Greg BellNovember 26, 2013Mrs. MyszkowskiEnglish 1101Paying Players Shouldn't Be in the PlaybookIn recent years, the discussion about whether or not to pay athletes who play at the college level has become a matter of national debate. Currently, the ruling is that college athletes cannot be paid. This is a position that should be maintained. Paying athletes to compete at the collegiate level is unfeasible because it would cost universities too much, influence students' educational decisions, and create an unfair financial atmosphere between athletes and non-athletes. Paying college athletes is a bad idea because of the costs associated with it. Under the NCAA's equal rights policies and other rules, colleges are required to pay all athletes, regardless of gender, sport played, college publicity from the sport, or proficiency in the sport. This means that colleges like the University of Tennessee, which has more than 500 student athletes, would have to dedicate a large portion of their athletics budget to paying student athletes. According to Jim Walker, these enormous costs could lead universities to close less profitable activities like tennis or golf in an attempt to save money for big profitable sports like football and basketball (1). Women's sports would also be targeted, as they typically operate at higher costs relative to revenue (Walker 1). For universities operating on smaller budgets, having sports programs may become completely impossible. As sports editor Al Dunning said: “Where will athletes play – and receive scholarships – when all but the wealthiest schools go bankrupt?” (1). The promise of a paycheck could certainly be a deciding factor in increasing students' college decisions. A quarterback with…half the paper…issue will argue heatedly for his cause. Every time, the decision must be against paying the players. As NCAA director Mark Emmert said: “This is our direction. We cannot falter. We cannot back down." (1). Works Cited Al Dunning, Sports E. “Paying Athletes Would Bankrupt Most Colleges.” The Commercial Appeal: 0. Jan 09 1995. ProQuest.Web. November 26, 2013 .Emmert, Mark. “Paying college athletes is a terrible idea.” Wall Street Journal, January 11, 2012. ProQuest. Network. November 26, 2013. Lewis, Jason. “Paying college athletes is not the solution.” Sentinel: April 2, 2011. ProQuest. Network. November 26, 2013. Plaschke, Bill. “PAYING COLLEGE ATHLETES AN UNPOLITE DECISION.” Pittsburgh Post - Gazette, November 21, 2010. ProQuest.Web. November 26, 2013. Walker, Jim. “The Debate Over Paid College Athletes Continues.” McClatchy - Tribune Business News June 8, 2011. ProQuest. Network. November 26. 2013 .