NCAA is a voluntary contract that generates billions for colleges

“This is the beginning of a national movement, one that transcends geographic and partisan lines,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said when he signed the measure on Monday. “Colleges reap billions from these student athletes’ sacrifices and success but, in the same breath, block them from earning a single dollar. That’s a bankrupt model.”

The legislation misses this point.

They are effectively renegotiating the contract.   The result should be masters and phd programs in football as the semi-professional player extends his eligibility years for the money. The player is better off, off the field in his first year, maybe two. Then the player is a well educated, conditioned player ready to earn big bucks for four years. That is a pretty safe deal, like a bit of tenureship, and the player gets a masters degree in tackle football, could step into an assistant coach position in the NFL.  Over a six-eight year period, colleges would trade players.

One big problem. What about smaller college programs? They cannot compete because they use up at least two years of eligibility. Small colleges   contract the college football career, losing two years in low pay football.  It is inevitable, that small colleges will extend eligibility, and we are right back into the conundrum. The NCAA was a voluntary market association, like the stock market or the corporate charter. Legislatures and judges oft forget this fact.