Former college athletes Jadeveon Clowney and Johnny Manziel both dreamed for this day, however, neither of them will be a part of it. According to Jon Solomon, CBS Sports’ national college football writer, colleges and universities will now have to pay its athletes a stipend.
Cost of attendance was one of few questions formed to Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban during SEC Media Days. He referred to it as being a “nightmare,” but that will all change in August.
Alabama is set to be amongst the leaders for cost of attendance stipends, issuing out $5,386 to out-of-state players and $4,172 to in-state players. It will trail only Auburn ($5,586) and Tennessee (5,666), as Southeastern Conference schools with higher numbers for out-of-state stipends.
Athletic scholarships haven’t met the criteria that was originally thought of it in the past, where covering all college expenses are concerns. This August, athletic scholarships will cover tuition, room and board, books, fees and any incidental cost of attending college.
For every punishing hit student-athletes take on the gridiron, they will have some pocket change to cover for it. And every long drive or flight that parents take to watch their children will be covered as well. “Pay for play” has been a sensitive topic for year, and now it will happen.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine, Pick Six Previews and SB Nation. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
