By Ben Phillips
MISSISSIPPI STATE, MISS. (Take 30 News) ---College Athletics is a billion-dollar business, and everyone is making lots of money. Or are they?
The "money sports" in college athletics are basketball and football. And to a lesser degree, baseball and hockey depending on where you are in the country. Good news is everyone is benefiting from making a ton money, right? Coaches, Athletic Director, schools and the players, right? Not exactly, according to some who study the matter. Generally, student-athletes aren't allowed to benefit from their own image and likeness well at a university. Well, not legally anyway, and if they decide to try they could lose their eligibility. Also, a university could face stiff penalties as a result of such actions. But does this practice make any sense? Is this fair? Doctor Gregg Twietmeyer, MSU Assistant Professor of Sport Studies and Sport Philosophy said it is a bad system for the student athletes.
"The NCAA hasn't paid their labor; they haven't paid the students generating the revenue for a long time, but that doesn't mean it's good. But they hide behind that idea because it gives them free labor. Athletic Directors are making a lot of money. The guy selling peanuts isn't making a lot of money, but he is getting paid for his work. But the people generating all that revenue, that are attracting the eyeballs, they get nothing. That doesn't make sense," Twietmeyer said.
Take 30 Sports reached out to Mississippi State Athletic Director John Cohen and members of the athletic communication office; they all declined to comment on the matter.
"A lot of the players aren't on a full ride. This claim that they are going to school for free is often in many cases, not even true. Never mind the fact that it is not a good deal," Twietmeyer told Take 30.
According to the Next College Sports Athletes sports.org, only 1% of college athletes receive a full scholarship while at a university. The tide is turning in a different direction; the NCAA has said that they are going to allow student-athletes to benefit from their own image and likeness starting as early as January 2021 if not sooner.