N.C. Double "Pay"?: College Athletes Should Not Be Compensated

First of all, if you think this is going to be one of those in-depth examinations of USC, the NCAA, or Rodney Guillory, you're wrong.

If that's what you want to read, go elsewhere.

This is basically a short rant at those who feel collegiate athletes should be compensated for their efforts on the gridiron, hardwood, or any other athletic surface.

Let's jump right in, shall we?

If you believe O.J. Mayo deserved that money, those clothes, and that T.V., you're insane. If you believe Reggie Bush deserved the benefits he wrongfully received, you're insane as well.

See, there's a reason there are college sports and professional sports.

College players compete on the magnified athletic stage, but they also go to class and earn degrees, which should be their top priority. If these student-athletes can find time for a job bagging groceries at Publix or cutting grass in the summer, so be it. That's legitimate.

Professional players compete on the highest level. They lift weights, fine-tune their game, and do endorsement-type events when they're not on national television. For that, they get the fat paycheck. That's also legitimate.

However, it is utterly ridiculous to think student-athletes should be paid for their athletic services.

They're already going to the school of their choice for free and working out in state-of-the-art facilities for free. Not to mention tutors who oversee every paper a student-athlete writes or quiz he takes. More often than not, that work is done for these athletes, for the most part.

So, if you think about it, going to school for free when the majority of students are going broke for their education, it's almost like student-athletes are already being paid. Take it from me, college is in no way cheap.

But it's cheap for the athletes. The books are free. The meals are free. The tuition is free. The athletic gear is free. Traveling to away games is free. Playing for that school, honoring the tradition, and getting exposure along the way is free.

There's plenty of time for these young stars to play professionally and make thousands and thousands of dollars.

College is in no way that time.