For years, college athletes have worked their entire lives to play in college. Day after day, working their hardest, putting their heart and soul into their sport. Over decades, athletes have been able to showcase their talents to make it to college. When a college recruits you, your job is to bring in money for the University. A true athlete plays out of desire and passion for sport. Recently, athletes have questioned whether or not they should be paid for their hard work and dedication to the sport. In this essay I will explain the effects of paying athletes. All of us have felt some kind of emotion after winning an important match. Nothing can ruin the happiness and excitement you feel; you feel on top of the world. In these moments nothing else matters but the victory, you don't think about money when you win. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to play at the college level. After doing some research, I noticed that many athletes have a split decision between yes and no. I think paying student-athletes could create more problems for other athletes, students and universities. Student-athletes are already paid through scholarship and other benefits offered by the university, including food, housing, books and tuition. The average student-athlete costs over $100,000 per year. On top of that, they receive additional benefits such as strength and conditioning coaches, clothes, equipment, free tutors and trainers. At most universities all these benefits can cost up to around $200,000 over the four years of staying in a college dorm. So if you think about it, they don't need to get paid, but at the same time they do. Undergraduate colleges can be sponsored by three different brands... middle of paper... .time they need to be independent adults who can support themselves. Seeking independence, athletes may take out student loans, putting them in a difficult financial situation. Paying athletes would make them less dependent on their parents and free them from student loan debt. They don't need to pay them much; just enough to take their friends out or let them save for the real world in case they don't reach a professional level. Colleges, especially large Division 1 universities, make millions during football season. But when the fans of the heart buy the ticket and cross the entrance to the stadium, who do they come to find? Will they come to see the coach? No, I'm there to support the players and the team who have worked so hard. My personal opinion is to pay each player $500 per game, that's not too much to ask.