The popular games series ‘NCAA Football’ came to a halt in 2014 because they used college athletes’ images and statistics in the games without paying them. Although partially reimbursed, this brought attention to how college athletes believe they should be paid to play by companies that profit from using their name and likeness.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron said to Fox Sports, “college athletes should be paid . . . they’re taking advantage of college athletes that sign their name into a certain school.”
McCarron goes on to say how he believes college athletes should be paid. “And with players’ jerseys being sold and them not seeing any of that, and then being used for video games,” McCarron told Fox Sports, “I think eventually something’s gotta give and players end up being paid.”
There are people who think the athletes should be paid by the college. However, if teams were to win big games and make extra money, colleges could easily use that money to create college super teams. This would give them the ability to give top prospects better offers than colleges who do not have that extra money, as well as take focus off improving athletic facilities and paying staff members.
Instead, players should be paid by companies like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour that profit off the jersey sales of that player. Also, big game companies like EA Sports could pay players for use of their name and likeness in video games.
“If I were to be in a game and they were using my name and jersey number I’d like to receive some money,” Southern Utah offensive tackle and two-time all Big Sky player Marquez Tucker said.
One solution is that big companies need to pay the players a fair cut of their profits for using their name and likeness when selling jerseys, merchandise, games and more.
