Christan University wide receiver LaDarius Brown arrested for possession of marijuana.

February 18, 2014: Washington State University cornerback Daquawn Brown arrested for driving without a license.

February 25, 2014: University of Colorado defensive back Jeffrey Hall arrested for assaulting a police officer.

February 27, 2014: College of William and Mary Offensive lineman Samuel Marshall arrested for (hold your breath…this is a long one) 8 Counts of Distributing a Controlled Substance, 8 Counts of Selling Drugs Near a School or Library, 1 Count of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 1 Count of Possession of Marijuana.

March 10, 2014: Washington State University defensive tackle Austin Brown arrested for third degree theft.

March 12, 2014: Washington State University cornerback Daquawn Brown arrested for second-degree felony assault.

March 19, 2014: Florida State University offensive lineman Ira Denson arrested for fraudulent use of a credit card (he stole it).

March 23, 2014: University of South Carolina offensive tackle Na’ty Rodgers arrested for disorderly conduct and possession of alcohol as a minor.

March 24, 2014: Brigham Young University running back Jamaal Williams arrested for underage drinking.

March 28, 2014: Old Dominion University wide receiver Jakwail Bailey arrested for essentially punching someone in the face (known as Felonious Malicious Wounding)

March 28, 2014: Texas A&M University quarterback Kenny Hill arrested for public intoxication.

March 31, 2014: University of Kansas wide receiver Mark Thomas arrested on charges of sexual aggravated battery.

April 2, 2014: University of Alabama running back Altee Tenpenny arrested on possession of a controlled substance charges.

April 6, 2014: Texas A&M University wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones arrested for disorderly conduct.

April 10, 2014: University of Alabama linebacker Dillon Lee arrested for driving under the influence.

April 11, 2014: Iowa State University running back DeVondrick Nealy arrested for excessive noise violations.

Did I miss a few arrests? Probably. Can you blame me? This all happened in LESS THAN 4 MONTHS, and I only looked into college football player arrests. I didn’t bother with any other sport. If I had, then this list would be endless.

So why do I list these 25+ arrests? Well, when I was 18 – which wasn’t too long ago – I wouldn’t have known how to correctly spend the money that some people believe these college athletes deserve to be paid. In my opinion, whether you are a college athlete or just another student, you are still immature and have more to learn than you could ever imagine while still in college. Heck, at the ripe age of 25, I am still unsure if I could maturely handle all the money some people believe these student-athletes deserve.

Whether these students are coming to college to learn or simply prepare themselves for the National Football League, they are given both opportunities. So what is another a few years? After reviewing the arrest records from this offseason, I would say waiting another few years might be the best thing for these kids. That is why folks: college athletes are young adults at best. At worst, they’re old teenagers trying to find themselves and decide where they belong in this world. We all go through this process, but the athletes are just under the microscope.

So I ask you: Would have trusted yourself with tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars at this age? If you answered yes, then please move to the next room and pop that ego balloon you call a head.

Do I think college athletes deserve more from the college they contribute to financially as a prominent student-athlete? Absolutely! Do I believe they should get that money every month or year? Nope. I say it’s time to put an incentive on education – not just in the classroom, but also on how to go about your life. Should we reward arrests with money? No. Should we reward terrible grades with cash? No. Should we reward those who decide not to go to class and have one of their many young fans take notes for them? Hell no.

We need to educate these student-athletes that every action has consequences. I suggest we educate them for the two possibilities that their future may hold: one where they will enter the workforce like everyone else, and one where they will make millions. Why not have them take classes to learn how to handle money correctly? Who is trustworthy to give them advice on the onslaught of cash that will come into their bank account if they are first round picks? As an educational institution, it is the responsibility of the school to prepare all of their students, athletes or not, for whatever life may throw at them.

Finally, I think those athletes who choose to stay in school and complete their undergraduate without any legal problems should be rewarded. I suggest we start promising a certain amount of cash to incoming freshmen if they decide to stay at the school of their choice for the full 4 years. Reward them not only for excellence on the field, but for academic excellence off the field. As much as we would all like to think every athlete who steps onto the field will be a millionaire someday, that just is not true. However, if colleges were to make the right decisions with the influx of money they receive from these student-athletes, then the colleges could give the athletes some sort of payment at the end for a job well done.

Are there some young people out there who could easily handle all of the money being discussed around college football right now? Sure. But the over 25 arrests above prove that even a few bad apples can – and should – ruin it for all.