Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim does not like the idea of paying college athletes, and he made his opinion clear Wednesday at a meeting in Syracuse with New York-based newspaper editors.
Paying college athletes ‘idiotic,’ according to Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim
The Orange coach shot down the idea of pay for play at a meeting with New York-based newspaper editors.
Streeter Lecka
“That’s really the most idiotic suggestion of all time,” Boeheim said. “I don’t believe players should be paid. I believe they are getting a tremendous opportunity.”
Boeheim had been talking about former NBA star and Michigan Wolverine Chris Webber, who complained in a recent documentary that he received no compensation while in Ann Arbor, even though a campus store sold his jersey for $75.
Boeheim countered that the free tuition and exposure was compensation enough, considering it led Webber to a lucrative NBA career. He also noted that every Syracuse player who demonstrates financial need can receive a Pell Grant of up to $7,000, on top of their free tuition, room and board.
“Our players get a $50,000 education. Some of them use Syracuse to develop their game, get the publicity they need, become a first-round pick and make money from basketball. Some of them like me get the scholarship, get the grades, get their education, get the chance to play basketball and then get to start life without any debt.”
Syracuse opens the regular season Nov. 8 against Cornell at the Carrier Dome.
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