Say some kid can play a great game of football.
He comes from a poor family and a poorer educational system.
He gets an athletic scholarship at a football powerhouse. Forget tough admission rules. That's an inside joke. Just about anybody can get into any school, at least on probation.
The kid arrives at school with $11 in his pocket.
Now what?
The school and the conference and the NCAA make multitudes of millions off this kid: Tune in Saturday and see the game's best. Buy a jersey.
Now the guy has $9 in his pocket.
What's a guy to do?
What's a school to do?
Pay the kid.
Some say a scholarship is payment enough. Bull. What is a scholarship worth to somebody incapable of graduating?
Pay him.
He's a great worker.
Top workers deserve good salaries.
What about the Sports Illustrated stuff? Sports Illustrated is a rag. It is little more than just another website.
Blah blah blah, we know all OU fans think it is great reporting, and all OSU fans think it is garbage.
If what Sports Illustrated writes is a lie, sue the magazine, take what money it has left, end of story.
Sue them and win, you're right. Don't sue them, they're right.
PICKS
Tonight
TCU (-3) at Texas Tech: TCU has become a factor in the Big 12 conference race by default, because the conference has never been worse.
TCU's alleged defense held LSU to 37.
Here's some good news: At least the spread is dead! Or is fading fast.
TCU by 2.
Saturday
Tulsa at OU (-26): The new OU quarterback run option game lasted one whole week.
If they try to run Bell around end the way they did with the freshman, they'll wind up with a Sigma Chi playing quarterback.
The OU pass game is ugly: Of 123 first division college football teams, OU's pass game ranks 110th!
TU is slightly above average.
TU's strategy should be to place many on the line.
OU by 28.
Louisville (-10 1/2) at Kentucky: Louisville plays a slate of bums one year too early - it could qualify as a final four playoff team, but not one of the final two.
Louisville by 12.
UCLA at Nebraska (-4): Taylor Martinez begins his 13th season as the Nebraska quarterback; or so it seems.
Is he passing or trying to swat away bees?
Hothead coach Pelini is closer to a flop than a hit.
Nebraska by 6.
Mississippi at Texas (-3 1/2): All Mack has ever done is luck into Vince Young, who had a magical year and has washed out of the pro league.
OU is probably Mack's biggest supporter.
Texas by 3.
Iowa (-2) at Iowa State: There are no bragging rights left in this state.
Iowa by 1.
Alabama (-8) at Texas A&M: Classic college matchup, a brat versus a bully.
You pick the new nickname: Johnny Highball. Johnny Meatball.
But the kid can play.
Texas A&M has no defense whatsoever.
Alabama by 10.
Mississippi State at Auburn (-6 1/2): SEC table scraps.
Auburn by 7.
Kansas at Rice (-4): Kansas football is a sure sign basketball can't be far behind.
Rice by 7.
Notre Dame (-20) at Purdue: ND has Michigan State before OU.
The Sooners are off after TU.
Scheduling edge: OU.
But that's about the only edge.
Notre Dame plays fast and rough and can throw.
Purdue is sorry.
ND by 21.
Sunday
St. Louis at Atlanta (-6 1/2): Make or bust year for OU's Bradford.
Faster feet needed.
Atlanta by 7.
Washington at Green Bay (-6): To ease the knee stress, the Redskin quarterback was throwing little jump passes in the opener.
Green Bay by 7.
Dallas at Kansas City (even): How much can you be improved if you're pick-em with the Chiefs?
Dallas by 3.
Denver at the Giants (even): Manning family reunion.
Both Mannings always look like they're a touchdown behind.
Giants by 4.
San Francisco at Seattle (-3): Let's get something straight about offenses.
Mobile quarterbacks, like these two, are good.
Option quarterbacks, like Vick and Newton, are injuries waiting to happen.
Name the last time anything but a pocket passer ever won a championship.
SF by 4.
Monday
Steelers at Cincinnati (-6 1/2): One of the earliest elimination games ever.
Polamalu can no longer outrun his own hair.
Cincy by 4.
Original Print Headline: What to do but pay the players?
