In the lead up to the Super Bowl, the players and the media have a carte blanch to discuss just about anything. Seattle Seahawks superstars Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett had quite a few things to say about the NCAA. Below are the highlights and jump over to ESPN to read the rest of the story.
Michael Bennett:
I think the NCAA is one of the biggest scams in America. These kids put so much on the line. They say, ‘We give you a free degree.’ That’s like me owning a restaurant and saying, ‘I’ll give you a free burger.’ It makes me so mad and irate. Universities need to do more for the student.
Richard Sherman:
I don’t think college athletes are given enough time to take advantage of the free education they’re given. It’s frustrating because a lot of people get upset with student-athletes and say you’re not focused on school and not taking advantage of the opportunity you’re given.
Most of these kids are done with class by 3 o’clock and you have the rest of the day to do what you please. You may spend it studying and then you may go have coffee with friends.
As a student-athlete, you don’t have that kind of time. You wake up in the morning and have weights. Then you go to class. Then you might get a bite to eat, then you go to meetings and then you have practice. And you have to try to get all your school work done.
And people are upset that student-athletes need a little cash. I tell you from experience that one time I had negative 40 bucks in my account. It was in the negative more times than positive. You have to make a decision whether you put gas in your car or get a meal.
People say you get room and board and they pay for your education. But to [the school officials’] knowledge, you’re there to play football. Those are the things coaches tell you every day. Luckily I was blessed to go to Stanford, a school primarily focused on academics. But as [former Stanford coach] Jim Harbaugh would attest, we were still there to play football.
Interesting points from Sherman and Bennett and the National College Players Association showed their thanks for the support….
Thank you @RSherman_25 and @mosesbread72 for speaking up in support of #CollegeAthletes! #AllPlayersUnited http://t.co/tASlqlO1WB
— NCPA (@NCPANOW) January 30, 2015
