As the Seattle Seahawks prepare for their Super Bowl XLIX matchup against the New England Patriots, a couple of their defensive players had some sobering words regarding the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Thursday.
Cornerback Richard Sherman and defensive end Michael Bennett spoke to reporters in Phoenix, Arizona, just days before the biggest game of the 2014-2015 NFL season. They followed up Marshawn Lynch's tirade to the media earlier in the day with a headline-grabbing effort of their own - the two heavily scrutinized the NCAA for the state of affairs surrounding student-athletes.
"I think the NCAA is one of the biggest scams in America," Bennett said, via Terry Blount of ESPN. "These kids put so much on the line. They [the NCAA] say, 'We give you a free degree.' That's like me owning a restaurant and saying, 'I'll give you a free burger.' It makes me so mad and irate. Universities need to do more for the student-[athletes].''
"I don't think college athletes are given enough time to take advantage of the free education they're given," Sherman added. "I would love for a regular student, for just one semester, to have a student-athlete schedule during the season and show me how you balance that. Show me how you would schedule your classes when you can't schedule classes for 2 to 6 o'clock on any given day."
But by no means were both of these men solely critical. Sherman shared his experiences while he was struggling at Stanford and Bennett suggested the Association come up with a plan to fix the widely argued subject of student-athletes earning a cut of the annual revenue.
"And people are upset that student-athletes need a little cash," Sherman added. "I tell you from experience that one time I had negative 40 bucks in my account. It was in the negative more times than positive. You have to make a decision whether you put gas in your car or get a meal."
"I think the NCAA should come up with a plan for college athletes to receive some of the money they bring into the schools," Bennett asserted. "My school, Texas A&M, I think makes $50 million just on jersey sales. So I would say pay $60,000 [to student-athletes] for every year you stay in college. Keep that in a 401(k). After you graduate, hold that money until you are a certain age and then you get the money."
According to the NCAA, its revenues from 2013 totaled $912.8 million, which included a record $527.4 million distributed to Division I schools and conferences as well as a third consecutive year where they recorded a surplus of over $60 million. Sure, student-athletes are given a free tuition, but as Sherman mentioned, they aren't put in the best position to take advantage of the education.
"As a student-athlete, you don't have that kind of time," Sherman explained. "You wake up in the morning and have weights. Then you go to class. Then you might get a bite to eat, then you go to meetings and then you have practice. And you have to try to get all your school work done."
Well, Sherman and Bennett might see the current atmosphere shift by the time 2016 rolls around. Back in August, Judge Claudia Wilken of United States District Court in Oakland, California ruled the NCAA's regulations that prevent players from earning money are a violation of antitrust laws. Although the ruling won't be able to take effect in 2016, football players in the top 10 conferences as well as all Division I men's basketball players can be offered trust funds by the universities they attend. This is one way seeking solve the debate for sharing television revenue.
As for maximizing their educational experience, that might be up to the athletes in the meantime. Nonetheless, the trust fund proposition is a step in the right direction.
