There was an interesting piece in the USA Today about college athletes and how they contribute to their schools' financial success. This front-page story had Arizona star Derrick Williams sinking the game-winning free throw against Texas, which apparently earned his school an extra $1.4 million.
Epic championship performances by high profile athletes certainly add to their school's bottom line. The question is: should they get a cut of their contribution?
My answer: no. Imagine if Chris Wright or Austin Freeman were in Derrick Williams' shoes (hard to imagine, I know). They don't need any "extra" compensation because they are already receiving a full tuition (which totals over $200,000 in a four-year period) plus additional services and benefits like tutoring, free tickets and medical coverage. USA Today found that a men's basketball scholarship can total over $120,000 annually!
The point is, they are not being employed by the university; in the end, they are simply students. On the other hand, coaches are employees, so don't be complaining when guys like Rick Pitino get $7.5 million extensions. That's their job.
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