Excerpt from a president's board meeting re: Bowl profits and general athletic policies:
Fact #1
Let's see. We, Ohio State got $1.55 million last night in a minor bowl. Our expenses included a $30 Buckeye sweatshirt for each athlete and a few meals ( to provide enough nutrition for an all out effort). The student athlete gets an approximate $600-$700 per month (rent, food,etc.) + paper $$ classes/education. This amount is Much More than they deserve or need.
Fact#2
Remember our Mission: To keep the collegiate athletic system PURE. We the college presidents, will legislate and enforce our system through our self appointed Sargeant at Arms (The NCAA). They can be the bad guy, while we remain removed in approval. If their performance is unacceptable in meeting our goals, we will appoint one of our own to direct the organization.
Fact #3
We, the presidents will control all money. We do this in the name of higher academic standards and to maintain the integrity of the system, of course. The appearance, that we sell our souls to TV networks, Bowl committees, March Madness Tourney Brackets, apparel sales, endorsement contracts, will be overshadowed with great media coverage and more alumni donations to university funds. We must insure that (although inspired by our athletes) none ever reaches the hands of the student athletes!
Fact#4
In addition we will allow zero benefits to the employees. (Student athletes) They will, however; be allowed to function at the poverty line, as long as they remain academically eligible. We obviously expect them to outperform the rest of the student body re: grade point averages, community service, social behavior, and graduation rates.
Fact#5
The employees will mostly abide by this system rules because we will penalize their future eligibilty, if they don't. Consider the seriousness of one of our workers asking for or expecting a raise. We will never consider overtime rates in our system of renumeration. We do need them badly, but must make an example of their unacceptable behavior on occasion. These punitive measures should never be allowed to effect our bottomline. (the pocket book) Make sure we solicit endowments and donations from these very same employees. Yes, the ones who actually overcome our support system and make it to any professional level.
Fact #6
In addition, these disciplinary measures will also serve notice to our alums, boosters and fans that we are all about "Doing the right thing" in the name of integrity. We will be able to maintain our slave labor practices
because 1.) we are a monopoly and 2.) Since we are Ph.D's, and above reproach, it allow us to look down on the general public and deceive them about our real motives.
.