There is no need for athletics, other than to support the big business world of professional sports. If universities payed athlets how would they justify not paying, for example, band members. They both put in lots of time and are important to the university. It will impose wrong ideas to youngesters who's goals are probably to play sports and not to get educations. Looks like everyone agrees on this one.
Tuition is expensive and so is housing.
Most athletes get these things on scholarships. That is plenty of payment. They are also getting the opportunity to get an education. Jeremy, again, I think the idea of paying only reveals a wierd situation that already exitst. We are paying already and we don't even know it.