As Usual, TOB Doesn't Have Time For Your Reporter Crap

by Akula Wolf on Jul 18, 2011 1:14 PM EDT

How do the ACC's coaches feel about pay-for-play? Look, why don't you just ask the intern they got filling out their coaches poll ballots every week.

In a survey of all 12 ACC coaches through their respective sports information directors, only half of the conference responded, and NC State coach Tom O’Brien declined to participate. Maryland’s Randy Edsall, Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, and Georgia Tech’s Johnson were all for some form of pay-for-play. Miami coach Al Golden was specifically in favor of a monthly stipend only consistent with the cost of living standard for the student’s city.

I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between "didn't respond" and "declined to participate," as TOB apparently did the latter but not necessarily the former, but for our purposes we will assume this is a special kind of spurning, the sort only an exceptionally busy and impatient man like Tom O'Brien could dish out.

This is no time for questions, Heather Dinich. The only time for questions is on May 17th between 1 and 3 PM, which you would know had you read my last rejection notice. Thank you and good day.

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Comments

Butch Davis' response:

“Wait, I thought we already did this?”

by PACKHOOLIGAN on Jul 18, 2011 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

classic!

I love the Steelers.

by tannofsteel84 on Jul 18, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

could this be bad?

Could this be a sign of TOB thinking players shouldn’t get anything extra, and subsequently be unappealing to future recruits?

by packcanesteel on Jul 18, 2011 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

that's quite a leap

I don’t think the pay-for-play thing is overly popular in coaching circles, so I don’t think it hurts to speak out against it. Doesn’t mean TOB doesn’t care about his players’ welfare.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on Jul 18, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

i read a really good

article on pay for play recently but could not find it for including in my comment. it dealth with the status of players if paid to play. do they become employees of the university? if so can they strike or form a union? further, if injured playing can they sue the university? with regard to income tax, does their benefits become income? how about dealing with title IX-in other words, do women players get paid the same as football players? what happens if a player gets into a fight in a bar-is the university responsible as the player is an employee of the university-deep pockets thing? and finally, does a better player want more money (that is a given-the star of the team is always going to want more money)?
right now the IRS looks the other way with regard to room, board and tuition for players on scholarship, but will they continue to do so in pay for play? bad idea!

by sbas2 on Jul 18, 2011 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

Good points

I have generally been in favor of allowing players to be paid, but within a university structure, that would be very difficult. The I favor it is that the whole “scholar athlete,” “amateur status” argument seems like a farce to me when considering the amount of money involved in college football and basketball. But, the questions about income tax, the possibility of players unionizing, etc. are definitely real concerns.

It would seem that the only way to do it would be to convert college teams to a semi-pro league. The teams could be associated with the universities, but be legally separate entities.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Jul 19, 2011 9:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

or

follow the high school example. no recruiting. hold tryouts for the team from university students. of course that might hurt the bottom line, but “It’s not about the money, we don’t need your money, we just wanna make the world dance, forget about the price tag…” Jessie J.

by sbas2 on Jul 19, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions