State bill would make Clemson pay football, basketball players |
There is a new bill that has been prefiled that would make it state law that Clemson and South Carolina pay their football and basketball players (men's and women's teams).
Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, is the sponsor of the new bill. "It's time for the 21st Century athlete to be compensated for the risk of injury, which could result in a loss of career, and the substantial revenues that they generate for the colleges and universities,” Kimpson told WSPA. Kimpson proposes student-athletes to be paid $2,500 a semester (20 hours a week X minimum wage $7.50). The athlete would have a trust fund set up and only if he or she graduates and takes a financial budgeting course would they get the $5,000 per year and up to $25,000 in total(if redshirts). "The money has to go somewhere. and it's not going to reduce tuition," Kimpson told the Post and Courier. "It's being kept in the athletic programs, but it's not being given to athletes. It's going to the coaching staffs. I don't have a problem with that, but it's time to share some of these revenues with the players." Kimpson even had a take on former Gamecock player Marcus Lattimore and Clemson star quarterback Deshaun Watson. "Take a player like Watson; I'm very concerned about his ability to make it through four years in college, let alone going pro," Kimpson told the Post and Courier. "Or a guy like Lattimore, who was significantly injured in college. Those injuries damaged his future ability to earn money." Clemson Assistant AD for Athletic Communication Joe Galbraith told WSPA, “The welfare of each of our student athletes remains of the utmost importance to our athletic department. Dating back to the creation of IPTAY in 1934 to provide scholarships to student-athletes, Clemson has been at the forefront of student-athlete benefits and preparation for life after college. To that end, we will do whatever we can within the rules of the NCAA and ACC to continue to provide every benefit available to them. “ The next legislative session will start in less than a month on Jan. 13. Photo of Senator Marlon Kimpson
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