Funding for the poor Athlete

     "The NCAA Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund is intended to provide direct benefits to student-athletes or their families. The fund shall be used to assist student- athletes in meeting financial needs that arise in conjunction with participation in intercollegiate athletics, enrollment in academic curriculum or that recognize academic achievement." (GatorZone) 

       Issues finically concerning college student athletes will continue, unless there is a possibility for the athletes to make enough money to fund their lives without having to worry about finical needs. The reality of he situation is that if a student athlete is going to be paid and they will be able to live without finical worries, can they still be considered students. The history of college age students is that they are usually finically strapped. The struggle of not being able to have the extra spoils that are wanted is a part of future success with finances, because they have lived with less and there is not a need for more. 

       The Student Athlete Opportunity Fund allows students to receive funding when the funding is needed. In order to qualify for the funding assistance the student must be below standards of life. As a student everyone lives below the standard of life so this raises the argument that students that are not athletes should also receive funding to assist when they are finically strapped.

         “Targeting needy athletes looking to cover clothing, emergency travel and educational and medical expenses. An original $3 million-a-year allocation rose to $10 million 1996-97, then to a little more than $10.4 million in 2002-03. It's projected at almost $10.9 million this year.” (Wieberg, USA TODAY)

            From 1991 when the fund was originally started the three million dollar put aside to aid students in need rose to 10.9 million with in 10 years. The question is where is the money coming from and why is the amount continuously rising? I believe if the amount is able to rise, because there is money for the NCAA to pay athletes.

USA Today: Wieberg, Steve

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/2003-12-23-ncaa-athlete-welfare_x.htm

Gator Zone

www.gatorzone.com/compliance/pdf/student.../opportunity_fund.pd