The controversy surrounding Sports Agents and college athletes is at an all time high. The increased media attention paid to student athletes receiving money and other benefits from sports agents has made this a hot topic within the sport community. It seems as if every time I turn on the television there’s breaking news pertaining to a new scandal of some degree. A sports agent, essentially, buying their clients through gifts, money, and other favors is the current trend of this industry. The biggest problem with this besides the fact that it’s illegal is that the players are the only ones to suffer in such an event.
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| Reggie Bush |
One of the biggest controversial cases was that of NFL runingback Reggie Bush. He was accused of accepting financial benefits worth more than $100,000 from marketing agents while he was playing at the University of Southern California. Although Bush was already present in the NFL when the case was launched, he was stripped of his 2005 college eligibility and Heisman Trophy. His name was also removed from the history books, demising his chances to be selected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Bush was publically humiliated for his action in this event while his agent was not. There were two NCAA by laws that were broken in Bush’s case, by law 12.3.1.2, which states that an athlete shall be deemed ineligible if he or she accepts benefits from agents or marketing representatives and by law 2.1.2.1.6, that states athletes cannot receive preferential treatment, benefits or services because of the individual's athletics reputation or skill or pay-back potential as a professional athlete, unless such treatment, benefits or services are specifically permitted under NCAA legislation.
Who should be held responsible for these types of events? Why are the players the only party being punished for this? These are questions that need to be answered. According to Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban sports agents target college players like pimps. He went on further to say that “agents entice them into violating NCAA rules at a stage of their lives when they are vulnerable.” This has become a serious issue within the sports community and has only one resolution and that is to start punishing the agents who participate in breaking the NCAA rules. The only way agents will be deterred from ignoring laws is for the states actually enforce them.
