Background 

 

In a capitalist economy, people are paid for rendering goods and services, but this is not the case in Division I sports. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) assumes that allowing student athletes the opportunity to be compensated for their work by giving them a free education is an adequate form of payment. However, not all student athletes are lucky enough to get a free education and some play for no compensation at all.  According to the NCAA student athletes are nothing but amateur athletes. This means that they are not allowed to have a salary, have a contract with professional team, receive any benefits from an agent, or anything that falls along the lines of receiving any improper benefits. 

 

 According to John Oliver, a British writer and television host, less than 2 percent of college football and college basketball players become professional athletes. Statistically, 1.6% of college football players make it to the professional league and 1.2% of college basketball players make it to the professional league (John Oliver: The NCAA). That means that less than 2 in every 100 football or basketball NCAA athletes will make it to the professional league. This statistic clarifies that the remaining Division I athletes have to leave a sport they love to choose different career path. This statistic does not even include the athletes who go to the National Football League (NFL) or National Basketball Association (NBA) and have an unsuccessful career.  All of these athletes are being hurt not being compensated any more than possibly receiving a scholarship.