3) The NCAA system punishes students who get injured, can’t keep up in class or get into legal trouble.
When a coach gets into legal trouble he can just hire a lawyer, pay a fine and be back with the same or in most cases a new team in a matter of months. When a student-athlete gets into legal trouble in college it often means the end of both their college eligibility and any hopes of a professional career.
Think about how unfair it is for a young student who makes mistakes at their age to suddenly become blacklisted by the very school and governing body that gave them the opportunity to get a free college education – and in many cases not have the enough money to afford top-notch legal representation – while the coach of the same players can simply pay a lawyer, leave the school and get himself a new job in a matter of weeks or months if he’s good enough.
In 2012, Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino was caught giving his mistress $20,000 in football team funds and preferential treatment for a job with the team, which resulted in his dismissal from the school. But in less than half-a-year he had another head coaching job with Western Kentucky – and two years later he was making millions as head coach of Louisville.
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