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Big Ten presidents, chancellors endorse guaranteed four-year scholarships

By Patrick Schmidt

Oct 12, 2013; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten logo on the field at Camp Randall Stadium following the game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin won 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2013; Madison, WI, USA; The Big Ten logo on the field at Camp Randall Stadium following the game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin won 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Big Ten conference has endorsed four-year scholarships that cover the full cost of attendance and conference commissioner Jim Delaney hammered home his conference’s point in the ongoing Ed O’Bannon trial.

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The conference presidents and chancellors released a statement after Delaney testified that “establishing a 21st century system to meet the educational needs of current and future student-athletes”is of extreme importance.

You can read the full statement from the presidents and chancellors from The Big Ten Network

The main bullet points of the statement are as follows:

  • We must guarantee the four-year scholarships that we offer. If a student-athlete is no longer able to compete, for whatever reason, there should be zero impact on our commitment as universities to deliver an undergraduate education. We want our students to graduate.
  • If a student-athlete leaves for a pro career before graduating, the guarantee of a scholarship remains firm. Whether a professional career materializes, and regardless of its length, we will honor a student’s scholarship when his or her playing days are over. Again, we want students to graduate.
  • We must review our rules and provide improved, consistent medical insurance for student-athletes. We have an obligation to protect their health and well-being in return for the physical demands placed upon them.
  • We must do whatever it takes to ensure that student-athlete scholarships cover the full cost of a college education, as defined by the federal government. That definition is intended to cover what it actually costs to attend college.

This is not a debate of whether to compensate amateur athletes as the statement states the amateur model is not broken, but it does require a modification for the 21st century athlete to ensure that they are taken care of financially and medically.

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