8/15/2014: Ducks will finally pay for player’s insurance. It’s amazing what can change when the judge rules you’ve been running an illegal cartel. Now it turns out the NCAA was never against this, honest. UO PR flack Rob Moseley has the spin, here.
7/3/2011: Ever wonder what happens to college football players who suffer career ending injuries? They don”t get workmen’s compensation, because they are “student-athletes”, not employees. Very clever.
However, the NCAA will *lend* “student-athletes” money to buy their own insurance. I know, and you thought the NCAA was a heartless cartel. Read on, friend:
“The impetus behind it was really to keep student-athletes and their eligibility safe from unscrupulous agents,” said Juanita Sheely, the NCAA’s associate director for travel and insurance. “One of the ways they would entice them is: ‘I will get you this insurance coverage if you sign with me.’
So (we decided to) provide this service so they don’t feel like they have to break the rules to do it.”
My God. They are only doing this to protect their player’s from those unscrupulous agents who might help them buy insurance. Because once those agents get in on the game, the players will get paid, and less money for the coaches and the AD. You saw what that little fucker Howard Slusher did to the pro owners, right?
This is why the only players eligible for the NCAA plan are those the agents are pursuing – those expected to go in the first 3 pro draft rounds – maybe 1%. For the rest, tough love. 10% of all college players will get brain injuries while playing or practicing. I believe that doesn’t even count the chronic MTBI cases. And people think the scandal here is Chip Kelly paying Willie Lyles $25,000 to recruit a few players?
Of course, there is a charity to help injured players pay their medical bills. (NCAA medical insurance only covers the costs of catastrophic injuries.) I don’t see Chip Kelly or any of the Duck boosters or our AD on the list of donors. I’m no Rabbi, but the Talmudic 10% seems like cheap insurance for your immortal soul, people.
From the NCAA website:
PREMIUM FINANCING:
Student-athletes approved for this program are automatically eligible for a loan, if necessary, through U.S. Bank, N.A., Sports Division, in Cincinnati Ohio. The interest rate is very competitive and a co-signer is not required. The student-athlete is obligated to repay the loan in full when any of the following occurs: (1) the student-athlete signs a professional contract, (2) the disability benefits become available due to a covered injury or sickness or (3) the coverage is no longer in effect and the loan note matures.
AVAILABLE COVERAGE:
The Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Program offers a permanent total disability (PTD) policy. A 24-month maximum policy term is available for any underclassman eligible for the program. The policy provides 24-hour accident and sickness coverage, which includes playing and practicing in the student-athlete’s respective sport.
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