I found it so ironic that someone posted an article about the hundreds of millions the SEC conference made last year on its primary attraction, football; and then someone immediately followed it with an article about a 36-year old ex-football player that is losing his brain functions because of that same sport.

Sure, some people, like HokiePHX, think that anyone who believes college football players should be compensated is "uneducated;" however, I respectfully disagree. Take what you will from the following article on the current state of college football (the article is linked below). There is so much money in college football now that it's really hard to believe anyone could have thought it possible thirty years ago. League commissioners are making nearly $4 million a year. Strength and Conditioning coaches are making over $600K a year. Some college coaches have compensation packages worth tens of millions of dollars. I won't even get into the money that corporate America makes off of college football, or the billions brought in to the conferences that, in turn, redistribute the money to the schools for......well, not compensating the players that helped make the money.

Look, if you want to convince yourself that the $20K or so a year financial package that a D1 athlete is provided for room, board, education and meals is sufficient for the amount of risk they take on in this enterprise, fine. However, if you did any basic business case analysis, that included a risk analysis on the college football enterprise, I don't suspect the athlete would come out the winner. In other words, the return on "investment" with college football is heavily weighted towards everyone BUT the athlete.

As the attached article eludes to, it's just easier for us to keep cheering in ignorance of this fact because, well, it does not affect many of us. However, for those of you who have a teenage son, I bet you might have a different perspective. I will also be willing to bet that you would not trade a college tuition/education for his inability to complete simple motor skills before the age of 40.

I have an undergraduate and graduate degree with student loans I am still paying off. I understand the value of an education, and the desire of a free education; however, I also know that I am a much different person than many who take the field on Saturdays. I also know that I assumed much less risk physically and mentally to get to where I am today. Again, in easiest terms, we live in a risk/reward society. However, strangely enough, college football has turned into a simple game of just risk. Players take the risk, and others reap the (financial) reward.

Just my two cents.....have at me......

[Post edited by Hubman at 01/19/2016 8:28PM]