NCAA prez advocates stipend for athletes
FILE - This Oct. 24, 2011 file photo shows NCAA President Mark Emmert speaking about policy changes being considered by the NCAA during the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics meeting, in Washington. Emmert says the firings of several highly successful coaches involved in scandals shows a "sea change in responsibility" in college sports. Ohio State, North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee and, most notably, Penn State with Joe Paterno, all dismissed winning football and men's basketball coaches in the past year. Credit: AP
At a time when many prestigious universities are playing a game of musical conferences in search of greater profits for their athletic programs, NCAA president Mark Emmert believes more money should reach the athletes who generate it in the form of a "miscellaneous expense allowance."
Speaking Friday in a meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors, Emmert explained that the payment of about $2,000 per year would be viewed as a stipend as opposed to a salary for playing a particular sport.
"I believe we've morphed into a place where student-athletes are spending so much time on their sport that the idea they'd have a part-time job is silly. So I have been advocating that we provide an opportunity to cover all of the full cost of attendance -- not pay -- by allowing what's called in financial aid terms a 'miscellaneous expense allowance.'
"We have a $60 million-a-year fund that's available to cover those expenses. I would like us to close that gap so we're covering the full, legitimate cost of being a full-time student. There's an active debate going on right now about whether or not we're going to be allowed to do that.
"I'd feel really good about where we are with student-athletes coupled with the fact we went to multiyear scholarships after a pretty nasty debate. We finally said we can make multiyear commitments to kids so they're not worried about whether they're coming back the next year."
Although multiyear scholarships have been approved, the decision on whether to offer them is voluntary. Cost is part of the debate over the stipend, and if that is approved on a voluntary basis, it could threaten competitive fairness.
On the other hand, Emmert noted "a huge gap" already exists in athletic budgets ranging from $5 million to $150 million. As for the idea that colleges exploit athletes in the revenue-generating sports, Emmert said most of the money goes to fund the entire athletic program and that "no more than 20" schools out of 1,100 NCAA members at all levels have profitable athletic departments.
The benefit to athletes in the high-profile sports, Emmert said, is tremendous exposure. Referring to the freshman who led Kentucky to the NCAA basketball title, Emmert asked: "Who knew Anthony Davis 24 months ago? He's going to be the No. 1 [NBA] draft pick. I'd be hard-pressed to say Anthony Davis has been taken advantage of by the University of Kentucky."
