About The Blog

Hi! I’m Kelsey Hrebenach, communications major and a student-athlete at the University of Maryland.

Member of Mrs. Pleasant’s ENGL391 class.

The definition paper is a description and elaboration of terms and issues that are being covered in my topic, which is the debate if student-athletes in a revenue sport (mens basketball and football) should be treated like professionals. I will inform my target audience, which are students at the University of Maryland more about the life of a student-athlete, and how much money a revenue sport brings to the university. I will provide my audience with facts and definitions that involve talking about men’s football and basketball. All in all, I hope to persuade my audience that my topic is relevant to our university, and that there are two sides to the argument, but that most people only believe one side, and will not give the other side of the topic a chance.

“Breaking It Down”

Dear UMD students,

You see them all the time: the red UnderArmour backpacks, the scooters, the official UMD apparel, the iPads, etc.  These things can also be known as a student-athlete.  Many students that I have spoke with in the past and present talk about the “luxurious lifestyle” athletes have.  Many people, not just talking about students at UMD but in general, only see the advantages of things when viewing somebody.  Hardly ever do they think about the disadvantages of that persons life.  We are all at fault for it.  One of those faults is that some students at the UMD mostly only see the advantages of what it is like to be a student-athlete on campus, and not any of the disadvantages.

Now I don’t know about you, but when I see billboards, posters, news articles, and apparel of a student-athlete from UMD I think “Damn! That’s really cool.”  But another thing that crosses my mind that others may not think about when they see those things is “Their face and jersey number are the center of this media piece, and yet they are not receiving a dime from it”.  Those people who are the cover of those media ads and apparel are people like Dez Wells from men’s basketball, or Stefon Diggs from football.  Those men are the face of Maryland athletics, and they don’t get to be compensated for it.  Don’t you think that is wrong of the university?  Of the NCAA?  Think about it…

Many people are self-persuaded to believe what they want to believe, but with this blog I hope to show the students of UMD another side, which is the cold hard truth. 

Did You Know…?

• In 2008, the Maryland Terrapins football team brought in $59,624,100 in total revenue.  Ever since then, the amount of money that they have made in revenue has continued to increase. In 2013, the football team brought in an amount of $63,714,470 in total revenue.
• Student-athletes have to have a minimum GPA per team, and also a GPA that the NCAA requires us to maintain in order to stay eligible for sports.
• Not all student-athletes are on scholarship, and they have to pay for school just like you do.
• Student-athletes have to be just as successful in the classroom as we do the court/field to stay eligible to play Division 1 sports.
• Dez Wells, the face of Maryland Men’s Basketball was the center of attention on Sports Center on Wednesday, March 4th for his phenomenal game against Rutgers and he did not see a penny for any of his glory.
• No matter how much money a student-athlete makes for the university, they are not compensated for any of it.
• Maryland Football wide receiver Steffon Diggs left school at the end of last fall to declare himself to go professional.  He was a junior in standing academically, and is now technically a drop out of the university.
• Once a contract is signed for professionalism, all NCAA eligibility is lost forever (Pirtle, Lubbock Outline).

Citation: “College Athletics Revenues and Expenses.” ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 2008. Web. 02 Mar. 2015. “USA Today | Sports | COLLEGE.” USA Today. Gannett, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2015. Pirtle, Krista. “College Athletes Weigh Pros, Cons of Ending School Careers Early to Enter the NFL Draft.” Lubbock Online. N.p., 3 May 2014. Web. 05 Mar. 2015. “Compare College Sport Programs.” Compare College Sport Finances. Point After, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2015.

Stefon Diggs

Anybody who knows Maryland Football, knows who Stefon Diggs is.  Coming in as a freshmen, Diggs was a stud.  There was much talk about him before he arrived to the University of Maryland. Many were surprised he decided to attend a university closer to home rather than go to a successfully known football institution.  During his time here, Diggs broke records.  He was honorable mention by the ACC both his freshmen and sophomore year.  His junior year, despite many injuries he acquired previously, including a season-ending injury at Wake Forest his sophomore year, he came back stronger than ever.  He was All-Big Ten Second Team, nominated by coaches, and also All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, nominated by the media.  As a junior he also led the team in receptions, receiving yards and also receiving touchdowns (UMTerps.com).

Sounds like a pretty great career so far right?  Well, this basically sums up his college career, because at the end of last season (Fall 2014), Diggs announced that he is going to enter the NFL (National Football League) draft, and was invited to attend the NFL Combine. The combine is known as a national invitation camp where top executives, coaching staff, player personnel and medical professional from all 32 NFL teams scout the potential collegiate athletes for the upcoming NFL draft (NFL Scouting Combine).

Most people would agree that going professional is an athletes ultimate dream.  Not many get the opportunity to go through what these athletes do.  But think about it…. Diggs was a junior in standing for the university when he declared he was going to go for the NFL draft, meaning that he left college to pressure his professional career.  So yes, Stefan Diggs may be living his dream right now, but what if he gets hurt again and can not longer perform professionally?  He would have no education to fall back on.  Diggs technically “dropped out” of the University of Maryland to pursue his professional football career, so he never actually got a degree.  Thats two and a half years of education at Maryland wasted and unfinished.  If there was some way that Diggs could be compensated for his athletic ability while still earning an education, he may have continue his education while pursuing his football career.   If student athletes would be compensated for their athletic ability, the students could pursue their education while practicing the sport, according to NCAA standards. That way they would be able to earn a degree while still being paid for their athletic abilities.  All in all, the university would still profit much better if athletes like Stefon Diggs stayed and finished out his degree because that would mean universities could compete at the highest level of competition, with the best of the best athletes around.

Citation: “Stefon Diggs Biography.” Umterps.com. University of Maryland, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2015.

“Home.” NFL Combine. N.p., 2014. Web. 05 Mar. 2015.