If you want to effect change at a university, threaten its revenue. That’s what the University of Missouri football team did.
As a way to address longtime racial issues, the team said it wasn’t going to play this weekend unless University President Tim
Wolfe resigned. And guess what? He did. It happened seemingly that fast.
The University of Missouri is scheduled to play Brigham Young this weekend, and, according to estimates, could have lost
some $1 million in revenues from this one game.
We don’t need to tell you about college football and TV money. When the U. of Missouri threat looked serious, it got immediate attention
from the university alumni and the board. That’s money they can’t get back.
This points to the leverage student-athletes have been seeking for some time. This past August, football
players at Northwestern University were rejected in their attempt to unionize by the National Labor Relations Board.
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In the past college athletes have complained about a variety of issues --
such as getting compensated as paid athletes while colleges grab millions of dollars in TV revenues.
But with the Missouri actions, it goes beyond money -- such as a piece of the
proceeds from video games that might portray their likeness -- or a bigger future in professional football where they might earn millions. It might be for social justice. What dollar value can you put
on that?