NCAA opposes proposed bill to pay California's student athletes

California state senate bill will allow the NCAA athletes to receive paid endorsements.

  California state Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a measure that allows players to receive endorsement deals. Though the The University of California, Stanford, usc, and California state university all Oppose the bill. In fear of losing a fair and level playing field close to half a million student athletes on about 1,100 campuses.  The NCAA claims that “it would be clear that a patchwork of different laws from different states would make fairness unattainable. 

 Unfortunately, along with the possible payment of players there is a belief that this bill would only favor the big schools like Stanford and USC. Cork Gaines writer from the Business Insider says “What you will get is a situation where the NCAA would be sanctioning yet another competitive advantage for the big schools and it would mark the end of upstart programs like Boise State.” This also means that the division 2 and division 3 athletes in California will also be pursuing endorsement deals. Making college sports more of a job than a way to further education. With his experience as a division 1 and 2  strength and conditioning coach Dr. Terrell Dorsey tells me that “there would be an uneasiness between players and coaches because of a potential pay difference.” And “also an uneasiness between teammates because of rank or potential growth.” It is possible that this is an underlying thought of the NCAA. Although there is some common knowledge of the NCAA capitalizing on the labor and efforts of student athletes. 

Edajh Fawkes, a guard on the Lane college Men’s Basketball team believes it would be a great idea. He believes players will be more motivated to get better given that the lime light comes with more advantages than the average athlete. In the interview with Mr. Fawkes, he claims that this bill “puts the power of the sport back in the players hands.” 

For most student athletes, living is hard. With completely booked class schedules, workouts and practices during the day, and also finding time to eat, a student athlete really has no time to work. Some schools have a budget set aside for student athletes, giving them a monthly stipend to use for school expenses. But if the institute or athletic program is underfunded then the athletes ultimately will suffer. Allowing the endorsement of student athletes nationwide is something that the people can not afford to let become a fable.