College sports and minimum wage?

[BlasterMaster]

So, I saw John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" report on college level basket ball and I was disgusted at the way the industry treats everyone except for the coaches and executives. Does anyone else think everyone who isn't a coach or executive should at least get minimum wage for their work?

 

[Barbershopman]

I read an article a while back that the highest paid state employee in about 43 of the 50 states was a college athletic coach.

It's a shame that the college athlete, perhaps the most visible representative of a college, isn't somehow compensated for their services. Now before you say not true, they get a free ride scholarship to play, think about it. Athletes only get scholarships if they are good enough, can take nothing in return for their service, and can get suspended or kicked out of school for taking even $20 from a booster to fill a gas tank or get a bite to eat.

Yet the school has enough revenue to pay a coach a million dollar contract. Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide makes an annual salary of $4 million a year, the coaches of lesser prominent schools get at least $200,000. The football player who does the work gets NOTHING. Most college athletes have to take a job while in school just for spending money.

In my opinion, the college athlete needs to get compensated for the job they do in promoting the school, even if it is a small stipend.

Barbershopman

 

[Philip_2006]

Sports Spending

Barbershop Man is right about the head coach salaries...NC, KS, & KY all have basketball top paid while the rest are football led by Alabama & Mississippi.
What I would really like to see is the big ticket items put to a vote by the students & taxpayers (state referendum).
Half of those departments in Power V conferences have an annual deficit.
10% of programs have a an annual deficit above 10% for the 2014 story.
Average revenue, mostly from declining cable, is $75 million.
Football players should get $500 per Power V game.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/sports/wp/2015/11/23/running-up-the-bills/

 

[sueme]

No. You should be paid what you're worth. If your work is worth less than "minimum wage", you should be paid less. This also applies to the college level.