Or, What Constitutes Pay?
With the announcement that the Power Five Conferences will have greater(although somewhat limited) flexibility to make their own rules the discussion almost immediately went to how much players were going to receive. The conferences themselves indicated there would be no direct pay to there players per se, but they left room for what might be interpreted as direct pay.
Among the things mentioned was paying for parents travel to games for their children. This is intended to assist those players who come from impoverished conditions, but you know that won't last long, let's just say for all practical purposes parents travel free.
One of the other things mentioned was a laundry allowance. This is one of the things I can address from my personal experience at UNC. Among one of the jobs I held while attending Carolina was working in UNC Laundry Dept. I ran the Laundry Room at Hinton-James Dormitory which including working several hours several days a week receiving and returning dry cleaning from a window within the laundry room. One of the perks I had is I didn't have to pay to do my laundry. Hinton-James is one of the tower dorms on the South end of the campus where most of the athletes are housed(South Campus)or at least it used to be. I saw most of the athletes doing their own laundry and or sending it out for dry cleaning or paying for the wash,dry, fold service. These guys and gals don't get the chance to go home as often as their peers (especially during their seasons) so they don't have the opportunity to take their clothes home for mom to do their laundry. So, I see no harm in their getting "free laundry services".
Another point, 40 years ago when I was in High School we were given a travel stipend for food when we went on the road (although we never saw the cash, the coaches generally held it and paid for our meals with the gross amount). Most collegiate athletes are already on meal plans as part of their scholarships or have separate eating facilities altogether. So what is it that these athletes need in the way of food? According to some reports, some athletes at some schools don't have access or funds to eat snacks or midnight munchies so they are asking for money to allow them "not to starve" between meals. My answer would be to open an athletes snack bar open 24/7. That or they're given a restricted debit card, good for food purchases only ( yes, you can put restrictions on cards)
So far we've managed not to give them a lump sum of cash although there has been talk of a $1000 month or $5000 a semester stipend. For what? I'm not totally sure. For me this might be a step too far.
There is one major change I would make. I would eliminate the annual renewable scholarship and replace it with degree guaranteed scholarship. No more would a career ending injury also mean an end to your scholastic opportunity. That should be guaranteed unless you've violated the law. But, the caveat to that one is, if the school allows you to play even one game after you have violated the law, your your scholarship is reinstated in full. The schools can't have it both ways.
Let's hear your opinions! speak up!
On with the games!!
Mojo Friday Guidelines
Disclaimer; Kinda like the Pirates Code, they're just guidelines, meant for fun. They aren't hard and fast rules.
1) If you comment you have to recommend all comments. (in order to receive mojo you have to give mojo. It's only good mojo manners.)
2) Everything you say may be taken as a joke (so if you ask a question, expect a silly answer)
3) You must recommend the diary (and pimp it unapologetically)
4) You don't have to comment to recommend.
5) You can't steal my idea (right, like that ain't goin' to happen. It has in numerous forms, I'm flattered!)
6) Mojo mojo mojo mojo, mojo mojo mojo.
7) TexDem (that's me) is not bound by the guidelines. Neither are you
Mojo Friday Goals
Disclaimer; These are mostly here for nostalgia, the site has changed so much and the servers have been upgraded to the point I don't think we could fuck with the site with 1000 people participating. 2007 it ain't.
A. At least 300 different commenters and 1000 comments by 1:30 PM EST and 1500 by 5:00 PM EST Friday Night that it's posted.
B. 100 recommends for each comment, at least.
C. Stay on Recommend List at least five hours (this requires some strategic planning by you guys, refer to guideline #3)
D. At least 200 diary recommends. 300 would be better, spread the word.
E. And always, fun fun fun.
F. Have at least 75% average participation rate as seen here in the Mojo Friday Postgame Show by Woodtick and bjedward.
G. (New) Have at least 30 kossacks over 90% participation (see here for some tips).
H. Overload the servers with recommends, not to mention dominate Top Comments Mojo list. (we do tend to mess with the site with all of our recommends at one time)(also, to dominate the Top Comments Top Mojo we need at least 50 comments with over 200 recommends, see guideline B)
I. That's enough for now. (Have a suggestion? Post it.)
MKinTN posted a diary to help everyone achieve greater success called How to Succeed at Mojo Friday Without Really Trying.
For those of you new to MF (Mojo Friday) we have our own lingo about a few things. Thank's to MF'er Jez (the link will explain) go to this diary for a little more fun and explanation. Official Mojo Friday Snecktionary.