They get the right to travel all over the country, stay in great hotels and get a great education, so I believe they kind of do get paid already. Joe Alleva, Duke's Athletic Director said. This may be true, but a scholarship doesn't pay for a new toothbrush, a trip to the Laundromat or a phone call home according to former college star and current member of Congress J.C. Watts. It's true that NCAA rules and the reality of playing ball for a big school make it hard for athletes to work, but in terms of life's necessities, universities athletes are covered. The majority of college players are not poor to the extent that they don't have a place to live or food to eat.
Most universities pay for tuition, board, and meals for student-athletes.
Athletes are provided with several financial options and millions of dollars are available through grant-based aid. The question of payment should only pertain to students from low-class families who may need extra money for college expenses not paid for by scholarships. Since these students are not allowed to work except during the summer, compensation seems to be the only solution. A simple modification to one NCAA rule would be another alternative. Some feel that the NCAA should modify some of their policies, especially the policy that forbids college players to work.