This article, which is based upon long-term fieldwork observations of a revenue- generating National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I women’s college basketball team, proposes concrete and specific reforms that would more sufficiently compensate the professional role revenue-generating college athletes perform, without sacrificing the educational connection that is vital to the core of college sports for all male and female athletes, regardless of revenue-generation. It argues that colleges involved in revenue-generating college sports should expect college athletes to be students first, encourage them to earn pay for their names, images, and likenesses (NILs), and strike a better balance between providing education to athletes and entertainment to the public. Specific reforms include raising eligibility requirements, giving athletes more time and financial assistance to finish their degrees, and tying coaching pay to graduation rates, all of which would support the notion that universities treat athletes ethically.
Keywords: college sports, pay-for-play, NILs, education, reform
