St. Paul, Minn. – Today, Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL – Shakopee) and Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R – Lino Lakes) announced legislation that would allow student athletes to be compensated for their name, image or likeness.
“Playing college sports takes a significant toll on students’ bodies and academic schedules,” said Rep. Tabke. “The players producing the revenue in a $14 billion industry deserve to see the benefits.”
“This is about ending the exploitation of college athletes,” said Sen. Chamberlain. “It is simply the right and fair thing to do. Like it or not, college athletics is big time money for schools and for the NCAA, but the athletes who are responsible for building that wealth are treated differently than their classmates. Journalists or musicians on campus are allowed to use their skills to earn money, but the athletes cannot. It has to end.”
The highest-paid head coach in 2018 made $8.3 million. Even the lowest-paid coaches in the SEC make salaries of at least $1 million. Jim Delaney, the head of the Big Ten Conference, made $5.5 million in 2018. The head of the NCAA, Mark Emmert, made $4 million. Universities profit by making multimillion dollar sponsorship deals with athletic brands, yet the athletes are prohibited from taking a paycheck.
According to a January AP poll, two-thirds of Americans support allowing college players to earn money from endorsements.
California’s State Senate and Assembly unanimously approved a similar bill in 2019, and 15 other states are considering the legislation.
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