# Should college athletes be able to sell their autograph? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 11, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051 "2014-10-11T17:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/1 "2014-10-11T17:31:54Z")
Should college athletes be able to sell their autograph? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/2 "2014-10-11T18:02:56Z")
If you’re going to let them sell autographs, you might as well let them accept gifts from boosters. Otherwise they can just buy an autograph for $5000, or whatever the going rate for boostering is. I didn’t vote, because the whole issue doesn’t seem to have a good resolution. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/3 "2014-10-11T18:04:37Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > If you’re going to let them sell autographs, you might as well let them accept gifts from boosters. Otherwise they can just buy an autograph for $5000, or whatever the going rate for boostering is. > > I didn’t vote, because the whole issue doesn’t seem to have a good resolution. ok, good point, maybe we could put a limit on the amount and number they can sign for pay per season… ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/4 "2014-10-11T18:22:45Z")
Of course. Though I’d rather they just get an honest salary so that they don’t feel they have to be so mercenary about things like autographs. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/5 "2014-10-11T18:37:45Z")
I think it’s cheesy when celebs charge for autographs, but it should be allowed. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/6 "2014-10-11T18:44:16Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > If you’re going to let them sell autographs, you might as well let them accept gifts from boosters. Otherwise they can just buy an autograph for $5000, or whatever the going rate for boostering is. > > I didn’t vote, because the whole issue doesn’t seem to have a good resolution. ok, good point, they should be allowed to accept gifts from boosters. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/7 "2014-10-11T20:26:59Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > ok, good point, they should be allowed to accept gifts from boosters. And if they play to win they should be allowed to accept gifts to keep the game close, right? > [@](#): > > 1978–79 Boston College basketball point shaving scandal > > The Perla brothers proposed a simple scheme. They along with Kuhn would select certain basketball games where the projected point spread separating Boston College from its opponent was expected to be significant. Kuhn would be responsible for ensuring, by his play on the court, that Boston College fell short of the point spread. Thus, for example, if participating bookmakers determined Boston College to be an eight point favorite in a particular game, Kuhn would be paid a bonus, usually $2,500, if Boston College won by less than eight points. In addition, they were given the opportunity to bet the money they were paid and double their winnings. Kuhn agreed to participate, and brought in his teammate Jim Sweeney. > **[1978–79 Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978%E2%80%9379_Boston_College_basketball_point_shaving_scandal)** > > The 1978–79 Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal involved a scheme in which members of the American Mafia recruited and bribed several Boston College Eagles men's basketball players to ensure the team would not win by the required margin (not cover the point spread) or win by the required margin (cover the point spread), allowing gamblers in the know to place wagers against that team and win. > The scheme was conceived by Rocco Perla and his brother Anthony in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,... Can you imagine: people were upset about this!! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/8 "2014-10-11T20:40:07Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > And if they play to win they should be allowed to accept gifts to keep the game close, right? > > [1978–79 Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978%E2%80%9379_Boston_College_basketball_point_shaving_scandal) > > Can you imagine: people were upset about this!! No they shouldn’t. By your logic no one should receive compensation for playing sports because they may engage in fixing. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/9 "2014-10-12T22:08:03Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No they shouldn’t. By your logic no one should receive compensation for playing sports because they may engage in fixing. Agreed. PastTense, why is it more egregious for college athletes to do that than the pros? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/10 "2014-10-12T23:01:03Z")
The real question should be: why are schools allowed to prohibit lawful activities by their students? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/11 "2014-10-12T23:29:37Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > The real question should be: why are schools allowed to prohibit lawful activities by their students? Because, without the infrastructure provided by the colleges, they students wouldn’t have an activity. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/12 "2014-10-13T00:25:16Z")
Yes, but not for the reasons you think It’s not cuz players should be paid to play (they shouldn’t) but because if anyone is stupid enough to actually pay for an autograph from a college player, there’s no reason the player shouldn’t accept. Although the “charge a rich booster 10k for shoes to fix the system” is an awesome point ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/13 "2014-10-13T02:30:11Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Because, without the infrastructure provided by the colleges, they students wouldn’t have an activity. As usual you don’t answer the question. Why does providing infrastructure automatically confer schools with the power to abrogate individual commercial rights? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/14 "2014-10-13T02:37:36Z")
Because they created the team. The athlete joined the team, presumably of his own volition. I know this opinion isn’t popular here, but people need to understand where they fit in the world’s pecking order. Happily, the pecking order is not static. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/15 "2014-10-13T03:10:32Z")
It’s not a simple yes or no answer. On one hand, the college is making money from the athlete’s hard work and talent (and, given the low graduation rates of most big college programs) give him nothing in return. In addition big colleges benefit from the sale of merchandise tied in with the student: they can sell shirts with his name, or bobbleheads, or whatever, and the student doesn’t get a cut of the sales. On the other hand, it leaves things open to abuse. It’s one thing to make a few hundred selling autographs; it’s another to use it as a way to circumvent rules that protect the integrity of the game. I think that if the college sells any merchandise with the likeness of the athlete, then the athlete gets a cut. There’s also a case to be made for college athletes to be given salaries. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/16 "2014-10-13T03:19:13Z")
NO! Absolutely not! COLLEGE players should NEVER receive “salaries”. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/17 "2014-10-13T11:55:07Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Because, without the infrastructure provided by the colleges, they students wouldn’t have an activity. False. This is absolutely not the reason (if it was coherent or even made sense on its face, which it doesn’t). The reason is because the NCAA argues that allowing payment compromises the integrity of the “student-athlete”, and creates a fuzzy line between “amateur” and “professional”. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/18 "2014-10-13T12:01:35Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > NO! Absolutely not! COLLEGE players should NEVER receive “salaries”. Who should get to decide that? Is it decided on an individual college by college basis, or when the colleges collude to ensure none of them have to pay salaries? Generally, the government frowns on individual corporations getting together to develop an inter-company agreement on salary policy for their workers. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/19 "2014-10-13T12:17:12Z")
We’ve argued this pretty extensively in the O’Bannon thread but I don’t think colleges should pay their athletes, either; I just think they should be free to if they want. OTOH, if the University of Maryland starts paying their football and basketball players, I hope some enterprising citizens of my fine state sue it for a ton. My goal is to get football and basketball back to an appropriate place in the world of college and paying kids doesn’t help the rest of the students whose tuition and activities fees are routinely hiked to afford more goodies for the athletic departments. But anybody should be able to gift any college student anything they want without ramifications. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051/20 "2014-10-13T12:51:00Z")
The NCAA restrictions are far too rigid, but it is still appropriate to limit the income that a college athlete can receive during his years of eligibility. It is just stupid to have a college basketball player at Michigan State freeze all winter because he cannot accept an overcoat, his mama back in Georgia can’t afford one, and his scholarship doesn’t provide one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-college-athletes-be-able-to-sell-their-autograph/701051.md?page=2)