Arian Foster says he received money while playing at Tennessee (Video)
Houston Texans running back Arian Foster has been upfront about the financial difficulties he endured growing up, and in an upcoming documentary he says he received money while playing at Tennessee.
Foster was the subject of a four-hour sitdown interview for the production of Schooled: The Price of College Sports. In an excerpt from the interview posted at SI.com, Foster says there were times that he took money because he didn't have any for food or rent, and that he has no problem with college athletes being paid.
"I don't know if this will throw us into an NCAA investigation -- my senior year, I was getting money on the side," Foster said. "I really didn't have any money. I had to either pay the rent or buy some food. I remember the feeling of like, 'Man, be careful.' But there's nothing wrong with it. And you're not going to convince me that there is something wrong with it.
On September 11, Foster wrote an article for Yahoo Shine about the six things he'll try to teach his daughter. One of those entries was about the value of a dollar, and how to teach her what money really is as the daughter of a multi-millionaire running back.
Fortunately for Tennessee, Foster's admission wouldn't be enough to trigger an investigation and possible penalties. There's a four-year statute of limitations on violations, and Foster's final year in Knoxville was in 2008. Last week, Yahoo Sports reported that five players, including Tyler Bray and Maurice Couch from Tennessee, received benefits from agents through an intermediary last season.
Foster said that he views the relationship between athletes and schools as one of an employee and employer.
"I'm a firm believer that an employee should get paid for his work," Foster added. "And, 100 percent, I see student athletes as employees. Hiding from it is just cowardly."
Schooled debuts on Epix on Friday, October 16.
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