Texas A&M’s Jay Arnold joins the chorus of advocates for pay-for-play
As the NCAA continues to wrangle with the idea of athlete compensation, Texas A&M defensive tackle Jay Arnold made some thought-provoking comments Sunday in favor of a pay-for-play system in the NCAA.
My biggest problem is why not allow for sponsorships for college athletes? Adidas, Nike, etc. are already making $ off of them.
— Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
I just think it's time for a huge change in the way collegiate athletics work. The current rules just don't work. — Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
At the NCAA convention last week, the sanctioning body noted support for a separate voting bloc for the five power conferences -- the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12. If that voting bloc becomes a reality, so too could increased compensation for athletes through a full-cost-of-attendance stipend.
That's a change that's been initiated by outspoken voices like Arnold's. He played in eight games as a freshman at Texas A&M in 2013.
It's a bloody joke when someone can't make money off their own name.
— Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
Players making money off their own names is the core issue behind the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit. It challenges how the NCAA and its member schools make money off the likenesses of athletes and the current (nonexistent) compensation given to them.
While athletes at schools in the big conferences could benefit in the near future thanks to a change in NCAA governance, it's not a perfect fix. Athletes at schools outside of those conferences may not see any benefit at all.
An Auburn fan immediately seized on Arnold's tweet about likenesses to mention the T-Town Gallery in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Earlier in the week, a photo was published of a display in the store with the signed jerseys of current Alabama players Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon for sale.
It's currently a NCAA violation for college athletes to receive compensation for their signatures. However, it was not clear how the items in the picture were procured. Alabama issued a statement saying it was aware of the story.
In response to the Auburn tweet, Arnold suggested that the best way for change to happen would be to simply ignore the NCAA.
@AU210 @Rand_Getlin @TNollsch @NCAA everyone should be — Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
While potentially noble, it could have dangerous consequences. Though if you've paid much attention to the pay-for-play debate as it has intensified, you can see where Arnold is coming from in his subsequent tweets.
I couldn't blame any athlete for taking money. In some cases that may be the only thing getting the family by.
— Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
In a documentary released in September, Houston Texans RB Arian Foster said that he got money to pay for rent and food.
And that's why I don't care who's cheating(if you can call it that). There's too many that truly need that money. — Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
When I get done with my college career, I hope I can help make changes to this process.
— Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
If a kid wants to sell something that belongs to him for money, what sense does it make as long as that something isn't breaking any law? — Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
Maybe this will cause problems for me, but I felt like all of what was said needed to be said. We must change the system.
— Jay Arnold (@JArnoldTAMU85) January 19, 2014
The system is changing, even if it's ever-so-slowly. A decision in the O'Bannon case could accelerate it and the louder the voices get, the harder they are to ignore. With his tweets Sunday, Arnold isn't waiting until he's done with college to pitch in.
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is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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