As conference realignment fast approaches and the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams looms, at least some organizations are not convinced these moves are in the best interests of collegiate student-athletes. In fact, the National College Players Association penned a letter urging the University of California Board of Regents to oppose UCLA‘s move to the Big Ten.
The National College Players Association (NCPA) is a non-profit California advocacy group.
Citing several studies and various metrics, the NCPA blasted the planned move to the Big Ten as “a short-sighted money grab that will harm college athletes.”
“Not all money is good money,” wrote Ramogi Huma, the executive director of the NCPA. “The Regents should not let a handful of people sell the soul of the UCLA athletics program for TV dollars that will be spent on luxury boxes in stadiums and lavish salaries for a few.
“For all the reasons stated in this letter, the NCPA strongly urges the Regents to block UCLA’s move to the Big Ten Conference.”
Among the primary reasons to oppose UCLA’s move to the Big Ten, the NCPA cited academic harm and racial exploitation, student-athlete mental health and the benefits of increased revenue from a conference move benefiting only a select few.
“UCLA’s move to the Big Ten will be detrimental to UCLA athletes’ mental healthy,” the letter stated. “Intense athletic and academic time demands will be made much worse with increased travel time demands. This is no secret and NCAA data supports this reality.”
“So, who does this benefit monetarily?” the letter openly asked. “Spending trends at UCLA and other FBS schools show that, without a doubt, this money will benefit the UCLA athletic director, head football coach, and head men’s basketball coach tremendously.
NCPA: TV dollars benefit only a few
“It will also lead to the additional hiring of an ever-increasing athletic administration staff. It will benefit construction companies who will build the next gold-plated facility.
