SEC Commissioner Mike Slive is Open to Fixing Problems in Backwards Ineffective Ways

Mike Slive told CBS sports today that he was willing to discuss athletic scholarships that cover a students "full cost of attendance."   This would mean the athletic scholarship would be able to cover incidental living expenses beyond the usual room, tuition, meals, and books for students.  On the surface it sounds like a decent enough idea, kids need money for transportation, phones, and other incidental expenses that are common to every student.  Yet, having a job while trying to keep your grades up and participate in a major college athletic program is tough.

There is a second unspoken reason behind Mike Slive and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany's interest in covering incidental expenses for college athletes.  Some believe that if the students were given this little bit of extra money there would be less incentive for colleges or boosters to illegally pay them on the side.  But this line of thought ignores some basic facts about the situation.  Boosters don't give kids extra money because they feel bad for their situation, they do it to make the kid want to come to their school.  This extra money won't stop player payments from boosters and schools.  It may keep some kids from breaking NCAA rules in regard to selling memorabilia, but do we really think these kids were selling this stuff so they could make ends meat?  Mot of the Ohio State group were selling their memorabilia for free tattoos, not daily expenses.