The rush of the game, the emotions of the crowd and players; not many events can top the excitement of an NCAA Division I athletic event, or any collegiate event for that matter. For years, millions of college athletes have shed their blood, sweat and tears and put hours upon hours of work into their craft, hoping to one day play professionally at the highest level their sport has to offer. When athletes declare themselves fit to go play their sport professionally, the amateur status they held in college no long exists, and they can receive payment for their performance on the playing field or court. However, when said athletes compete at the college level, whether they compete in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics), or even the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), they cannot receive any sort of monetary incentive for their play. Some people, including a vast amount of …show more content…
Just like knowledge is power, education is money (Johnson). Once a person has their degree, they have the opportunity to go into the workforce, make money, and make a lasting difference in the world. One of the main concerns about paying student athletes is that the idea compromises a university’s purpose: to educate and forge good citizens (Johnson). Along with education, colleges provide lectures and symposiums with prominent speakers, clubs, and fitness facilities, all available to student athletes. Colleges and universities provide numerous opportunities for their students, with the hope that each student can graduate and have success down the road. Since students attend school to receive an education, paying student athletes like employees of the athletic department detracts from the purpose of college education as a