His position would be secure without a doubt. It's about his leadership. Sure, he could probably make a multi million dollar endorsement deal as a college athlete but what about guys like Jordan Pouncey or Rob Cummins or Jamari Chisolm? They're likely going to be working regular jobs like the rest of us when their playing careers are over but for the time being they're giving all they got in practice like Sam and they stay prepared just in case they're called upon in a game situation. Many of these guys play important roles on special teams too. Sam needs to make sure he's connecting with everyone so they're all on the same page and focused on winning, nothing else. Once Sam graduates and hires an agent, that's the appropriate time to talk about your earning opportunities. My fear is that he could start alienating other players in the locker room. I wonder if he even knows who Rob Cummins or Jamari Chisholm are?
I agree with what Sam is saying but in his position as the team leader he needs to be much more private and strategic about his views on the subject. Probably better for him to say that he understands the challenges and complexities with paying college athletes and he knows it's not an easy fix but hope that someday the NCAA can find a resolution that works for everyone.
Even for smaller schools operating in the red, plenty of dollars are still changing hands. Coaches are expected to have leadership over amateur athletes, when it's the athletes whose health and future livelihoods are at risk, and the coaches raking in so much cash. I'm not saying anything we don't all know, and neither was Sam.
The athletes get an education, room, board, access to facilities, coaching. Those things would hold value for many of us, but I suspect what most athletes covet is the chance to play for a team and get media coverage. They
want to have a player made in their likeness on a video game. They want their exploits to be talked about in the barber shop, over a beer, and so on. But what they most want is the exhilaration of playing (and winning), as part of a team.
Despite those opportunities, there are some student-athletes who feel the system is taking advantage of them. Count Sam Ehlinger among them. And he's far from alone. So Sam speaking out for them isn't going to harm his leadership in the locker room. To the contrary.
And nothing he wrote should merit any special NCAA attention into UT-Austin. He's not saying anything the NCAA didn't already know.
Call me a dunce, but I see things exactly the opposite of how Clob or DrTxHorn do, at least on this subject.
