Representatives from Washington’s two largest universities told lawmakers Tuesday they oppose a proposal to allow student athletes to be paid, even after changes proponents had hoped would ease concerns.
Along with pay for games, the proposal would allow student athletes to be compensated for sponsorship deals already common in professional leagues like the NBA and NFL. The bill would put Washington at the forefront of a national debate where critics portray athletes as left out of vast profits while league organizers say pay restrictions preserve competition between schools and a broader amateurism that fans support.
But representatives from both Washington State University and the University of Washington object to being first in the nation to try out such a change, even after tweaks designed to streamline the court challenge the bill would likely provoke. They said the issue should be addressed at the national level, rather than by the state.
A representative from a group of independent colleges including Gonzaga and Whitman also opposed the bill.
The measure included technical changes that created a cause for legal action by players restricted from accepting sponsorships or other compensation, potentially reducing the risk that universities might have legal blocks put on their athletic programs during a court cases related to the measure.
As the regulating body for intercollegiate sports, the NCAA has contended that amateurism is an essential component of college sports. The organization restricts athlete pay to covering costs, including small stipends, and has said in response to past controversies that doing so keeps both powerhouse universities and smaller schools on equal footing. (Spokesman-Review)
