Hold on, what exactly are we paying them for? The scholarship, the coaching, the travel, the gear, the medical care—that’s already a pretty sweet deal, worth tens of thousands a year. Most college athletes aren’t generating huge revenue. Only a tiny fraction of football and basketball players are. Paying everyone would bankrupt athletic departments that already rely on student fees and state money. And let’s be real—if you start paying athletes, you turn them into employees. That means taxes, fewer scholarships, maybe even losing their amateur status. I get the fairness angle, but the current system already gives them a massive leg up in life. A free education is nothing to sneeze at.

Look at what happened at Rutgers a few years back. Their athletic department was running a deficit so bad they had to cut multiple sports programs. Wrestling, tennis, swimming—all gone. Meanwhile, the football program was bleeding money. And we're supposed to pay athletes on top of that? That math just doesn't work. Ham, I hear you on the high-level competition point, I really do. These kids are incredible athletes. But that scholarship isn't nothing. At a school like Alabama, a full ride is worth over $200,000. That's real money. And they get tutoring, housing, meal plans, priority registration. Most students would kill for that setup. The problem is people see the NFL and NBA money and think every college athlete is sitting on a goldmine. But most of them aren't. Women's volleyball isn't bringing in TV deals. Track and field isn't selling out arenas. If we start paying, who gets the check? And who gets left out?

Look at what happened at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. In 2014, they actually dropped their football program entirely because it was costing too much. Brought it back later, but the point stands—most athletic departments operate in the red. If we mandate paying athletes, schools like UAB just cut more non-revenue sports. That's what Rutgers did too. You're asking for compensation based on value created. But here's the thing—most athletes create zero net revenue. Their scholarship is already more than they bring in. So who gets paid? Just the football and basketball stars? That's a recipe for resentment and destroyed team chemistry. And honestly, what does "some pay" even mean? Per game? Per hour? Per jersey sold? You're opening a nightmare of logistics, Title IX complications, and tax headaches. The scholarship system is messy, sure, but it's cleaner than trying to figure out how to cut checks to 500 athletes at different rates.