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Finally, America's college football players are standing up for their rights Finally, America's college football players are standing up for their rights
(7 months later)
Football players at Northwestern University have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to grant players the right to form a union. As a former collegiate and professional football player, I know firsthand the physical toll that football can have on a body and the injustice that can arise when athletes are not given the right to protect themselves.Football players at Northwestern University have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to grant players the right to form a union. As a former collegiate and professional football player, I know firsthand the physical toll that football can have on a body and the injustice that can arise when athletes are not given the right to protect themselves.
When I was a football player at California Lutheran College (now University), I was late to a single practice and my coach punitively benched me. Yet my Caucasian and Latino teammates, many of whom frequently missed practices, did not suffer the same punishment or any form of disciplinary action that I suffered as an African American player. On my own, I was powerless to change the situation. Thankfully, my teammates – Caucasian, African American, and Latino – recognized the injustice. Together we stood up and protected my rights and forced the coach to play me. Together we went on to win the national NAIA championship in 1971. And together we transformed a college on the brink of bankruptcy into a university powerhouse. That's the power of unity.When I was a football player at California Lutheran College (now University), I was late to a single practice and my coach punitively benched me. Yet my Caucasian and Latino teammates, many of whom frequently missed practices, did not suffer the same punishment or any form of disciplinary action that I suffered as an African American player. On my own, I was powerless to change the situation. Thankfully, my teammates – Caucasian, African American, and Latino – recognized the injustice. Together we stood up and protected my rights and forced the coach to play me. Together we went on to win the national NAIA championship in 1971. And together we transformed a college on the brink of bankruptcy into a university powerhouse. That's the power of unity.
Much has changed since my playing days ended. Collegiate sports have become major events, providing enormous revenues to colleges and universities. College football and basketball generated $4.7bn in 2012-13, yet little of that revenue is filtering down to the athletes. A recent study by the National College Players Association found that the average college athlete is forced to pay over $3,000 out of their own pocket just to cover daily expenses. The same study estimated that the current four-year free market value of collegiate basketball and football players is more than $6bn.Much has changed since my playing days ended. Collegiate sports have become major events, providing enormous revenues to colleges and universities. College football and basketball generated $4.7bn in 2012-13, yet little of that revenue is filtering down to the athletes. A recent study by the National College Players Association found that the average college athlete is forced to pay over $3,000 out of their own pocket just to cover daily expenses. The same study estimated that the current four-year free market value of collegiate basketball and football players is more than $6bn.
Today's college athletes are not only being prevented from receiving a fair compensation for their talents; they are not even getting a true "free academic ride". When I graduated from college as a part of the work/study program, I had a mountain of debt for daily living expenses from a college football career that helped move Cal Lutheran out of financial ruin into sustainability.Today's college athletes are not only being prevented from receiving a fair compensation for their talents; they are not even getting a true "free academic ride". When I graduated from college as a part of the work/study program, I had a mountain of debt for daily living expenses from a college football career that helped move Cal Lutheran out of financial ruin into sustainability.
Injuries have always been a part of sports, but modern medicine has brought to light the long-term physical disabilities that sports – and particularly football – can have on athletes. I can speak firsthand to the long-term effects of playing football. I still experience pain every day from the injuries I sustained almost 40 years ago on the field. Many people incorrectly assume that all college athletes are fully covered by health insurance. Neither the NCAA nor the NAIA, which includes smaller universities like Cal Lutheran, requires schools to provide full and adequate health insurance. Many athletes like me are stuck with crippling medical bills for our long-term sports-related injuries.The NCAA recently claimed it was not legally responsible to protect college athletes from injury. Worse yet, by classifying these individuals as "student athletes" instead of as "employees", the NCAA has denied them access to workers' compensation. It is only fair that collegiate athletes should have the right to organize and demand that a portion of the large revenues coming into the sport be reserved to provide adequate health insurance. Injuries have always been a part of sports, but modern medicine has brought to light the long-term physical disabilities that sports – and particularly football – can have on athletes. I can speak firsthand to the long-term effects of playing football. I still experience pain every day from the injuries I sustained almost 40 years ago on the field. Many people incorrectly assume that all college athletes are fully covered by health insurance. Neither the NCAA nor the NAIA, which includes smaller universities like Cal Lutheran, requires schools to provide full and adequate health insurance. Many athletes like me are stuck with crippling medical bills for our long-term sports-related injuries. The NCAA recently claimed it was not legally responsible to protect college athletes from injury. Worse yet, by classifying these individuals as "student athletes" instead of as "employees", the NCAA has denied them access to workers' compensation. It is only fair that collegiate athletes should have the right to organize and demand that a portion of the large revenues coming into the sport be reserved to provide adequate health insurance.
Just as I would have been powerless without the support of my teammates, current athletes are at the complete disposal of the NCAA and NAIA. Academic scholarships can be revoked for minor infractions or even for sustaining sports-related injuries. Collegiate athletes are denied the legal protection afforded by our government to form a union by a technicality – their unjust classification as "student athletes". Yes, these athletes are students, and yes, they are given academic scholarships. But to pretend that this alone is fair compensation is to live in the past. Northwestern football players and college athletes across the US are merely asking for the ability to organize as a group and ensure that they have a voice when decisions are made that can profoundly affect their playing future and the rest of their lives.Just as I would have been powerless without the support of my teammates, current athletes are at the complete disposal of the NCAA and NAIA. Academic scholarships can be revoked for minor infractions or even for sustaining sports-related injuries. Collegiate athletes are denied the legal protection afforded by our government to form a union by a technicality – their unjust classification as "student athletes". Yes, these athletes are students, and yes, they are given academic scholarships. But to pretend that this alone is fair compensation is to live in the past. Northwestern football players and college athletes across the US are merely asking for the ability to organize as a group and ensure that they have a voice when decisions are made that can profoundly affect their playing future and the rest of their lives.
Some people fear that the "professionalization" of college athletes will ruin the competitive nature of collegiate sports by giving unfair advantages to large revenue schools. The simple truth is that large universities such as Texas, Ohio State, and Southern California already have such advantages. Another fear is that the schools will end up cutting non-revenue sports like wrestling and gymnastics in order to deal with increased costs. This too is a fallacy. There are many schools that do not have any revenue generating sports yet continue to field collegiate teams.Some people fear that the "professionalization" of college athletes will ruin the competitive nature of collegiate sports by giving unfair advantages to large revenue schools. The simple truth is that large universities such as Texas, Ohio State, and Southern California already have such advantages. Another fear is that the schools will end up cutting non-revenue sports like wrestling and gymnastics in order to deal with increased costs. This too is a fallacy. There are many schools that do not have any revenue generating sports yet continue to field collegiate teams.
The unionization of college athletes will undoubtedly bring change to collegiate sports. Such change should not be feared, especially when the current status quo is built upon an unjust system that denies athletes their legal rights, forces them into difficult financial situations, and leaves them without proper long-term medical care. I applaud the efforts of the football players from Northwestern, and I hope their bravery leads to a new era in collegiate sports.The unionization of college athletes will undoubtedly bring change to collegiate sports. Such change should not be feared, especially when the current status quo is built upon an unjust system that denies athletes their legal rights, forces them into difficult financial situations, and leaves them without proper long-term medical care. I applaud the efforts of the football players from Northwestern, and I hope their bravery leads to a new era in collegiate sports.