The question shouldn't be whether Kenny needs to be paid because he's hungry and spent all his money on tats. The question should be about Kenny getting paid because the NCAA and the university is making a pile of money from his skill as an athlete.
And then taking that pile of money and investing it back into all of the things that make Kenny's experience at Nebraska enjoyable. His stadium, his locker room, his weight room, his tutors, his nutritionists, etc. etc. etc. etc.
I don't disagree with you in any way. I just think that discussing whether or not a student
needs to be paid is the wrong way to look at it. Are individuals making a lot of money off the efforts of these college athletes? If so, do the athletes deserve additional compensation beyond tuition and the other existing benefits?
I'm undecided about it but generally lean towards the idea that they should not be paid. Graduating from college without student loans to pay off for the rest of your life is a damn nice benefit. On the job training and practice for the possibility of moving up the NFL and becoming a millionaire is also certainly worth something.