Sports

Skip Oliva makes the case that it would be hard to pay college players because fans care about the team, not any individual.

"The economic reality, as Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops eloquently told Matt Hayes of Sporting News recently, “Those 70,000 fans in the stadium are cheering and buying tickets to see Oklahoma,” not a particular group of players. After all, even the greatest college football player will be gone after four years. Professional leagues can build around long-term stars, but at the college level, the institution and its cultural identity is the product."

While there's a lot of truth to that, it clearly ignores the reality. Fans - boosters - try to pay players today. Reggie Bush had to give back his Heisman for getting paid. Cam Newton was investigated, and absolved, for getting paid. A bunch of Buckeyes were suspended and coach Jim Tressel fired over payments given to players. It happens all the time. It happens every season at dozens of universities. It would take anything to pay players but allow it. Booster-entrepreneurs would take care of the rest. Problem solved.