Sean Kilpatrick Comments On Paying Athletes

Mar 19, 2014; Spokane, WA, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats guard Sean Kilpatrick (23) addresses the media in a press conference during practice before the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Kilpatrick has decided to toss his name into the hat of former players that believe college athletes should receive some sort of monetary compensation.

Perhaps the hottest issue in college sports over the past month has been the issue of paying athletes. There are two sides to the issue, you are either for paying players, or you are against it. Kilpatrick as a former athlete is naturally in favor of being paid. In an interview with the Cincinnati Enquire Kilpatrick let his feelings be known.

"“The schools, there’s so much revenue coming in. You have these players’ jerseys in the stores and you make posters of these guys and they don’t even get a share of what’s going on. The least you can do is give them a share when they leave or graduate.”"

Kilpatrick makes a valid point. Schools and the NCAA are profiting off the likeness of start college players. Take Kilpatrick for example, go into the campus store at UC, in the clothing section the mannequin is wearing a #23 Bearcats jersey. Of course the back doesn’t say “Kilpatrick” on it but who else wears the #23 at UC? That’s right, no one.

What Kilpatrick suggested in his comments is not for players to be paid weekly, which we can assume he would be in favor of as well. Instead Kilpatrick suggests that the university or the NCAA gives each player a trust that was developed over their time at school, a trust they will have access to once they graduate or leave for the NBA or NFL.

Mick Cronin also told the Enquire that he believes it is only a matter of time until players get paid. He is in favor of a stipend, somewhere around $2,000-$3000 a semester.

While the NCAA will never admit that they are being severely pressured in this situation, but in reality the pressure on the NCAA is immense. Players have to be paid, the NCAA has made billions of dollars off collegiate athletes for far too long.

With Northwestern on the verge of forming a union pandora’s box is about to be opened. Kentucky head coach John Calipari believes the NCAA is on the verge of collapsing. Collapsing to the point of not existing in the future.

This issue will be debated about until something happens but at the moment it feels like something is bound to happen in the near future.