Foster admits to taking money in college

[cdollaz]

I just don't buy the "needed food" and crap

Yeah, it is kinda laughable to think they are needing "food money". I wonder how much of that food money would be spent on iPods and other crap other than food.

If someone wants to argue that they should have a beefed-up food allowance, or credit in the university store, or some other designated store, to buy clothes and other necessities, I will hear that argument. But the idea that we should be giving them cash is nonsense.

 

[thunderkyss]

Can we call him Arian "The Truth" Foster?

Awesome stuff, 23.

I like Arian "Screw it up for everyone else" Foster.

 

[Double Barrel]

I agree with thunderkyss' earlier point. Why NOW? Why talk about this stuff during the season when it will become a potential distraction for Arian and the team?

 

[CretorFrigg]

I'd rather hear more about Foster's great production than hear him complain about playing time, talking about taking money in college and what not. I sure don't hear about him in the same light as I used to

This. His whining almost seems like a plea for attention. Not getting enough playing time? Okay, let's make a fuss about it. Wait, they aren't reacting the way you wanted, Arian? OK, then talk about getting paid at the NCAA level. He needs to focus on getting his game back up because his sub 4 ypc average really sucks.

I can't help but roll my eyes at his complaints. I personally know D1 football players who are provided housing and food in addition to a free education. One of them was telling me how he found a cheap apartment with a bunch of friends and was able to pocket the rest of the money.

This bitching about not finding food is the biggest crock of **** I have ever heard. You get free dining at the university. I'm sorry you can't spend $200 on a meal every night. The benefits he's receiving are already way better than other students. There are hardworking students who aren't fortunate enough to receive a scholarship, free meal plan and free housing. They actually have to work in addition to going to school to pay for necessities. They work just as hard, if not harder, than any football player I know

 

[TexansBlood]

I remember playing high school football with a jam packed stadium in K.I.S.D(every single person paid to watch us/me). Not once did it cross my mind that I should get paid to play.


I love Arian on the field, off the field he is starting to run me the wrong way.

 

[Playoffs]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9698504/arian-foster-says-took-benefits-playing-tennessee-volunteers

"I just feel strong about the injustice that the NCAA has been doing for years," Foster said Friday in Houston. "That's why I said what I said. I'm not trying to throw anybody under the bus. ... I feel like I shouldn't have to run from the NCAA anymore. They're like these big bullies. I'm not scared of them."

In an interview for a documentary called "Schooled: The Price of College Sports," Foster said he received extra payments so he could afford rent and food while playing at Tennessee. An excerpt of the documentary was obtained by and posted on SI.com.

"I don't know if this will throw us into an NCAA investigation -- my senior year (2008), I was getting money on the side," Foster said in the video. "I really didn't have any money. I had to either pay the rent or buy some food. I remember the feeling of like, 'Man, be careful.' But there's nothing wrong with it. And you're not going to convince me that there is something wrong with it.

Foster went on to describe a situation when he had no food or money and called a coach.

"Either you give us some food or I'm gonna go do something stupid," Foster recalled telling him.

The coach brought Foster and three others 50 tacos, Foster said in the documentary while chuckling at the thought that that the action constituted an NCAA violation.

Foster played at Tennessee from 2005 to 2008 under Hall of Fame coach Phillip Fulmer. Foster said Friday he never took money from coaches, but there were always people around the program willing to help him financially. Andrew Muscato, a documentary producer, says Foster didn't specify how much he received.

Foster said Friday he considered the repercussions of his actions and how they might impact Tennessee, which is on NCAA probation through Aug. 23, 2015. He decided the rewards were greater than the risks.

"Look at the attention it's getting," Foster said. "They really have us hoodwinked into thinking taking money is wrong as a college athlete. It's wrong for us but it's not wrong for them. I guarantee every NCAA official has a (BMW) or Benz or something. That's not wrong, but it's wrong for me to get $20 to get something to eat? Dez Bryant couldn't get taken out to dinner by Deion Sanders, his mentor, he sat out a whole season because of that? That's not wrong? But if you can drive around in a Benz, that's OK? It's not right."

Arian Foster says he took benefits while in college at Tennessee so he could pay for food and rent.

The NCAA suspended Bryant in September 2009 for the rest of that season for lying about having lunch with Sanders.

Asked if his financial situation got more difficult after he stopped living in dorms and eating from the dining hall, Foster said it was worse when he lived on campus.

"I think my check was like $87 a month in dorm rooms," Foster said. "You had meals Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday you had to fend for yourself. I guess that's what the $87 was for. At the end of the month you don't have any money, your family can't send you any money, a lot of those guys -- 80 percent of the team is made up of kids from the inner city."

Foster disagreed that a "free education" was a just reward, saying the education wasn't free because college athletes put in just as much work as professional athletes.

"Except I can go make money off of my name," Foster said. "I can go get a side job if I really wanted to. The NCAA takes away your constitutional rights as an American of not being able to go get a job."

He called for an end to what he considers the guise of amateurism in college sports.

Said Foster: "It's just amazing to me that adults let this go on."

 

[ThaShark316]

I wish Tate would have said something....

 

[revan]

If he ever leaves the Texans then I will criticize him. But for now HOW DARE YOU TENNESSEE do this to my star RB??!! Dam hillbilly country!!

 

[ThaShark316]

If he wasn't a Texan I wouldn't be so nice about this, but Arian is not being very smart. Absolutely nothing good can come from this. He doesn't have to run from the NCAA anymore, but someone is & while he wasn't driving a BMW, that's on him. Plenty of college athletes are driving vehicles they have no business driving.

It's no secret that college players are getting paid, but so far not a whole lot is being done about it. Like steroids in MLB. This little bit of honesty by Foster just might spark increased measures by the NCAA so that other kid trying to put food on his momma's table, or put diapers on his baby is going to lose his free ride.

& another thing. We need Arian to play football, we don't need him speaking his mind & getting all political (NCAA politics) & fighting the good fight for what he thinks is right..... After we win a Super Bowl.... maybe. Once he decides he's done playing football, sure. But he doesn't need this kind of attention, our players don't need this kind of attention, & the fans don't need our team messing with this.

I hope it's over, but I doubt it.

F that...we need some folks to blow the NCAA the hell out. I'm sick and TIRED of these *******s getting away with any and everything. We need more.

 

[76Texan]

It was open when it needed to be open. Athletes are fed like kings. I gained 20lbs in my short stint. My two brothers gained close to 200 lbs between them. The elder one went in at around 235 and left at 345. I mean, unless you're a raging pothead, there's plenty of food throughout the day.

FWIW, it doesn't bother me one bit that he took money. I just don't buy the "needed food" and crap

Time doesn't stand still, Hou-Tex.
And different programs have different requirements.
My two nieces, for example, swim competitively since they were eight, and they have had very little social time. They swim or practice 4-5 hours a day, seven days a week. Without their mom's full-time dedication, they can go hungry at times.
The older one just got a 75% scholarship to a small college in NY.
Offers from other programs were less.

Like Obsi said, everybody's situation is unique.

And these guys also have to perform both on the field and in the class room to maintain their scholarships, unless there are major unethical conducts by the schools.

I don't know whether Foster is not smart about this or not.
Sometimes, the system needs a major shake-up to make the necessary changes.
It happens all the time in real life.

 

[ThaShark316]

Time doesn't stand still, Hou-Tex.
And different programs have different requirements.
My two nieces, for example, swim competitively since they were eight, and they have had very little social time. They swim or practice 4-5 hours a day, seven days a week. Without their mom's full-time dedication, they can go hungry at times.
The older one just got a 75% scholarship to a small college in NY.
Offers from other programs were less.

Like Obsi said, everybody's situation is unique.

And these guys also have to perform both on the field and in the class room to maintain their scholarships, unless there are major unethical conducts by the schools.

I don't know whether Foster is not smart about this or not.
Sometimes, the system needs a major shake-up to make the necessary changes.
It happens all the time in real life.

The bold is why I'm on Arian's side.

 

[escrimador]

Well, good for him I guess, for trying to make a change by speaking out. Otherwise, I see nothing really to complain about.

 

[badboy]

Bloody hell; why the hate for #23? He just came out and told the truth.

Because if you tell your coach he has to feed you or you are going to do something stupid as in go to alumni or sell you autograph and you are too lazy or whatever to go to cafeteria for free food.... It isn't hate I have, it is he could have used his NFL position to bring light on college players more productively.

 

[CeeQue]

College athletes should be paid... or offer them a free education after they're no longer eligible to play collegiate sports so they can fully dedicate their time in pursuing a degree that will get them a job.

I graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree... worked my arse off to get it. I wouldn't have been able to if I was a starting college football player at the same time.

 

[badboy]

Foster wasn't a highly sought after recruit.
He only played RB one year in HS.
One of the coaches had to lobby real hard for Fulmer to even watch Foster's tapes; he was the lowest rated RB in that RB draft class for the Vols.

The cafeteria doesn't open all the time.
Between school (he graduated), practice, training, I can see these athletes' need to have their own food at times.

But what a year it was:



Foster competed in football at Mission Bay Senior High School, where he initially played as a linebacker, but became a full-time running back in his senior year. He was Mission Bay's featured running back that year, and led San Diego County in all-purpose yards with 2,500 while compiling 2,093 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns in addition to six scores on kickoff returns.[4] In a game against Clairemont, Foster ran for 321 yards and for his efforts, he was named San Diego Union Tribune All-San Diego Western League Player of the Year, received All-West Region appointment by PrepStar, and also earned All-California Interscholastic Federation honors.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arian_Foster

 

[76Texan]

The bold is why I'm on Arian's side.

There have been so many fundamental "wrongs" with this amateur system for the longest time.

At the lowest level, for example - even though the practice doesn't seem to be as widespread as it used to be; football and basketball players were given passing grades, unless they were simply so bad.

This doesn't help them in college. Many of them don't have the educational fundamentals to learn much of anything at the next level.
Tutoring isn't going to help.

Some call that an amateur system; I call it a broken system.
The whole system has been financed my money-making machines from the professional level down; Too many propagandas that help propagate a culture of apathy among us all. Some get caught in the possibility of glory such that they may not think long and hard enough about the long-term effect.

It's a clear exploitation of the amateurs for profit without regards for their well-beings.

 

[infantrycak]

What are you talking about taxes on your books for? If my company provided housing for me it would be a taxable event however athletes in this situation get it for free and do not have to pay income tax on that benefit

Now you should know better. It is still a taxable event but these guys aren't making enough money for that to result in a tax owed.

I agree with thunderkyss' earlier point. Why NOW? Why talk about this stuff during the season when it will become a potential distraction for Arian and the team?

That would be a great complaint IF he spoke during the season. But he didn't. This interview was done months ago during the off-season.

Here is something else to consider. Football by far makes the most money of all the sports. For some reason there are inconsistent rules for NCAA scholarship athletes and football is by far the most restricted. For example a scholarship tennis player or swimmer can give lessons and it is perfectly fine. I believe they can also appear in exhibition matches and be paid to do so (I may be wrong on that one but pretty sure on the lessons). But Arian or Johnny Football can't hold a football camp and make money of it or individual lessons. Why?

As for doing it before retiring, well now is when his soapbox is biggest. Think about the gay athlete discussions and people coming in and saying "see they never say anything until they are out of the league. Just a washed up former player trying to stay in the news." It is also relatively recent. If he waits until he is no longer a star and 10 years have passed folks will discount it saying well that was a decade ago.

 

[ChampionTexan]

This. His whining almost seems like a plea for attention. Not getting enough playing time? Okay, let's make a fuss about it. Wait, they aren't reacting the way you wanted, Arian? OK, then talk about getting paid at the NCAA level. He needs to focus on getting his game back up because his sub 4 ypc average really sucks.

It's a documentary featuring numerous others affiliated with college sports. I would imagine the interview took place several months ago.

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

Like the concussion situation..............nothing will change without a class action suit..........don't ask me how they approach that, but there are some pretty crafty lawyers out there that are probably thinking about it as I speak.

 

[dc_txtech]

And these guys also have to perform both on the field and in the class room to maintain their scholarships, unless there are major unethical conducts by the schools.

That's an absolute joke. We all know a large percentage of these players are not passing college level curriculum. Vince Young's Wonderlic score would suggest that he is not literate and yet he has a degree from a prestigous university.

 

[C.O.DuB]

I rarely ever comment but I just wanted to comment on some of the things said..

College athletes do get a lot of free benefits (gear, food M-F, education, tutors, books ect...)

But to say that some dont need extra money to survive is kind of foolish. A lot of people on here claim to have played ball or know someone who has and If that is true, you should know that Student-Athletes need a little extra money on the side for food and incidental things we take for granted (soap, deo, underwear ect...). The school does not pay for these things. Yes all athletes get free food at the dining halls but they dont have time to go there all the time. These guys are up at 5-6 am for practice, then they go to school, then some of them study, and then more practice.. There is not time for a lot of trips to the dining hall. Most of them take in a high amount of calories so they need extra food in their dorms/apartments to supplement what they eat at the dining halls. Also, every school is different and some athletes are allowed to live off campus after they reach a certain classification (Jr or Sr at my school). So maybe Arian lived off campus and ran out of FinAid money for rent (happened to me twice). We dont know Arian's situation but if he was as poor as he has stated before (MANY college athletes come from poor families) then I can completely understand why he took money.

 

[CretorFrigg]

I rarely ever comment but I just wanted to comment on some of the things said..

College athletes do get a lot of free benefits (gear, food M-F, education, tutors, books ect...)

But to say that some dont need extra money to survive is kind of foolish. A lot of people on here claim to have played ball or know someone who has and If that is true, you should know that Student-Athletes need a little extra money on the side for food and incidental things we take for granted (soap, deo, underwear ect...). The school does not pay for these things. Yes all athletes get free food at the dining halls but they dont have time to go there all the time. These guys are up at 5-6 am for practice, then they go to school, then some of them study, and then more practice.. There is not time for a lot of trips to the dining hall. Most of them take in a high amount of calories so they need extra food in their dorms/apartments to supplement what they eat at the dining halls. Also, every school is different and some athletes are allowed to live off campus after they reach a certain classification (Jr or Sr at my school). So maybe Arian lived off campus and ran out of FinAid money for rent (happened to me twice). We dont know Arian's situation but if he was as poor as he has stated before (MANY college athletes come from poor families) then I can completely understand why he took money.

Back to my previous point, what makes the athlete's struggle any different than any other student's? I mentioned personally knowing students that have had to work and go to school in order to pay for the necessities. They worked very hard, if not harder, than most college athletes I know. The athletes already have many perks. Free food, housing, etc.

 

[htownfan32]

Didn't Arian have a child in college?

 

[Double Barrel]

That would be a great complaint IF he spoke during the season. But he didn't. This interview was done months ago during the off-season.

Thanks for the heads up. I did not realize this was an off-season interview.

Here is something else to consider. Football by far makes the most money of all the sports. For some reason there are inconsistent rules for NCAA scholarship athletes and football is by far the most restricted. For example a scholarship tennis player or swimmer can give lessons and it is perfectly fine. I believe they can also appear in exhibition matches and be paid to do so (I may be wrong on that one but pretty sure on the lessons). But Arian or Johnny Football can't hold a football camp and make money of it or individual lessons. Why?

As for doing it before retiring, well now is when his soapbox is biggest. Think about the gay athlete discussions and people coming in and saying "see they never say anything until they are out of the league. Just a washed up former player trying to stay in the news." It is also relatively recent. If he waits until he is no longer a star and 10 years have passed folks will discount it saying well that was a decade ago.

There was a USA Today (iirc) article awhile back that said something like only 7 college football program actually made a net profit.

Obviously huge coaching salaries are part of the expense.

But also, isn't Title 9 a big part of the equation here?

If the NCAA opens the floodgates to pay football players, I have no doubt someone will take it to court to pay ALL college athletes. And while it can be argued that football brings the revenue so those athletes should reap the rewards (beyond free school, food, housing, etc.), the same logic of Title 9 will most likely be applied to all sports.

 

[disaacks3]

"#Texans' Arian Foster said it's not fair that #NCAA officials have BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes and players don't get paid for anything."

Now he just sounds like a little b i tch.

Actually he sounds like someone pointing out the hypocrisy in the situation. Football players are the cash cow of the NCAA schools. Within the past month, the NCAA has finally agreed to stop selling jerseys that correlate to certain players. They only did this in light of the Manziel situation.

I have no problem with paying college athletes.

Just make them pay their own way through school if they are going to do it.

Sure, as long as the University is run as a non-profit and distributes the gains accordingly. If not, start giving them a stipend and make a big part of this issue go away.

 

[ObsiWan]

Now you should know better. It is still a taxable event but these guys aren't making enough money for that to result in a tax owed.



That would be a great complaint IF he spoke during the season. But he didn't. This interview was done months ago during the off-season.

You beat me to it, I-Cak. This documentary...

was filmed sometime this past winter...

Add Arian Foster's voice to the growing chorus who believe that NCAA athletes -- football and basketball players, in particular -- should be compensated for their labor. Last February, the Houston Texans running back was approached by the producers for the documentary Schooled: The Price of College Sports. ​

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/co...-about-being-paid-at-tennessee/#ixzz2fTJQRcvy​

It was SI.com and/or ESPN who decided to release these clips at this time.

Arian didn't call a press conference today about this subject. He wasn't even answering questions in recent history (during this season) as TK and HouTex have asserted. These quotes are all from the documentary and were filmed during the off-season.

So slow your roll. The timing isn't on Foster, its on the media.

 

[IDEXAN]

Totally classless on Fosters part. If I ever had any doubts about this guy being all about himself, I don't anymore.

 

[infantrycak]

Back to my previous point, what makes the athlete's struggle any different than any other student's? I mentioned personally knowing students that have had to work and go to school in order to pay for the necessities. They worked very hard, if not harder, than most college athletes I know. The athletes already have many perks. Free food, housing, etc.

Students who get jobs for money get ... money.

Athletes who work a whole extra job do not.

If the NCAA opens the floodgates to pay football players, I have no doubt someone will take it to court to pay ALL college athletes. And while it can be argued that football brings the revenue so those athletes should reap the rewards (beyond free school, food, housing, etc.), the same logic of Title 9 will most likely be applied to all sports.

I wasn't suggesting they get paid by the university but how about make the rules the same for all student athletes? If they can teach in the summer time or outside of football season then let them just like tennis players.

 

[Trap_Star]

I don't doubt he took money, but his reasoning is full of ****. A major program like Tennessee doesn't house and feed their athletes? Lol uh huh.

 

[ObsiWan]

Back to my previous point, what makes the athlete's struggle any different than any other student's? I mentioned personally knowing students that have had to work and go to school in order to pay for the necessities. They worked very hard, if not harder, than most college athletes I know. The athletes already have many perks. Free food, housing, etc.

If I'm on a physics scholarhip and I want to make money on the side tutoring math or freshman physics I can. Can a football or basketball player "legally" hold a make money by holding a football or basketball camp?? Hell, I bet they can't even "legally" get paid to participate in someone else's football or basketball camp.

I worked at UPS all through college myself but would a football coach or basketball coach let his star QB or point guard make extra money by working an extra job? A real job... you know what I mean...

And between classes, practice time, working out, and studying his playbook, when would there be time for a side job?

I'm all for a system that provides some sort of stipend or some compensation for the money that these kids bring to the school.

Now what an equitable -to the kids and to the school - system ought to look like... I'm still working on that part.

 

[CretorFrigg]

Students who get jobs for money get ... money.

Athletes who work a whole extra job do not.

I wasn't suggesting they get paid by the university but how about make the rules the same for all student athletes? If they can teach in the summer time or outside of football season then let them just like tennis players.

Athletes also don't have to pay $60k a year for tuition and costs.

I'm not against college football players being able to coach during the summertime. I'm against the university paying student athletes so we are in agreement there.

If I'm on a physics scholarhip and I want to make money on the side tutoring math or freshman physics I can. Can a football or basketball player "legally" hold a make money by holding a football or basketball camp?? Hell, I bet they can't even "legally" get paid to participate in someone else's football or basketball camp.

I worked at UPS all through college myself but would a football coach or basketball coach let his star QB or point guard make extra money by working an extra job? A real job... you know what I mean...

And between classes, practice time, working out, and studying his playbook, when would there be time for a side job?

I'm all for a system that provides some sort of stipend or some compensation for the money that these kids bring to the school.

Now what an equitable -to the kids and to the school - system ought to look like... I'm still working on that part.

Sure, if you want these kids to get a stipend, I'm all for it as long as they eliminate the full-ride, housing, meal plan, etc. In that sense, I'm sure the benefits they receive outweigh any stipend they'll be receiving from the university.

 

[ObsiWan]

Totally classless on Fosters part. If I ever had any doubts about this guy being all about himself, I don't anymore.

You'll have to explain your logic here. It went right past me. He's out of school. He's making money. This interview was conducted during the off-season. His message is that the students playing now should have some means to make supplimental money. He's not asking for back pay from Tennessee. He's talking about the kids who are there now. So how is this "all about himself"??

And if you can't explain it to me then you don't have an argument.

 

[ObsiWan]

Sure, if you want these kids to get a stipend, I'm all for it as long as they eliminate the full-ride, housing, meal plan, etc. In that sense, I'm sure the benefits they receive outweigh any stipend they'll be receiving from the university.

Then those kids will just go to a university where that stipend pays all their bills and then some. Trust me, there will be some bidding for the high school blue chippers.

Just like in the real world, you'll go for the company that provides the best pkg of salary and benefits.

 

[eriadoc]

Totally classless on Fosters part. If I ever had any doubts about this guy being all about himself, I don't anymore.

There's the affirmation I was looking for. Now there is not one doubt I'm on the right side of this. Thanks IDEXAN!

 

[CretorFrigg]

Then those kids will just go to a university where that stipend pays all their bills and then some. Trust me, there will be some bidding for the high school blue chippers.

Just like in the real world, you'll go for the company that provides the best pkg of salary and benefits.

Then you'll have universities like UT win every year. Sounds like a monopoly to me, and doesn't sound very entertaining.

I really doubt that stipend would be able to cover tuition and costs. My cousin just graduated from USC, and total cost of attending that university now is over 60k. I really doubt a university will be able to provide that many players with that kind of money.

 

[infantrycak]

Athletes also don't have to pay $60k a year for tuition and costs.

Neither does anyone else on scholarship and as ObsiWan points out that includes non-athletes (for instance coincidental to his comment, I had a full ride physics scholarship to UT).

Sure, if you want these kids to get a stipend, I'm all for it as long as they eliminate the full-ride, housing, meal plan, etc. In that sense, I'm sure the benefits they receive outweigh any stipend they'll be receiving from the university.

Why? You are missing the whole point of scholarships which is to have the person focus on the subject (including athletics) which the school is encouraging.

 

[IDEXAN]

You'll have to explain your logic here. It went right past me. He's out of school. He's making money. This interview was conducted during the off-season. His message is that the students playing now should have some means to make supplimental money. He's not asking for back pay from Tennessee. He's talking about the kids who are there now. So how is this "all about himself"??

And if you can't explain it to me then you don't have an argument.

A provocative, controversial remark that was obviously designed to attract wanted attention to himself which will lead to very unwanted, very negative attention upon the U. of Tenn. I dunno how much damage might happen to the school, but it might very well be substantial and result in a reduced ability to fund scholarships in the future, so Foster is in effect probably hurting those potential future student-athletes he claims to be sympathetic for.
Plain and simple, he's all about Arian.

 

[Double Barrel]

Actually he sounds like someone pointing out the hypocrisy in the situation. Football players are the cash cow of the NCAA schools. Within the past month, the NCAA has finally agreed to stop selling jerseys that correlate to certain players. They only did this in light of the Manziel situation.

Without a doubt, football programs bring the money. And they are usually the only athletic department to make a profit for any given university.

So get rid of Title 9, stop paying for overpriced educations for many guys that are going through the motions, and just turn the whole thing into a farm system where these guys have to still "go to classes" (make 'em simple, like balancing a checkbook, life skills sort of thing) and pay them what they are due as the entertainers they are at the end of the day.

So a "student athlete" can make a choice: get paid money for their football services and take some basic classes so they are not complete idiots - OR - get a full ride scholarship that covers the education, housing, training, and meals.

Sure, as long as the University is run as a non-profit and distributes the gains accordingly. If not, start giving them a stipend and make a big part of this issue go away.

Stipend for only football players? Or all student athletes?

Students who get jobs for money get ... money.

Athletes who work a whole extra job do not.

I wasn't suggesting they get paid by the university but how about make the rules the same for all student athletes? If they can teach in the summer time or outside of football season then let them just like tennis players.

You make a great point. I have no problem with these college athletes having the same rules to work as any other student.

And honestly, I don't have a problem if a college star wants to capitalize on his stardom, because we all know the NFL is not guaranteed and a great college player can often end up a bust in the pros.

 

[ObsiWan]

Then you'll have universities like UT win every year. Sounds like a monopoly to me, and doesn't sound very entertaining.

And the major programs, UT/Alabama/USC/LSU/Ohio State/Michigan (need I go on?) don't do that now???

please

 

[EllisUnit]

Regular students pay ungodly amounts of money just to attend college, most have part time jobs, and stuck paying off student loans for years. So unless the university is going to give money to every student, they dont need to give any to athletes. They arent special

 

[2012Champs]

Now you should know better. It is still a taxable event but these guys aren't making enough money for that to result in a tax owed.



That would be a great complaint IF he spoke during the season. But he didn't. This interview was done months ago during the off-season.

Here is something else to consider. Football by far makes the most money of all the sports. For some reason there are inconsistent rules for NCAA scholarship athletes and football is by far the most restricted. For example a scholarship tennis player or swimmer can give lessons and it is perfectly fine. I believe they can also appear in exhibition matches and be paid to do so (I may be wrong on that one but pretty sure on the lessons). But Arian or Johnny Football can't hold a football camp and make money of it or individual lessons. Why?

As for doing it before retiring, well now is when his soapbox is biggest. Think about the gay athlete discussions and people coming in and saying "see they never say anything until they are out of the league. Just a washed up former player trying to stay in the news." It is also relatively recent. If he waits until he is no longer a star and 10 years have passed folks will discount it saying well that was a decade ago.

They aren't 1099'd for the benefits so it wouldn't really matter what they made a year. Johnny football could have 50k in income from his investments and his college benefits wouldn't factor into his taxes.



Here is an interesting article on the topic
http://m.thinkadvisor.com/2013/08/27/why-college-athletes-shouldnt-get-paid

 

[infantrycak]

They aren't 1099'd for the benefits so it wouldn't really matter what they made a year. Johnny football could have 50k in income from his investments and his college benefits wouldn't factor into his taxes.

Here is an interesting article on the topic
http://m.thinkadvisor.com/2013/08/27/why-college-athletes-shouldnt-get-paid

Well here is another article - Link

So parts are tax free and parts, including room and board, are not.

 

[TD]

They aren't 1099'd for the benefits so it wouldn't really matter what they made a year. Johnny football could have 50k in income from his investments and his college benefits wouldn't factor into his taxes.

Here is an interesting article on the topic
http://m.thinkadvisor.com/2013/08/27/why-college-athletes-shouldnt-get-paid

Didn't read the link, but room and board is taxable. It is reported on 1098-T which shows tuition billed and scholarships received. Unless you can show you had qualified out of pocket expenses, you pay tax on the difference.

Interestingly any scholarship received in exchange for services is supposed to be completely taxable. I guess sports don't count.

 

[Mr teX]

As I said above, I was just going off the guy's quote. I have no idea how his or any scholarship worked. Either way, I honestly don't have a problem with him or any athlete taking money. It's a position on which my stance has evolved, because college football is a business, plain and simple. In no other business are you told you're going to be paid with something that you may not want (in fact, this is the genesis of currency in civilization). You render a service and you get paid in money that can be converted to whatever other good or service you desire. Otherwise, you'd only do work for people who can pay you precisely the good you are looking for. This week, I'll go work for Farmer Brown so I can get some eggs!

The entire NCAA system is complete BS. Separate the football from education and pay the kids. Then they might be able to afford your overpriced education on their own. And that's another thing - hundreds of thousands of dollars for an education?!?! That too is BS.

I am going to go drink some chai tea and meditate now.

While this is true, as the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush & these kids don't have the foresight to see that. That free education they're being offered but don't want will pay for itself 10 fold once their careers are over........ if they go ahead & graduate that is. to To be honest, They're really getting more than that when you sit & think about it. Universities have to feed, house and take care of these kids medically while they are there. That easily runs into the10's of thousands over a 4 year period...So the university rakes in a few million a year...that gets eaten up pretty fast taking care of 53 man roster on a football team, basketball team, baseball team & whatever else team the university may have.

Now while guys like Johnny Manziel might ultimately be losing money in this regard, that 3rd string punter on the same team is actually running a deficit for the university b/c i'm damn sure nobody is there to see him play or are offering him money & endorsement deals. & there are way more 3rd string punter student athlete types than there are Johnny Manziel mega star athlete types. Then once you factor in how uneven the money is from sport to sport (football vs any other college sport), The potential for inequities between mens and womens sports which i'm pretty sure is a violation of title IX, its just turns into a big mess.

So bottom line for me, i don't feel sorry for any of these guys talking about paying rent & having to buy food. Those are problems that they create for themselves, they don't have to have those problems. Stay in the damn dorms and eat on the meal plans the schools offer you if you can't afford to do anything else...Tired of hearing the excuses these dudes have for doing something they know they shouldn't be doing.

 

[76Texan]

That's an absolute joke. We all know a large percentage of these players are not passing college level curriculum. Vince Young's Wonderlic score would suggest that he is not literate and yet he has a degree from a prestigous university.

And that's a big flaw in the system right there.
They are not giving a good number of these guys a educational scholarship.
Those guys are there to play football only; they are not really students.

 

[drs23]

Because he is whining that a long-employed man has a better car than he does.

What's your gig man? Just hatin' on Foster? I've not really read anything in any of your posts that indicate otherwise.

I really think you don't get it by the lame comments you've made here.

Just me maybe?

 

[ObsiWan]

Regular students pay ungodly amounts of money just to attend college, most have part time jobs, and stuck paying off student loans for years. So unless the university is going to give money to every student, they dont need to give any to athletes. They arent special

How many "regular students" do you see 70,000 - 100,000 paying customers filing into enormous stadiums so they can watch those students study history or economics or engineering or law?

How many of those "regular students" have ESPN or Fox Sports or the major networks camping out in their labs or classrooms or study halls so they can broadcast closeups and slo-mo's of them writing term papers or conducting lab experiments...??

How many of those "regular students" have whole segments of this very msg board dedicated to watching their every performance or reviewing their every test score so they can predict which corporate firm will "draft them"?

Not special??

I'm guessing you forgot the sarcasm smiley didn't you?

 

[StarStruck]

How many "regular students" do you see 70,000 - 100,000 paying customers filing into enormous stadiums so they can watch those students study history or economics or engineering or law?

How many of those "regular students" have ESPN or Fox Sports or the major networks camping out in their labs or classrooms or study halls so they can broadcast closeups and slo-mo's of them writing term papers or conducting lab experiments...??

How many of those "regular students" have whole segments of this very msg board dedicated to watching their every performance or reviewing their every test score so they can predict which corporate firm will "draft them"?

Not special??

I'm guessing you forgot the sarcasm smiley didn't you?

LOL, as I was reading quickly and came to the question of say, what? Goodness, there is a university here in Texas with their own network. I don't think anyone has to guess there the money came from.

 

[thunderkyss]

It was SI.com and/or ESPN who decided to release these clips at this time.

Arian didn't call a press conference today about this subject. He wasn't even answering questions in recent history (during this season) as TK and HouTex have asserted. These quotes are all from the documentary and were filmed during the off-season.

So slow your roll. The timing isn't on Foster, its on the media.

I did not assert he did this during the season. Whether last offseason, or next, I don't like it. The biggest reason I am against this is that it's going to cause some college student to lose his ride, or eligibility because I believe the NCAA is going to be forced to crack down on it.

It sucks, but Cam Newton, Reggie Bush, & Arian Foster figured out how to get away with it & looking at Cam, it wasn't easy.

Something needs to be done..... maybe, but I don't feel like Arian should be doing it.

'cak makes a good point. His popularity may be the thing that gets something rolling. The fact that Tennessee is already screwed... probably does make it perfect timing for him to say something.

But I don't like it. Still would have liked it more (still not liking it) if he brought this up after being named Super Bowl MVP in February 2014.

 

[thunderkyss]

You'll have to explain your logic here. It went right past me. He's out of school. He's making money. This interview was conducted during the off-season. His message is that the students playing now should have some means to make supplimental money. He's not asking for back pay from Tennessee. He's talking about the kids who are there now. So how is this "all about himself"??

And if you can't explain it to me then you don't have an argument.

He told his coach, "Buy me & my boys some Tacos, or I'm going to do something stupid."

I don't know what the rules are. I don't like the current system, but I think he just "ruined" it for the guys who need the money & are getting it now.

If he truly felt he "needed" to do something about it I think he's smart enough to do it in a way better than this.