If players were paid, are you as big of fan?

[In the Deed the Glory]

Thought this was a good poll question. Mike and Mike talking about it this morning.

[StPaulHusker]

The biggest issue about paying the players in my opinion is that some people believe that it will be a magic pill that will keep boosters and bag men from enticing players with cash and other gifts to play for a certain university when in fact, it won't.

[Ulty]

Opportunities for corruption would only increase, and any remaining semblance of integrity would decrease. And it would hurt non-revenue sports.

[The Dude]

I guess I'm not sure what "level of fandom" is supposed to mean in this case. I don't think I'd be any less of a Husker fan if they were compensated more than they already are.

[BigRedBuster]

I put "yes" only because it's possible. I think the more appropriate statement would be that my attitude towards being a fan would change. I probably would have more of an opinion of...."Hey...we are paying you to be here and play football. Perform at your highest level or be gone and we will find someone else." I don't have that attitude towards college players now.

[The Dude]

I put "yes" only because it's possible. I think the more appropriate statement would be that my attitude towards being a fan would change. I probably would have more of an opinion of...."Hey...we are paying you to be here and play football. Perform at your highest level or be gone and we will find someone else." I don't have that attitude towards college players now.

That, I do agree with.

[jsneb83]

My fandom of the Huskers will probably never change, but it will affect my fandom of college football in general. It would just end up being the minor leagues for the NFL.

[Junior]

Why would this make anyone more or less of a Husker fan?

[HUSKER FREAK]

I am just going to take a wild stab at it, but I am guessing that $trinfellow would still be committed to us instead of Ole Mi$$

[StPaulHusker]

I am just going to take a wild stab at it, but I am guessing that $trinfellow would still be committed to us instead of Ole Mi$$

So lets say both NU and Ole Miss legally paid players the same amount. But then the Ole Miss coach offers Stringfellow $1000 under the table. Do you think he is still committed to NU?

 

Nope.

[Redux]

Players are already paid in the SEC

[zoogs]

I answered 'yes' assuming you meant under-the-table kind of pay at Nebraska. If it's above board and official I think the greater worry I'd have would be how college football changes overall in that scenario. If it doesn't, I guess I wouldn't care too much.

 

I mean...I guess we already don't care too much about all this bag men stuff already. Mostly I'm turning a blind eye because when I think about it, it leaves a really bad taste.

[HUSKER FREAK]

I do not want the pay for play to get to the point it is who has more money. I do think maybe they should be able to get a few more benefits in the months where they can't work for food and some of the essentials, but I don't think that can be rewarded in cash.

[papersun87]

If paying players is allowed, then that *should* cut down on the under-the-table stuff . . . or at least I would HOPE. The idea of easy money just for showing up to practice as opposed to getting caught taking extra scratch somewhere else might (but for sure definitely won't) make players think twice.

 

That said I'm still weirdly dead-set against schools paying players. I could be persuaded on some sort of trust fund that the player can access only if they graduate.

 

But I absolutely think they should be able to independently license their name/likeness/what have you like Olympic athletes can. Even if that means Joe Whoever for Nebraska making a deal with the university so that it means the Big Red Shop can sell a #25 jersey with the name "Whoever" on it.

[Ulty]

Why would this make anyone more or less of a Husker fan?

 

I would still love NU and cheer for the Huskers all the same. That's where I grew up. That's where I went to school. Nothing will ever change that.

 

But this sort of development would dampen my interest in sports in general. I like sports because of fair competition, the human drama, thrill of victory/agony of defeat, and sportsmanship. I would hope to use sports to help teach my children about sportsmanship, fairness, and hard work, and amateur athletics is supposed to embody this, and college sports are supposed to provide educational opportunities and pride/cameraderie for a university.

 

Paying people to play, and bidding for their services, sullies all of that in my mind, and it makes it harder to look at sports as a model for honest sportsmanship.