"Paying" the athletes for bowl games - Printable Version
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"Paying" the athletes for bowl games - CardinalSagehen - 12-19-2017
A couple weeks ago, Rick Neuheisel was explaining on EPSNU radio how coaches jump through hoops to make the bowl season fun (and profitable!) for the players, so that it doesn't seem like a burden. The athletes are required to be on campus after everyone else leaves, and in many cases such as the Alamo Bowl, they can't even make it home for Christmas Day because they're required to be at the bowl location by then.Â
There are many different tricks of the trade, all within the rules, that allow you to put more money in the players' pockets and make bowl season more memorable. As I recall, Neuheisel mentioned the following and more:
- Per Diems: Kids are paid a per diem for food expenses, based on the location. But if you provide certain group meal events for them (he mentioned a "hamburger bar"), they're able to "meet their caloric needs" while pocketing the per diem. The goal is always to put the most possible money in their pockets, within the rules.
- Quasi-Uniforms: Apparently, you can give the whole team plenty of free clothing (e.g., Nike) if you simply require them to wear it at a team event. At that point, it is considered a "uniform" that can be purchased and provided by the university. At the next team event (and there can be several), you just require them to wear another new and different "uniform".
- Paid Team Outings: Going to see The Last Jedi is a good example.
- SWAG: According to Neuheisel, the first question that players on the opposing teams will ask each other when they meet in the days leading up to the game is, "What d'ya get?"Â Neuheisel thinks they always favor electronics and the key is to buy this year's coolest possible gadget within the price limit.Â
- Airfare: This is a big one. Regulations allow for two flight legs to be purchased. If you can find a way to drive them to the game (e.g., Foster Farms Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl), then they essentially receive a fully paid round-trip home for the holidays rather than having to pay their own way. Alternatively, you can make open-jaw itineraries for each athlete (e.g., home-bowl-school), and the school can pay for the 2 most expensive legs with the athlete paying for the least expensive leg.
- Bowl gifts: The bowls themselves offer gift packs, often valued at several hundred dollars. Here's an overview: https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/12/12/16740312/bowl-game-gifts-2017-players