Farm Teams

College football teams are acting like little more than triple-A clubs for the NFL. The term student-athlete seems to be anachronistic, a relic of bygone days and college lore. The University of Southern California is about to serve its second year of severe penalties and was stripped of a BCS national championship because its Heisman Trophy winner was treated (and paid) like a professional football player. The Ohio State University has vacated its football victories from last year and awaits NCAA sanctions stemming from favors to team players. The University of North Carolina, Auburn University (last year’s football national champion) and the University of Oregon (last year’s runner-up) are all being investigated by the NCAA for violations. College head football coaches routinely earn more than $1 million per year, not including endorsement contracts. And university scouts are currently offering football scholarships to players who won’t graduate from high school until 2013. Pro football is big business. And college football is following suit. The University of Texas is developing its own television network to control broadcast rights of its athletic programs. Other colleges will watch closely. There’s money just waiting to be made.