Written by James Washington

Some college athletes are able to say they have successfully converted their college careers into successes on the professional stage. Not many can say the same.

The most successful college athletic programs have identifiable names and faces that can easily be attributed to them.

Players like Michael Jordan (North Carolina), Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse), Andrew Luck (Stanford) and Robert Griffin III (Baylor) made a name for themselves because of their collegiate successes.

Aside from what they did for themselves, these players also helped to bring fame and fortune to their schools as a whole.

According to NCAA.org, the chances of college athletes going on to play at the professional level are slim to none.

As of 2012, of nearly 68,000 college football players, only 1.7 percent went on to be drafted by a professional team. As far as basketball, only 1.2 percent of nearly 546,000 players make basketball a profession after leaving college.

Furthermore, according to a 2012 poll, nearly 53 percent of college graduates are either unemployed or working a job that does not require a college degree.

In 2008, ESPN reached an agreement to exclusively cover the Bowl Championship Series to feature some of college football’s biggest games over the course of four years (2011-2014).  ESPN was able to reach this agreement after offering to pay $495 million to broadcast the event.  Now, ESPN is offering nearly $500 million per year to cover the BCS through 2026.

In 2011, the NCAA reached an agreement with CBS/Turner Sports for exclusive television and Internet rights to the highly popular college basketball tournament known worldwide as March Madness.  This agreement will give CBS and Turner Sports these exclusive rights through 2024.

What’s the price tag for this acquisition? $10.8 billion. This is money being spent to cover a tournament that only lasts for three weeks a year.

In a world of supply and demand, college athletes are the main reason that networks even consider paying such large amounts of money for these broadcasting rights.  When do players get their cut?

Many argue that college athletes should not be paid due to the fact that they are receiving a free education. In reality, not every college athlete’s education is free.

While many players are recruited and given scholarships, a majority of college athletes are playing for potential advancement to the pros (which is never a guarantee).

If a fan is willing to pay a college athlete for their jersey, I feel he or she should be able to take the money.  Players’ gear is auctioned off and sold in sports stores all over the country.  How much of that money goes into that player’s pocket?

Fans are paying hundreds and thousands of dollars to see these athletes shine in the prime of their college careers.

College athletes get plenty of appreciation from coaches and fans.  Let’s start showing them a little more appreciation financially.