NCAA Revenue and Player Likenesses

[jwinslow]

This argument is the same as a McDonalds fry cook saying he should receive a royalty on the fries that were sold. But McDonald's supplied him with the potatoes, the training, the oven etc...

No, it's not even remotely similar to that. No one is buying something at McDonalds because of the cook.

Go try and sell something within the ballpark of the OSU brand and see if you get away with that. Tell them it's not exactly the same, and that you'll buy them some mulch for the trees in the grove. I'm sure they'll be cool with it.

 

[Jaxbuck]

It's called capitalism, there is always some degree of "exploitation" depending on how you define the word.

Don't like it, you could always try communism (if it exists anywhere anymore).

Best route is to take accountability and if you are unhappy with the return you get for the service you provide, you can increase your skills/level of value production and get more back in return/less exploited as you build your career.

 

[bukIpower]

The tweet is obviously talking about banning the purchase of hamburgers for student athletes due to the appearance or potential for receiving said patty based on their status as a student athlete (meanwhile their likeness is used for profit constantly in a non-profit business).

The exploitation is substantial. The system is a farce, but it's largely a beneficial one.

I personally don't think it was that deep of a thought for Joe... IMO he just wanted a free cheeseburger because he contributes to what is a very profitable business in Ohio State football. The issue is they get a crap load of free food now and eat better then ANY college student by just their Victory meals itself.

I disagree that they don't get a fair shake of things too. Free education and more importantly a spot light for their careers after football every Saturday in the fall. If they have on their resume that they were a former buckeye you bet they have a leg up over anyone else in Columbus applying for that same position.

Also regarding the sale of jersey's there's always a great player for basically every jersey and there will be many more to wear those same numbers going forward. Who do you pay proceeds to for #45? Andy or Archie? #5 Michael Wiley or Braxton? #9 Devin Smith or David Boston? #2 Mike Doss or Dobbins?

For me a free education from a great institution worth easily 100k, a leg up over anyone for good paying positions due to your status, and having an opportunity to possibly make the NFL is enough IMO. Besides there's not enough "game changers" in college football that are personally responsible for driving ticket sales or merchandise sales. People pay money to watch their favorite TEAM play football and not individual players in most cases.

 

[jwinslow]

It's called capitalism, there is always some degree of "exploitation" depending on how you define the word.

Don't like it, you could always try communism (if it exists anywhere anymore).

Best route is to take accountability and if you are unhappy with the return you get for the service you provide, you can increase your skills/level of value production and get more back in return/less exploited as you build your career.

1.5% of them will make it to the place where they can begin a career in their industry. The rest surrender it to play a sport and get a second major in an industry where they usually aren't a valued commodity.

 

[bukIpower]

No, it's not even remotely similar to that. No one is buying something at McDonalds because of the cook.

Go try and sell something within the ballpark of the OSU brand and see if you get away with that. Tell them it's not exactly the same, and that you'll buy them some mulch for the trees in the grove. I'm sure they'll be cool with it.

IMO they aren't buying OSU gear because of the kids either though... If every team replaced their current players with random people we would still cheer, we would still show up, and we would still pay money for merchandise. This is why Nebraska and OSU have sold out their games for how many years in a row? We just don't all the sudden not show up because Troy Smith graduates. No we show up and watch the new #10 (probably Devon Torrence in this case) show up and represent our favorite team.

 

[jwinslow]

I personally don't think it was that deep of a thought for Joe... IMO he just wanted a free cheeseburger because he contributes to what is a very profitable business in Ohio State football. The issue is they get a crap load of free food now and eat better then ANY college student by just their Victory meals itself.

I disagree that they don't get a fair shake of things too. Free education and more importantly a spot light for their careers after football every Saturday in the fall. If they have on their resume that they were a former buckeye you bet they have a leg up over anyone else in Columbus applying for that same position.

Also regarding the sale of jersey's there's always a great player for basically every jersey and there will be many more to wear those same numbers going forward. Who do you pay proceeds to for #45? Andy or Archie? #5 Michael Wiley or Braxton? #9 Devin Smith or David Boston? #2 Mike Doss or Dobbins?

For me a free education from a great institution work easily 100k, a leg up over anyone for good paying positions due to your status, and having an opportunity to possibly make the NFL is enough IMO. Besides there's not enough "game changers" in college football that are personally responsible for driving ticket sales or merchandise sales. People pay money to watch their favorite TEAM play football and not individual players in most cases.

Conference TV revenue

1997 - ??? (can't find stat, only article I found said terms were not disclosed)
2006 - 100M / yr
2017 - 440M / yr (and climbing)

Has the compensation changed for players? At all? Ironically, less players get scholarships in college football then they did 30 years ago.


I think the only feasible solution is a bump in their stipend (which wouldn't be a lot but would help), and maybe some sort of belated revenue sharing program for a portion of the ad/merchandise revenue (which again, would be miniscule per person)

 

[jwinslow]

IMO they aren't buying OSU gear because of the kids either though... If every team replaced their current players with random people we would still cheer, we would still show up, and we would still pay money for merchandise. This is why Nebraska and OSU have sold out their games for how many years in a row? We just don't all the sudden not show up because Troy Smith graduates. No we show up and watch the new #10 (probably Devon Torrence in this case) show up and represent our favorite team.

Then why does the 16 jersey hit the clearance rack in February? I agree that JT Barrett or Braxton Miller is only a drop in the bucket of the marketability and revenue generation for a juggernaut like OSU. That does not mean they should be able to sell JT Barrett jerseys or sell tens of millions of TV ads with his face (or even his highlight reel plays) throughout them.

When a cereal company wants to try that without officially owning the rights to use OSU's likeness, they have to remove all identifying marks and the end result is a weird, generic scene with practice jerseys and unrecognizable scenery and props.

 

[HabaneroBuck]

Jwins, you don't want to go down this road...the inequities between teams is already bad enough....now you are giving Ohio State a bigger recruiting advantage because their "stipend" is larger than Iowa's, or Bowling Green's, or whoever...these guys get to live like kings, make contacts for nice jobs, work cushy summer jobs, etc..etc...I have no sympathy for their economic plight whatsoever. They are 18-23 year old college kids. When I was in college, I was lucky to have $1000 in my account. That's just me, but going through college without a lot of disposable income is a rite-of-passage, one these guys largely don't experience because they are living a 100K a year lifestyle anyways!

If they don't like the set-up, they can try to make a living out of High School playing Arena Ball or semi-pro ball or something in hopes that they get drafted. Oh, you say Ohio State-exposure is better for your career? Hmmm....seems like a nice internship program we are running.

 

[billmac91]

It's really such a simple solution, IMO.....just let them profit off their likeness, while keeping all other NCAA rules in tact.

If JT Barrett can earn money by doing car commercials, let him. It allows the guys who can make money the opportunity to do and it doesn't cost the NCAA a dime. It also protects against having to pay the 85th guy on the roster, or having to pay athletes in non-revenue generating sports.

If boosters/local businesses want to pay 18 year olds to attend their school of choice.....cool, let them. Let the markets work.

 

[jwinslow]

Jwins, you don't want to go down this road...the inequities between teams is already bad enough....now you are giving Ohio State a bigger recruiting advantage because their "stipend" is larger than Iowa's, or Bowling Green's, or whoever...these guys get to live like kings, make contacts for nice jobs, work cushy summer jobs, etc..etc...I have no sympathy for their economic plight whatsoever. They are 18-23 year old college kids. When I was in college, I was lucky to have $1000 in my account. That's just me, but going through college without a lot of disposable income is a rite-of-passage, one these guys largely don't experience because they are living a 100K a year lifestyle anyways!

I agree, which is why I said this:

"The problem is that few programs are like Ohio State, and so if you address the exploitation and pay athletes (even a sliver of what they are worth), you jeopardize the entire system, particularly the more legitimate student athletes in non revenue sports. It's a farce but a beneficial one."

As for how irrelevant most of us were in college, that's not really comparable. I had much more talented friends at my little liberal arts college who were getting huge offers from tech firms, and they didn't have to maintain any silly amateur status. One of my wife's best friends in HS was a tech juggernaut and made crazy dollars before he was allowed to smoke cigarettes. He could have gone to college while doing so if he wanted.

It's disengenuous for either side to ignore the farce and exploitation found on both sides.

If they don't like the set-up, they can try to make a living out of High School playing Arena Ball or semi-pro ball or something in hopes that they get drafted.

They're not allowed and they aren't draftable 3 years after their HS career is over, unlike the programmer or artist or engineer or countless other fields. Some of them might not be ready for a full career out of HS but talent is talent and someone will pay their way through school to lock them up early if they have that much potential.

Oh, you say Ohio State-exposure is better for your career? Hmmm....seems like a nice internship program we are running.

No, they're saying it's the only option.

 

[jwinslow]

It's really such a simple solution, IMO.....just let them profit off their likeness, while keeping all other NCAA rules in tact.

If JT Barrett can earn money by doing car commercials, let him. It allows the guys who can make money the opportunity to do and it doesn't cost the NCAA a dime. It also protects against having to pay the 85th guy on the roster, or having to pay athletes in non-revenue generating sports.

If boosters/local businesses want to pay 18 year olds to attend their school of choice.....cool, let them. Let the markets work.

It's not that simple though, because the Title IX lawyers will make life hell. The interesting part of all of this is that it would move booster payments above the table. Sorry SEC. Remember back when the B1G conference could only attract blue chip talent to 1-3 schools? Well, now the massive dollars behind Iowa and Illinois and Wisconsin finally get put to good use.

 

[OhioState001]

It's really such a simple solution, IMO.....just let them profit off their likeness, while keeping all other NCAA rules in tact.

If JT Barrett can earn money by doing car commercials, let him. It allows the guys who can make money the opportunity to do and it doesn't cost the NCAA a dime. It also protects against having to pay the 85th guy on the roster, or having to pay athletes in non-revenue generating sports.

If boosters/local businesses want to pay 18 year olds to attend their school of choice.....cool, let them. Let the markets work.

"Yo top high school prospect if you come to my alma mater, I'll pay you $200k to be in a commercial". That's what you want?

 

[HabaneroBuck]

They're not allowed and they aren't draftable 3 years after their HS career is over,

They are too allowed. It's the NFL that has the 3 year limit. Canada has a 19-year-old standard and the Arena League has an 18-year-old standard. A couple of kids have gone overseas to play basketball while waiting their year to get to the NBA. Emanuel Mudiay and Jeremy Tyler.

 

[jwinslow]

They are too allowed. It's the NFL that has the 3 year limit. Canada has a 19-year-old standard and the Arena League has an 18-year-old standard. A couple of kids have gone overseas to play basketball while waiting their year to get to the NBA. Emanuel Mudiay and Jeremy Tyler.

Middle schoolers get shoe deals because you can often spot talent very young in that sport. You know very little about football players at that age.

Skinny basketball players can still fill up a stat sheet, particularly as scorers. Frankly, they can take over the NBA (and did it at the expense of the most powerful physically imposing

athlete in NBA history). Try that in football and your career might be over as soon as it started (if they even trot you out there in the first players).

"Yo top high school prospect if you come to my alma mater, I'll pay you $200k to be in a commercial". That's what you want?

Yo top college football media conglomerate, I'll pay you $200k to let me advertise using that awesome spin move clip of Braxton Miller.

 

[BayBuck]

Hey, when did Andy Staples take over @jwinslow BP account?