Cost of Living (Stipend) Question

[SMU2006]

Hey guys. Hope things are well and that you've had a productive and injury-free spring. Also I'm looking forward to seeing a strong UNT contingent at Ford in the fall. My wife and some friends have a tent on The Boulevard and anyone is always welcome to a beer and some friendly conversation. Had a quick question for you guys considering we are all living in this brave new P5 world of stipends, cost of living, etc. I know some schools have publicly maintained that they will match what the P5 schools offer while others have kicked the can down the road or flat out ignored answering.

Recently ECU came out and released that they'd be matching at 4,025 for football and basketball (mens and womens) and then $2,025 for all other athletes. A few other schools have released their figures as well (I believe Tulsa is at $2,500) but for the vast majority of G5 programs have not released their estimates yet. My question is will UNT take this step financially? I would imagine you would considering that you've already invested a good chunk of change with the new football stadium. I do think there will be many G5 schools who just won't be able to do this. The kicker in this whole deal is relative to where you live though. For example Baylor is paying $3,700 b/c its far cheaper to live in Waco as opposed to Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, etc. I know SMU has floated the figure of $5,400 for football and basketball and $3,200 for all others but that is not a definitive number. Anyway, it should be interesting to see how those of us in the G5 manage our finances in order to keep afloat.

Have a great end to the spring and see you next fall in Dallas!

[Censored by Laurie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qivKeErACZI

Edited April 17, 2015 by Censored by Laurie

[MeanGreen13]

I don't understand the differences in stipends for sports... as if cost of living is higher for a football player than a swimmer. pay all athletes the same or the amateurism argument goes out the window and college athletics become a minor league system. just my 2 cents.

[oldguystudent]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qivKeErACZI

(how the hell does one embed a video?)

You bracket it with [ youtube] [/youtube ] (no spaces)

[untjim1995]

This is where college football basically divides itself even further--now that the P5s can legally buy players, who doesn't think that those payouts aren't going to astronomically jump? Yeah, you have some G5s giving this lip service that they will pay to play, so to speak, and then you have a few G5s that actually can pay but have no fanbase to entice P5s to invite them up.

I truly hate the idea of paying players to play college football when they get full scholarships to earn their degrees. The NFL must be laughing their asses off at the NCAA, which continually subsidizes their minor league system, just as the NBA laughs, too. If the price to play poker involves paying stipends of several thousand dollars, it makes bought games for schools like ours even more of a necessity. It probably goes back to having to play 2 road OOC games against P5s in the future.

This is where the G5s are really stuck...

[Ben Gooding]

Glad to have an SMwho fan stop by and flaunt their potential stipend numbers..thanks.

The Notre Dame AD has it all figured out. If you don't know what I'm referencing then go look it up b/c I'm too lazy to. But, dude has it figured out. It's what needs to happen and it would be in the best interest for a lot of programs and tons of fans if it happened ASAP. It's an idea that virtually forces the money hungry, already semi pro programs to stand by themselves and pay their players. It's brilliant and I think it gives the G5's and the education oriented or poorer P5 programs the upper hand in all of this.

[meaniegreenie]

I don't understand the differences in stipends for sports... as if cost of living is higher for a football player than a swimmer. pay all athletes the same or the amateurism argument goes out the window and college athletics become a minor league system. just my 2 cents.

Yeah, and what about walk-ons. Don't they deserve to be paid too? What about the cheerleaders? The band? The trainers? The fans? Shouldn't every one of the students get $15 an hour just for being alive. Don't they need to eat too. Think of the children!!!

[SMU2006]

Glad to have an SMwho fan stop by and flaunt their potential stipend numbers..thanks.

The Notre Dame AD has it all figured out. If you don't know what I'm referencing then go look it up b/c I'm too lazy to. But, dude has it figured out. It's what needs to happen and it would be in the best interest for a lot of programs and tons of fans if it happened ASAP. It's an idea that virtually forces the money hungry, already semi pro programs to stand by themselves and pay their players. It's brilliant and I think it gives the G5's and the education oriented or poorer P5 programs the upper hand in all of this.

Are you serious? The one thing you took from my original post was me flaunting what SMU can pay? That's a special kind of stupid. What I'm saying is that all of us in the G5 are in the same boat given the tremendous financial gap that will only continue to grow between P5 and G5. Trust me there is no flaunting on SMU's behalf. These are issues we all face.

[THOR]

Are you serious? The one thing you took from my original post was me flaunting what SMU can pay? That's a special kind of stupid. What I'm saying is that all of us in the G5 are in the same boat given the tremendous financial gap that will only continue to grow between P5 and G5. Trust me there is no flaunting on SMU's behalf. These are issues we all face.

He is a special type of stupid...

I think it's a bad idea to pay more for some sports...I understand they bring in more money but some engineers/musicians/etc. Could do the same...

We got a 10 million plus gift from some businessman from east Asia not too long ago... (I think)...that hasn't ever happened by a football/basketball athlete...

Edited April 18, 2015 by THOR

[KRAM1]

One thing folks are over looking I believe in this "pay the athletes" thing, and that is the fact that scholarships will cost more, thus players will be more expensive, thus scholarships will be much less likely to be renewed from year to year for athletes who do not produce in the classroom and on the playing field. And oft-injured athletes may see their scholarships not renewed even though they have returned to the active roster. Athletes need to be very careful what they ask for because they might just get it. Paying athletes will take the "business" of college athletics much into the realm of the player who has been shielded from all this at least somewhat. No longer if costs go up as much as they will if payers are paid. And, paid is exactly what we are talking about here. This "full cost" smokescreen is nothing more than that. If full ride scholarship athletes were so broke and can't eat then why do they all seem to have cell phones, the ability to purchase multiple tats and the personal vehicles they are driving? Yes, of course, not all, but it does seem to fly in the face of the "poor athlete". And, let's mention here also the fact that scholarship athletes graduate college with far less student debt than the non-scholarship student as well. So...not getting paid? Hmmmmmmm.

Anyway, the trend appears to be toward paying, so, athletes, buckle down or say goodbye to your scholarship. Too expensive to keep an under achiever. You think turnover in college basketball is high now? Just wait until the players start getting paid. It will be a revolving door spinning so fast you will need to sit down due to dizzyiness.

[Ben Gooding]

Are you serious? The one thing you took from my original post was me flaunting what SMU can pay? That's a special kind of stupid. What I'm saying is that all of us in the G5 are in the same boat given the tremendous financial gap that will only continue to grow between P5 and G5. Trust me there is no flaunting on SMU's behalf. These are issues we all face.

Did you not read my entire post? Seems like a hissy fit took place immediately following the first sentence.

Oh and Thor, eat one.

[MeanGreen13]

I think having a needs based external scholarship system (maybe even coming directly out of the conference/ncaa coffers) would be best. that way, the kids that need it will get the extra money and the kids that don't won't. i think that would be the best way to avoid this whole "minor league" direction that this all seems to be headed.

[Mean Green 93-98]

One thing folks are over looking I believe in this "pay the athletes" thing, and that is the fact that scholarships will cost more, thus players will be more expensive, thus scholarships will be much less likely to be renewed from year to year for athletes who do not produce in the classroom and on the playing field. And oft-injured athletes may see their scholarships not renewed even though they have returned to the active roster. Athletes need to be very careful what they ask for because they might just get it.

Corresponding to the push for "cost of attendance" (read "beer money" ) scholarships has been a push for four-year guaranteed scholarships. When the one has been settled, the other probably won't be too far behind.

[GrandGreen]

I think having a needs based external scholarship system (maybe even coming directly out of the conference/ncaa coffers) would be best. that way, the kids that need it will get the extra money and the kids that don't won't. i think that would be the best way to avoid this whole "minor league" direction that this all seems to be headed.

Athletes that really need it, already get Pell grants. I wonder if one effect of this stipend will be that in effect it transfers costs from the federal government Pell grants to the schools.

[MeanGreen13]

Aren't pell grants contingent on a certain GPA? and also limited if you have a certain level of scholarship funding already?

[GrandGreen]

Aren't pell grants contingent on a certain GPA? and also limited if you have a certain level of scholarship funding already?

Yes, you have to be able to stay in school. Many if not most athletes in many programs get pell grants. You are still eligible for the full Pell grant even when receiving a full ride ship.

Pell grants are rewarded based on family income, which can even be disregarded if you can be declared independent.