16. Health, medical and scholarship protections
← All 18 proposals · Outside proposals
Insiders (sourced entries)
Mentioned
Ramogi Huma (2014); Michael Bennett (2015, medical care); the #WeAreUnited players (2020: Valentino Daltoso, Dallas Hobbs); the CFBPA (2026, independent medical care); Saban (2026, don't discard injured players); Swinney and Klieman (2021, game count).
“If you get hurt in school colors, just because someone labels you as an amateur doesn't mean you shouldn't be taken care of for that injury, when there is a multi-billion dollar industry.”
Backing the Northwestern union petition, Huma argued that athletes hurt while playing deserve medical protection regardless of the 'amateur' label.
“I think the NCAA is one of the biggest scams in America.”
Called the NCAA a scam; proposed paying players about $60,000 per year of college held in a 401(k)-style account until a certain age; criticized medical care for injured players.
“Our strength as players comes from our collective unity and willingness to advocate for ourselves, because if we don't, no one else will.”
Pac-12 players threatened to opt out unless the conference met their demands. These included enforced COVID safety standards, a 50-50 revenue split with athletes, guaranteed medical coverage, six-year scholarships, and administrator pay cuts to protect all sports.
“I believe we need the basic rights and benefits that will help our future.”
As part of #WeAreUnited, Hobbs said players lacked enforced health and safety standards and needed basic rights and benefits.
“People say, It's just one more game. To me, that is a total lack of appreciation for what it takes to win a game”
Said 12-team expansion may be good financially and for fans 'but I don't think that's what is best for the player'; called 'it's just one more game' a lack of appreciation for what those games take.
“Science will tell you you can't keep hitting these guys and expect them to be fresh and ready to go”
Drawing on FCS experience, said 15-16 game seasons are a grind that requires less hitting in practice.
“If a young person gives his or her body to a university program, then that young person should not be discarded because of an injury, a roster decision, or athletic performance.”
Said athletes should not be discarded over injury or roster decisions, independent medical judgment must not be overridden, and Congress should fix 'the mess in the courts' without micromanaging.
Bowl opt-outs to protect draft value
Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey (2016), backed by Mitch Trubisky. Ezekiel Elliott was initially critical.
“It's best for my future.”
Skipped LSU's Citrus Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft, helping start the bowl opt-out trend.
“I think it's smart on their part, because it's different when you're a running back and you're taking all the shots.”
Backed McCaffrey and Fournette sitting out bowls to prepare for the NFL.
No verbatim quote recorded for this entry; summary of the source only.
Announced he would sit out the Sun Bowl to prepare for the draft, calling it a 'very tough decision'; along with Fournette, he sparked the debate over opt-outs from non-playoff bowls.
“All these young guys deciding to skip their bowl games 🤔.I would do anything to play one more time with my brothers in that scarlet and gray”
Initially criticized players skipping bowl games, then said it 'makes sense' for the injured Fournette and McCaffrey.
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