NCAA 2011: The Year We Do Not Change Things for Violations

All we have heard about this offseason is the amount of violations occurring on college campuses. And the media's pleas for payment of NCAA athletes. 

Why?

Why are we talking about paying the most privileged students on a college campus any more than they are already receiving? Lets take a look at how absurd paying athletes is.

They Already Receive Preferential Treatment

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CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 18: Corey Fisher #10 of the Villanova Wildcats handles the ball against the George Mason Patriots during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Quicken Loans Arena on March 18, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Pho

Players are receiving an absurd amount of free things from the universities they attend. Watching Villanova Basketball players walk around campus in their absurd amount of team gear that they don’t pay for, I do not understand the claims the media is making.

Players do not pay for clothes, cell phones, books or classes. That’s a massive gift that the average student with a 4.0 GPA is not receiving.

Free Housing

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COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Ray Small #82 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball during the game against the Southern California Trojans on September 12, 2009 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Trojans defeated the Buckeyes 18-15. (Photo by Greg

Ray Small, from my beloved Ohio State, said he sold team rings for money to pay his rent. My question: Why are players living off campus?

Universities need to step up and demand players live on campus. They receive free housing and often it is superior housing than the common student receives.

Free Food

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TAMPA, FL - MARCH 23: The Siena Saints huddle prior to the start of their game against the Villanova Wildcats in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional at the St. Pete Times Forum on March 23, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Sco

NCAA Division 1 athletes eat for free on campus and often get special food as something that is acceptable.

Friends of mine who played at Sienna College (softball and basketball players) were informed that if there was something that they desired to eat to simply ask if it was not already available.

Yet again, this is another thing athletes are not paying for.

Why Do They Need Cars?

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Dan Herron #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after he scores on a nine-yard touchdown run in the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in N

With housing, free class, free books, free cell phones and free food, why do players need cars? Everything they need is being provided free to them.

If you have to get somewhere do what everyone else in college does, bum a ride from a friend or a frat brother.

Rewarding Entitlement

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Cam Newton, #1 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers holds up a jersey on stage after he was picked during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Athletes at Division 1 sports schools are already often full of themselves and expect people to bend over backwards for them.

Division 1 athletes in the major sports (basketball, hockey and football) seem to be getting busted with issues about cars or tattoos etc. Paying the players in some way is only going to encourage players to seem to demand special treatment.

The majority of students are short on money—welcome to college—it is not an excuse.

Let Scholarship Athletes Do Work Study

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Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic during their ESPN Radio show, Mike & Mike in the Morning, broadcast on the ESPN set in Miami, Florida on February 1, 2007. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)

To piggy-back on an idea that Mike Golic from ESPN's Mike & Mike: Let Scholarship Athletes do work study, don't just pay them!

If players are to be scholarship members, then let them work on campus and a little bit of money will now be available.

Players are not allowed to get jobs on campus, and my question is why?

Put a player in some sort of spot where they get to interact with other students and I guarantee that wherever they are working will receive more foot traffic and use than it would otherwise, thus making that student athlete more helpful than the average worker and they get to make a little bit of money.