College athletes drive college popularity and nationalism. Hundreds of scholarships are awarded every year to male and female athletes in all sports. These scholarships pay for tuition, room and board, and meal plans. College athletes paid for most, if not all, of their college. College athletes have never received a salary for their participation in a collegiate sport. In recent years, some people feel the need for college athletes to be paid with money earned from advertising and revenue from hosting a sporting event. Others say college athletes shouldn't be paid because they receive a scholarship that pays for their college education. College athletes should not be paid because they receive free tuition and student athletes learn the values ​​of amateurism. College athletes perform in front of paying crowds, and the money the crowds pay to watch goes to the college. The college uses the money to help improve the athletics department. The athletics department has many different options for what it can do with the money. They can invest the money in the scholarship fund or use it to purchase new equipment. Many universities also use revenue to recruit incoming players. “Division I teams often spend large sums of money to recruit the best players and coaches. Even though players are not paid, they often receive scholarships to attend college” (Cline). There is really no need to pay college athletes since they receive scholarships. Some people say they need money for personal expenses. While this may be true, college athletes do not have to pay college expenses like other students who pay both college and personal expenses. While col... middle of paper... you feel that athletes should be paid part of the money made from their merchandise. They want athletes to be compensated for the hard work they put in and how much money they make for the University. While all of this may be true, the true meaning of playing a sport in college isn't just about money or fame, it's about the true love of the game. While the country is divided on whether or not to pay college athletes, they shouldn't be paid. College athletes come with a scholarship that pays through college. They have very few expenses to bear. College sports have always been amateur because the real reason athletes play sports is their true love for the game. Overall, nothing compares to being able to say they played a sport in college and, whether they got paid for it or not, they will remember it for a lifetime.