Ben’s Sports Take: College athletes...to pay or not to pay?

Should college athletes be paid?

By Ben Bussard Wednesday September 15, 2010 01:13 PM EDT

The 2010 college football season is now underway, but it isn’t electrifying touchdowns or bone-jarring tackles that has fans talking, coaches complaining and players watching their collective backs.

No, the most talked about storyline of this year’s college football season has been the one thing that the players aren’t allowed to have, but somehow always seem to get: Money.

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver A.J. Green will miss the next three games after he accepted it.

Former USC running back Reggie Bush had to ship his Heisman Trophy back to New York after his family didn’t have to spend it.

The University of North Carolina football team had to play in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic here in Atlanta without their best player—defensive tackle Marvin Austin—because of his illicit pursuit of it.

And that’s just in the last two weeks.

Over the past decade, there have been numerous cases involving some high-profile programs and players that have resulted in exhaustive investigations, mass suspensions and ultimate probation.

Although collegiate athletes have been redefining the term “amateur athlete” for years, it appears that now, more than ever, the question has to be asked: Should college athletes be paid?