🏈 Big Ten commish says athletes should be able to skip college

PhillyGirl

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Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said Wednesday that Division I football and basketball might be better served by following Major League Baseball's model, in that players are allowed to sign professionally right out of high school.


"Maybe in football and basketball, it would work better if more kids had a chance to go directly into the professional ranks," Delany said. "If they're not comfortable and want to monetize, let the minor leagues flourish. Train at IMG, get agents to invest in your body, get agents to invest in your likeness and establish it on your own. But don't come here and say, 'We want to be paid $25,000 or $50,000.' Go to the D-League and get it, go to the NBA and get it, go to the NFL and get it. Don't ask us what we've been doing.




Should NFL and NBA prospects be allowed to go pro out of high school. Is amateurism important to you?



"If an athlete wants to professionalize themselves, professionalize themselves. We've been training kids for professional sports. I argue it's the color, I argue it's the institution. If you think it's about you, then talk to John Havlicek about that, you've got to talk to Michael Jordan about that. These brands have been built over 100 years."


Delany said a restructuring plan in college sports must be in place by next spring to create better balance educationally and more options, including increasing the value of athletic scholarships. He said the major conferences need the "legislative autonomy" to push through some major changes.
If the major conferences don't reach a consensus, they should be criticized, Delany said.


"You don't have to play for the Redskins or the Bears at 17, but you could develop IMG," Delany said. "My gosh, there are lots of trainers out there. There are quarterback coaches teaching passing skills, guys lifting weights, guys training and running. They can get as strong and as fast in that environment as they can in this environment. Plus, they don't have to go to school. Plus, they can sell their likeness and do whatever they want to do. We don't want to do that. What we want to do is do what we've been doing for 100 years. ...

“ Maybe in football and basketball, it would work better if more kids had a chance to go directly into the professional ranks. ... But don't come here and say, 'We want to be paid $25,000 or $50,000.' Go to the D-League and get it, go to the NBA and get it, go to the NFL and get it.
” <cite>-- Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany</cite>​
"I think we ought to work awful hard with the NFL and the NBA to create an opportunity for those folks. We have it in baseball, we have it in golf, works pretty good, we have it in golf, we have it in hockey. Why don't we have it in football, basketball? Why is it our job to be minor leagues for professional sports?"


Delany's comments came on the same day the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the IA Athletic Directors Association wrapped up their meetings in Dallas.


The athletic directors say they discussed topics ranging from NCAA governance and enforcement to the disparity of interests and resources among Division I schools to the rejection of "pay-for-play."


Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke said: "Pay for play has no part in the amateur setting."


Burke noted the value of a full scholarship and support services at Purdue is worth more than $250,000.


NCAA president Mark Emmert has endorsed making changes to the way the 351 Division I schools make rules governing college athletics.
 
Basketballwise, I think that the NBA should go back to being able to draft or sign kids right out of high school. The "one and done" idea pretty much makes that year of college a sham. To me, MLB has the best approoach. They can draft and sign players right out of HS. If the kid chooses not to sign then and enters college, he can't be drafted until his third season. The NBA could imitate that.

Football is a different animal. Not many kids are ready for the NFL right out of high school, and NFL "farm teams" would be costly because of the number of players needed and the cost of the facilities. The NCAA has made it too easy for great football (and basketball) players who are at best marginal students, to get into school. Since these are both huge sources of revenue, getting any real reforms done will be quite a battle.
 
I think any kids coming out of high school, that play any sport other than football could go pro. Football on the other hand, I just don't think their body could handle the punishment. Maybe some could.
 
My thoughts when I read the post's title was different than most of yours. I thought "most of the Big Ten athletes probably do skip college, classes anyway, after they are enrolled."
 
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