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| The new NFL logo went into use at the 2008 draft. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Today's post is shared from the WSJ.com and highlights a growing trend that student-athletes are employees and will be subject to workers's compensation mandatory insurance coverage. With head concussion recognition on the rise as a long term medical issue in body contact sport this will be a huge incentive to eliminate the business of college body contact sports.
CHICAGO—In a decision with potentially broad ramifications for collegiate athletics, the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board ruled Wednesday that Northwestern University scholarship football players are employees of the school and are eligible to form the nation's first college athletes' union. The ruling, which Northwestern immediately said it would appeal, has the potential to upend big-time college sports by reversing the NCAA's longtime stance that athletes are students first and athletes second. As such, they can't be considered employees. In his ruling, Peter Ohr ruled that Northwestern's scholarship players are athletes first and students second. Their duties to the athletic program include 50 to 60 hours a week during training camp and 40 to 50 hours a week during the three- or four-month football season. For much of the year, players are told by coaches when to eat, sleep and train. 
Northwestern University football players with athletic scholarships are employees and can unionize, a National Labor Relations Board regional director ruled Wednesday, contradicting the...
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