The NCAA should immediately admit that the term "Student Athlete" is obsolete. The majority of these "students" are highly paid minor league athletes disguised as fake college students.
The "Student Athlete" label certainly feels out of sync with the environment that's emerged. With NIL earnings turning some athletes into brand ambassadors and constant transfers complicating academic continuity, the emphasis on being a "student" seems like a relic of the past.
The NCAA has long defended the amateurism model, portraying college athletes as students first, athletes second. But now, with athletes securing lucrative deals and operating in a quasi-professional framework, the lines have blurred to the point where maintaining the old label seems disingenuous. For these athletes, college can feel more like a stepping stone to professional sports or business ventures, rather than an academic institution shaping future leaders. Stop putting "academic" and "student" in front of the word "athlete". These are actually paid College Employees.
The "Student Athlete" label certainly feels out of sync with the environment that's emerged. With NIL earnings turning some athletes into brand ambassadors and constant transfers complicating academic continuity, the emphasis on being a "student" seems like a relic of the past.
The NCAA has long defended the amateurism model, portraying college athletes as students first, athletes second. But now, with athletes securing lucrative deals and operating in a quasi-professional framework, the lines have blurred to the point where maintaining the old label seems disingenuous. For these athletes, college can feel more like a stepping stone to professional sports or business ventures, rather than an academic institution shaping future leaders. Stop putting "academic" and "student" in front of the word "athlete". These are actually paid College Employees.
