Can the University of Arkansas Keep Up with Coming Arms Race?

 

Nothing is certain except for death and taxes…

and paying student-athletes, even in Arkansas

The Clinton School of Public Service will host a talk on this issue by J.R. Carroll, Dec. 1.

In 2011, J.R. Carroll became a Certified Contract Advisor with the National Football League Players Association. He is one of two agents in Arkansas currently representing players in the NFL. Carroll is also an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he teaches in the field of sports law. He will discuss “the inevitable march of universities to provide compensation outside the scope of a traditional scholarship to student-athletes.”

As was reported in October by NBCSports:

Everyone knew there was a new day dawning for collegiate athletics, thanks to autonomy for Power Five conferences and the O’Bannon lawsuit and the like. Part of the change called for increased benefits for all student-athletes in elite conferences specifically, including football players.

Tuesday, one university put a price tag on that change.

At a Big 12 sports forum yesterday, Texas athletic director Steve Patterson revealed that his university will soon begin paying its student-athletes in every sport, male and female. UT expects to spend $6 million annually on the endeavor, which works out to roughly $10,000 per athlete per year.

The Dallas Morning News writes that “[t]he money will cover college expenses that aren’t covered by a traditional full scholarship and give each player $5,000 in compensation for the university’s use of his image.”

Fair enough, but when was the last time you paid $1.50 for a gallon a of gasoline? Prices go up. Schools like Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Oklahoma State and Oregon, have access to resources that can dictate a student-athlete arms race and with ESPN as the broker where will it end?

Will a school like Arkansas be able to keep up? If so, how? What about non-Power-Five conference schools, the UALR’s and A-State’s? What happens to them?

You don’t want to miss the opportunity to visit with J.R. Carroll on these issues in person Monday, Dec. 1, 2014 at noon.

When:  Monday, December 1, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.
Where:  Clinton School of Public Service, Sturgis Hall

You can reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling (501) 683-5239.

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