NCAA related NYTimes op-ed

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by Mark Dexter
Life is a give and take.

I've had scholarships where I've been required to do certain things (maintain a certain GPA, etc.). I've known scholarships that require others to attend certain events (ROTC, for instance). Anyone on federal financial aid is required to not be convicted of drug-related offenses. I don't see the restrictions and requirements of student athletes to be any different than things like this.

Student athletes are not forced to be student athletes - they have the power to decide whether or not they want to go to a certain school and be on certain teams. Along with that comes rules. Of course, a student athlete can choose not to follow the rules, but there are then consequences.

I'm not against college athletics and I'm certainly not against scholarships for good athletes. I don't necessarily agree with all of the NCAA's restrictions - but they are there and that's what we have to deal with right now.

Like Jeff, I agree with you in theory. And the philosophy you delineate is obviously one taken by a good many NCAA athletes, or it couldn't survive. That's why I think the best approach for someone to take who wants to change those rules, would be a sit-in or walk-out or whatever you want to call it. If it were well organized and many student-athletes felt the same as Bloom, it would get a good deal of attention and would give these folks the ear of the NCAA. Of course, it could also have the effect of demonstrating to Bloom how few of his peers agree with him.