On Monday, The National Labor Relations Board punted on the question of whether college football players are employees. In a unanimous ruling the board overruled a regional director of the NLRB who found that players at Northwestern University were employees and therefore could unionize. Stating that asserting their jurisdiction would not serve the stability of labor markets the NLRB has left it to the courts to sort out whether or not students athletes are employees.
The players asserted that their heavy workload preparing for games and travel was enough to call them employees. In addition, Northwestern University football generated $30 million in revenue between 2012-2013 and expenses of $22 million.
Alabama and Texas' football programs both generated more than $120 million in revenue according to ESPN and that was in 2008 money. But for most schools not at the national championship level, college football costs more than it brings in.
Is it right for schools to make this level of money on students in exchange for a college education? Are student athletes employees? If college players started unionizing what would be the affect on the system as we know it?
Guests:
- Richard Southall, Director of the College Sports Research Institute at the University of South Carolina
- Tom Farrey, ESPN Reporter and director of the Aspen Institute's Center for Sports and Society
