The idea of college athletes getting paid is a hotly contested issue that has recently transitioned from a background/niche topic to a very front and center debate. We haven't seen it happen yet, but definite tweaks have been made. In just the past few years alone it's led to many changes, some good (more food for players), some bad (no more annual NCAA Football video game).
Earlier this afternoon it was reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Virginia Tech has apparently been charging players for supposed infractions. These infractions can range from football related issues (not being ready for practice, unsportsmanlike conduct, etc.) to tedious things your mom would be mad at you for (dirty dorm, missing breakfast). Monitors outside the players' lounge displayed the complete list:
The school's athletic director Whit Babcock professed ignorance on the issue and immediately "discontinued" it. Additionally, a school spokesman claims that no athletes had been fined for this (just beginning) school year.
Yesterday we learned the team's defensive coordinator Bud Foster was considering fining players out of their new "cost-of-attendance" stipend. However, according to Babcock, any fine that had previously been levied was not funded by that source. Instead he stated:
"There has been, in place for a number of years, not to this extent, but for a number of years, a little bit of a, and I hate to use the word, but I can’t use another one, but a fine system, disciplinary for our players and such. And I think it’s come out of bowl type stuff. So I was not aware that we were doing that. It’s not against NCAA rules. It’s probably more prevalent than people think, but I was not aware of it.”
Jay Bilas, who has perhaps been the most visible (and vocal) critic of the current NCAA system, later disparaged the fines on Twitter, and noted the program's bizarre priorities about classroom learning:
[via Richmond Times-Dispatch]
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