The Unforseen Consequences of Unionization in College Athletics

First, as a player's guy my whole career in college football, I want what's best for the student-athlete, including benefiting from a few changes being fought for now. I just see some unintended consequences that may hurt many, if not most, of the athletes in all of college sports. 

I'm also one that thinks a full scholarship and the opportunity to get a college degree are worth more than it's monetary value.

If the threat of unionization gets things done, great! I believe no one can turn a blind eye to this any longer, which is what's needed. Insurance and the use of a player's likeness, need to be addressed with other issues. 

I'm not a fan of paying players for being on the team. Besides, there are already programs to help student athletes who can't afford their heat bill,  buy a winter coat, pay for a player to get home for a family emergency, etc. Even the rules not allowing a coach to feed a player periodically have been loosened up. But a school with budget issues can't be as supportive as schools with larger budgets.

Let's talk insurance, as it is now a player's family insurance is the primary insurance used when an athlete gets injured and the university picks up the difference so the athlete doesn't come out of pocket. How does that effect the families premiums or future insurance choices? Some families don't have insurance which is a problem for many but the universities step up in this case. The government seems to be involved in this now so it may not be the case much more, maybe.

As for coverage when the athlete graduates from the university or leaves because of the injury (note- if a student athlete suffers a career ending injury during their collegiate career, the college gives the athlete a medical redshirt and pays for the next year, if not the entire length of the scholarship at D1 programs that I've been involved with - all schools are different.) I believe insurance issue could be handled better. I still have issues with my ankle, knees and back but never thought to pursue the university for this treatment. None of these are debilitating so I chalked it up to wear and tear because I did something I loved. I love my university and felt blessed to have my degree paid for and a career due to that time in college.

The hours an athlete puts into meetings, practice, lifting, etc. are also issues but there are rules for that and I believe they are enforced fairly well. The NCAA could make the hours more restrictive but in the end, does this hurt a players wanted success on the field and maybe at the next level? Continuing to restrict the hours of practice may help their academic standing. The so-called voluntary practice could be looked at but it's not a huge issue I don't think.

A ton of money is made off of merchandise in the player's likeness, jersey number and name sold in the college bookstore, etc.,  seems to be a situation to be looked at. The player could receive some financial benefit for that or at least let them make a few bucks on their autograph, appearances at events, etc. This becomes an amateurism issue but can be reworked. The university could decide to eliminate the practice of using the likeness which will effect their bottom line.

Right now this is just affecting private schools but will expand to all, I'm sure, because public schools will be at a recruiting disadvantage if the private schools get extra benefits.

The affect it will have on other sports and schools with thin budget margins is one of the real issues I see. Is this just a premiere level football and basketball plan? What do mid-major programs do? Will other men's sports have to be cut so colleges can afford the new rules? I say men's sports because Title IX will keep some women's sports alive unless the school is in 100% compliance with the rule.

Will the athlete's benefiting from this unionization be taxed on game tickets, bowl or March Madness gifts, the gear they get to keep after the year ends because it has their name on it and other services or items? 

Will this unionization make them employees instead of recipients of a grant in aid scholarship? Will they have to pay taxes on their scholarship, room and board, books, etc.?

This is just my first take. The more the process moves along, the more insight I'll have.