Anderson 1

Austin Anderson

Mrs. Litle

English 121.001

4 December 2017

Pay to Play or Play for Fun

For years and decades there has big many questions involving college athletes, but there

has only been one that is the main topic of discussion everywhere you go: Should college

athletes get paid? There is no right or wrong answer, but after you look at the pros and cons you

see that college athletes should and need to get a little bit of cash. There are many things college

athletes go through and do that regular students cant and dont do. On the other hand, college

athletes cant do things and dont have the free time like normal student have. This topic is so

important around the world because there are college sports going on all over the place. Also,

college athletes have gotten into trouble for earning money in one way or another.

These following sources below range from proving why college athletes need some help

with earning money to why paying college athletes is a bad idea. The sources that are against

paying college athletes will talk about how the athletes might start but their education on the

back burner. Also, the sources will talk about how by paying athletes it might cause issues

between peers at the school, and issues between athletes at a smaller, less popular school. And

finally, by paying college athletes, the college game could change into more of a pro like game.

The cons of the sources below talk about how these athletes need the money, how much money

they bring in for the school, and why they should get paid because their faces, and names are

getting sold and on billboards all over the place. These sources are good for seeing both sides of

the agreement and giving facts about if college athletes should be paid, and the effects of it.
 Anderson 2

Marshall, Blake, and The Daily Utah Chronicle. Should Athletes Be Paid to Play? USA Today,

Gannett Satellite Information Network, 20 Oct. 2016,

college.usatoday.com/2016/10/20/should-athletes-be-paid-to-play/.

This source talks about the reasons why college athletes should not be paid. People for

the side of paying athletes say that the athletes are putting their body on line for the school and

team. But this is wrong, because these college athletes are not required to play, it is still optional

for every person. In the pros the sign a contract telling them they must play and if they do they

will receive so much money. Also, it talks about how by paying college athletes it would not be

fair. Football and Basketball bring in the most money, while other sports bring in very little or

even lose money. So, would you pay the college athletes different or all the same. And if you pay

the athletes then would you have enough money to pay for the facilities, training places, and to

upgrade places?

The USA Today College is a page where experts can type a paper together or induvial

to prove a point or to just give facts. This article has two authors, Jared Walch and Blake

Marshall. They both also right for, The Daily Utah Chronicle. You can trust these two people

because they are experts in this topic and have plenty of experience. The source says how college

sports is it a voluntary sport, so nobody is making the players play. So, they dont need to get

paid. Also, it says how the more popular sports bring in more money, is it will be hard to pay

every athlete the same, and this can cause issues between other athletes. This source can be used

to prove the opposing side of my argument for this topic. Every good persuasive topic shows

both sides of the argument, so by having a credible source for the other side, allows me to use it.
 Anderson 3

Martinez, Madisen. Should College Student-Athletes Be Paid? Both Sides of the

Debate.CollegeXpress, Madisen Martinez, 20 Mar. 2017, collegexpress.com/articles-

and-advice/athletics/blog/should-college-student-athletes-be-paid-both-sides-debate/.

This source talks about that college athletes should get paid, but remembering that not all

athletes can get paid the same amount. The pay will not be fair, based on the amount of money

that sport brings in for the team, the college, and the university. Football and basketball are the

biggest sports people like to watch, making it the two sports that bring in the most money to the

school. So why should the swim team, or the girls soccer team be getting paid the same as

football and basketball players? To be able to pay athletes they must realize that everyone can

not and should not be paid the same. Also, this source talks about how athletes have not time to

take a job at the school like normal students can do to receive a few dollars. While athletes bring

in the most money, and work all day and dont have time to work a job at the school, they get

punished and are out of luck for ways to make money.

This source is a blog written by Madisen Martinez. Martinez writes for the college

Xpress, which is a blog where people can create a page and write about a topic with facts while

giving their credits to people at the end. Martinez says how even though the athletes should get

paid different amounts, they all still need a little something. I can use this source to give

examples and facts on how athletes have so much to do they dont have time to get a on school

job to get some cash. I dont think I will use this source unless needed, because college Xpress

lets anyone get on and make a page and then post it. By giving their credits to others, you can

trust them to some extent but having a educated professor, you can believe he studied this topic.
 Anderson 4

Meshefejian, Krikor. "Pay to Play: Should College Athletes Be Paid?" Should College Athletes

Be Paid?, edited by Geoff Griffin, Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Opposing

Viewpoints in

Context,libdb.ojc.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010490203/OVI

C?u=wheeler_lib&xid=04ccc382. Accessed 25 Oct. 2017. Originally published in The

Journal of the Business Law Society, 23 Mar. 2005.

Everyones goal in life to earn money somehow. With out earning money, it is very hard

to live. Even on full scholarship it is hard, because you dont have money for gas or materials for

school. This source talks about how by paying college athletes will keep them in school longer to

finish their education because at the same time, they are making money. College athletes dont

have time for a job with all they do. The money should not be a lot, just the same base salary for

their participation. If college athletes stay in school longer younger kids will see them staying

and change their dreams from drafter out of high school to winning a national championship. To

win a national championship by staying year after year.

This source was on the school database, and is the best sources I have. It is written by

Kirkor Meshefejian who writes journals for the Business Law Society. Right away you know this

source is very reliable. This source has many viewpoints, but I am focusing on why paying

college athletes will keep them in school longer. It also brings in other credible sources such as

the, Harvard Journal on Legislation, to add information to the topic. You can use this source to

prove the point of paying college athletes are a good idea. This source will add more information

proving my point in my persuasive paper.

Greengarageblogadmin. 12 Primary Pros and Cons of Paying College Athletes. Green Garage,

Green Garage Blog, 19 Aug. 2015, greengarageblog.org/12-primary-pros-and-cons-of-

paying-college-athletes.

This website page talks about several pros and cons of college athletes getting

paid. The pros out weight the cons, because there are so many more pros that benefit the player,

the school, and the society. It starts by saying how it would increase the business of the school.

Also, it goes on to say how by paying college athletes it will attract talent. Meaning that instead

of going pro from high school, people will stay and play college sports. Also, its a good role

model for younger kids. It shows kids that not only is sports important but also, their education.

It will keep athletes in college longer and not force them to leave to start making money.

I will use this source to show both sides of my argument. This source will help me prove my

point but also, show the other side of the argument. By having one site that shows both sides, it

proves that this site is very reliable. That is because there is no bias because they talk about both

sides. All I would have to do, is pick what points to hit and go from there in my paper.
 Anderson 6

Work Cited

Greengarageblogadmin. 12 Primary Pros and Cons of Paying College Athletes. Green Garage,

Green Garage Blog, 19 Aug. 2015, greengarageblog.org/12-primary-pros-and-cons-of-

paying-college-athletes.

Marshall, Blake, and The Daily Utah Chronicle. Should Athletes Be Paid to Play? USA Today,

Gannett Satellite Information Network, 20 Oct. 2016,

college.usatoday.com/2016/10/20/should-athletes-be-paid-to-play/.

Martinez, Madisen. Should College Student-Athletes Be Paid? Both Sides of the

Debate.CollegeXpress, Madisen Martinez, 20 Mar. 2017, collegexpress.com/articles-

and-advice/athletics/blog/should-college-student-athletes-be-paid-both-sides-debate/.

Meshefejian, Krikor. "Pay to Play: Should College Athletes Be Paid?" Should College Athletes

Be Paid?, edited by Geoff Griffin, Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Opposing

Viewpoints in

Context,libdb.ojc.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010490203/OVI

C?u=wheeler_lib&xid=04ccc382. Accessed 25 Oct. 2017. Originally published in The

Journal of the Business Law Society, 23 Mar. 2005.