Breaking Rules: Todd Gurley and Jameis Winston expose flaws in NCAA and in student athletes

The suspension of University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley and the investigation of Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston for violating NCAA rules raise several perplexing questions. Gurley reportedly was paid between $8 and $25 for his autograph, and Winston may have received payment for his signature as well. Hearing and reading of both stories, I’m left to wonder why several times over: why are these student athletes being paid for their autographs? If true, why are they jeopardizing their eligibility? And why do we care?

The fallacy of paying almost famous student athletes for autographs

Paying for an athlete’s autograph, or an athlete being paid for her or his autograph, is a mucky practice at best. I understand the value Walter Payton’s or Babe Ruth’s autograph has since it’s no longer possible to acquire it. I also understand the value that the autograph of iconic living athletes such as Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, LeBron James hold.

But Todd Gurley and Jameis Winston are now, like Johnny Manziel was last year, student athletes. They are outstanding student athletes and are regarded as excellent professional prospects, but the height and longevity of their fame, and thus the value of their signatures, is far from certain. That they may have been paid for their signatures, and that fans would pay for their signatures, is silly. There’s no other way to put it.

It’s the wrong way to show support and admiration for student athletes. Attend their games and watch them on television. Celebrate their achievement on the field and in the classroom. Donate the money that would be spent on Todd Gurley’s autograph to the University of Georgia. Ultimately, it’s a more meaningful investment that will produce a greater return, both for you and for everyone else.

The it-may-be-a-stupid-rule-but-it’s-still-a-rule-and-you-knew-it-was-a-rule frustration

I’ll address the stupidity of the NCAA regulations in question next, but first, attention needs to be brought to the astonishingly stupid decision-making shown by Gurley and Winston if they did in fact accept money for their autographs. Doing so is a clear violation of NCAA rule, one that other high profile student athletes have been caught breaking in recent years. There’s no fathomable excuse aside from hubris as to why these young men would put themselves in this position.

They knew the rules. They knew the potential consequences, both for themselves and for their teams. If the allegations are true, then both Gurley and Winston gambled potential national championships and Heisman trophy awards for a less-than-significant sum of money. There’s no sympathy to be had for either student.

It’s a stupid rule

It amazes me that whenever an incident like this is reported, it’s used as justification for why we need to pay NCAA student athletes. As if paying athletes will somehow curb such instances of greed. While I continue to find paying student athletes a flawed idea, I do support the deregulation of student life. NCAA student athletes deserve to enjoy the freedoms enjoyed by the students who share their campuses. And they deserve to receive compensation when the NCAA, their schools and their business partners profit off of their achievements.

It’s as stupid that the NCAA limits a student athlete’s ability to earn money on her or his name as it is stupid that the student athlete would be able to earn money simply for her or his signature. Instead of trying to catch student athletes breaking one of far too many nonsensical regulations on their conduct, the NCAA should focus on supporting its student athletes by creating clear, concise rules that make sense and addressing larger issues such as medical coverage, scholarship guarantees, academic integrity and conference realignment.

It’s disheartening as both a college football fan and a higher education administrator to see these student athletes hurt themselves and their teams. Todd Gurley and Jameis Winston may both be excellent NFL players. But right now the primary purpose of their attendance at the University of Georgia and Florida State University is to acquire an education. That of course is not the reality of big time college athletics. We can all do our part to make sure it is.