"The NCAA vs Collegiate Athletes" The common sense solution where everyone involved walks away a winner!

The following thoughts, beliefs, and ideas are those of my own and are not affiliated with anyone else! Feel free to comment and share.

Should an athlete be paid a salary while in college? Why should they or shouldn't they be reimbursed for the money the NCAA and the Universities in which they attend make off of them every year? This is a discussion that seems to only be getting stronger and everyone is catching heat for it in one way or another. The problem that still stands today is..... there's a lot of talk going on but where and when will the results come and a even better questions should be, who's going to be the person, group, organization, or community that sees this through?

Being a players agent and knowing the rules that we have to abide by when it comes to recruiting a college player that is looking to turn pro are rules set in stone to protect the player, the NCAA, the Universities, and the agent from facing any legal trouble. As the times change so does society, our beliefs, our ways, and very relevant to this day and time we face a time where the discussion of student athletes being paid while attending college is no longer overlooked but has landed in the spotlight?

Growing up in the 80's and 90's as an athlete with dreams of becoming the next Michael Jordan, never once did I think about the money I could make, I'd be lying if I didn't want to have my own shoe but my focus was to receive a scholarship to one of the major universities to play basketball and get one step closer to my dreams. I remember visiting the mail box after school each day to see if I was accepted to a University in which I applied for or to check the mail for potential scholarship offers was one of the most exciting times of my teenage years.

Now, fast forward 20+ years and a education is no longer what "some athletes" hold high in value, but what amount of money they can make if they are to make the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, etc. Saying that though a lot of kids don't come from great neighborhoods and their families are need of money and that is very understandable but those hardships that they are facing today also existed when I was growing up as well.

When I was entering into college you had players like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James who decided to skip college and go straight to the NBA. Do I disagree with their decisions in doing so? NO!!! I believe the root of the problem that athletes tend to argue about when it comes to being paid could be solved by allowing them the choice to either go to college or go straight to the pros. Some sports allow an athlete coming out of high school to turn pro, and some sports don't allow it. If it's right for one sport, it must be right for all of them!

First step to achieving a common ground between the players and the NCAA should start with the athlete having the right of choice to either turn pro or go to college as soon as he or she graduates from High School. If a student athlete decides that they would like to attend college then at that time the NCAA and the athlete enter into an agreement that would look a lot like the following bullet points listed below.

*The NCAA is entitled to the first 50% of all revenue driven in by all athletes at the respected Universities in which they attend.

*A student athlete can obtain their 50% of revenue by doing a couple of things. An athlete who accepts a scholarship to attend and play a collegiate sport will have to attend the University as a full time student taking a 16 hour course load for a minimum of two years. After the two years is up and the athlete is offered the option to turn pro then he or she will be able to hire an agent at that time to test the waters. During this time the athlete and agent will speak with teams in regards to if it's the right time he or she should go pro or not. Once the athlete decides which route they are going to take, they will report their decision to the NCAA. If the athlete chooses to return to college the player will come back for their junior year. Once they complete their junior year and so happen to have the desire to test the waters again, they will follow the same rules as they did after there sophomore year.

*Whatever decision the student athlete chooses will determine when he or she can receive and or obtain their 50% of the revenue driven in during the time they participated on their collegiate sports team. I look at this as the most valuable solution to both parties involved. The NCAA and it's Universities will still make their money up front, with the potential of making more money than ever before "if" the student athlete were to decide to stay all four years. The benefit of this in the athletes perspective is knowing they have a "savings account" in place that no matter their decision or in a worse case scenario they suffer a career ending injury before having the opportunity to play pro, they will still have something to fall back on as well a college degree to go along with it. If the student athlete does choose to stay in school they will not only receive a college degree, but also the amount of money they made during their time attending the University of their choice.

In closing..... Each student athlete has the right to leave high school and turn pro after and ONLY when they graduate! If they decide to go to college they must enroll for a two year minimum. After two years they can "test the waters" hire an agent, and make a decision by a certain date to either turn Pro or return to school for their junior year. If they are to turn Pro at that time they will be given a settlement check for the revenue they made the University and NCAA during their two years in college. If they are to stay in college they will receive their settlement once they decide to either turn pro or graduate from their University. This is a very simple solution that the Universities, the NCAA, and all Athletes benefit from and would be greatly respect and accepted.

These are all thoughts of my own in which I believe are very fair and there's no better time than now to get this approach in front of the powers to be. We as a people have to teach our kids that an education is just as important as sports and if we can create a common bond that everyone agrees with then we're one step closer to all parties being one and growing together.

My best,

Dewey E Hawkins III