Historic Vote for Unionization to take place today at Northwestern

The issue here is not whether or not schools make money.  The fact that players receive such a small percentage of the revenue compared to the coaches and administration is the problem.

 Last month the National Labor Relations Board ruled Northwestern scholarship football players should be considered employees of the university and therefore had the right to unionize like other workers.  

Since that time, politicians, the NCAA, and Northwestern have tried their hardest to convince America that these kids are not employees.

 NCAA President Mark Emmert who is paid $1.6 million annually calls a Union "grossly inappropriate".  He has pledged to give students a $2,000 stipend.  That's nothing when you think about how much money the NCAA has brought in after expenses the last two years.   College sports are big business.  In 2012 the NCAA had a $71 million dollar surplus.  In 2013 the NCAA had a $61 million dollar surplus.  There is clearly enough money to pay players.  If nothing else the NCAA has enough money to provide better healthcare, as well as ensure that students receive a guaranteed scholarship.   

In response to the NLRB's decision, The Ohio State House has passed a bill that says college students can not be employees.  That to me is insane and goes to show how big of a deal this really is.  The emphasis on sports is so strong that the very people that should be regulating college athletics have actually helped the  NCAA maintain a system that can only be compared to Indentured Servitude. 

Since the historic decision, Northwestern has done everything in its power to try and defeat a unionization vote that is scheduled for today.  School officials have gone as far as saying that if student athletes are allowed to unionize Northwestern athletics could be at risk.  Former players are visiting campus in order to encourage kids to vote against the Union.  Players have even been given gifts, which Northwestern claims has nothing to do with the the vote that will take place later today.    

Northwestern's Head football Coach Pat Fitzgerald emailed his team saying “Understand that by voting to have a union, you would be transferring your trust from those you know — me, your coaches and the administrators here — to what you don’t know — a third party who may or may not have the team’s best interests in mind,".    

What does the best interest of the team mean?  The best interest of the team can mean many things.  The best interest of the team can mean the coach making an example out of a player deserving/undeserving of punishment in order to establish order and maintain control of the team.  Coaches ignore injuries, they encourage, and in some cases pressure players to play injured for the best interest of the team.  The administration, coaches, and the NCAA should be focusing on the best interest of the kids.  As of right now the best interest of the team benefits coaches and administration.  

Northwestern generated $235 million dollars in revenue from 2003 to 2013.  Last year the football team brought in $22 million dollars and had expenses of around $15 million dollars.  If not for the football team there would be no money for other sports programs on campus.  That is reason alone to give these kids a bigger share of the revenue.   

The University says that the profits were used to subsidize the other sports teams within the program.  What they fail to mention is that they also used the money generated to pay coaches and administration.  

Coach Pat Fitzgerald makes 1.8 million dollars per season . In comparison, the value of a 4-5 year scholarship at Northwestern ranges from $61,000 to $76,000. For 85 players that's around $5 million dollars.  

The issue here is not whether or not schools make money.  The fact that players receive such a small percentage of the revenue compared to the coaches and administration is the problem. 

  

The College Athletes Players Association, is the name of the new union, founded by former Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter.  The CAPA is asking for guaranteed scholarships, and long term medical care.  Players are being treated like villains as a result.  Its sad because a lot of people that do not agree with these kids are part of Unions and receive protection from their employers that allow them to make a living off the hard work they do.  Why are we telling kids that generate millions of dollars that they are wrong for wanting a voice and some type of protection from coaches who practice absolute power and very rarely have the best interest of the kids in mind.   

 Regardless of what the Northwestern Players vote today, its a new day in college sports.  If nothing else the sacrifice of the players has brought the conversation out in the open.  Hopefully kids around the country see whats going on and realize that they are commodities that are worth way more than the scholarship that they are given.  Medical coverage, and guaranteed education is not asking much considering there would be no NCAA without these kids.