CAC unites to increase athletes' monetary benefits

by Laurie Duffy and Blake Whitney
For The Post

During an era in which college coaches have six-figure salaries and seven-figure endorsement contracts, it has become clear that college sports is a billion-dollar industry, and many athletes are starting to wonder why they are missing their piece of the pie.

In fact, some of them are actively seeking it.

The Collegiate Athletes Coalition, a student-athlete group founded at UCLA, is quietly gaining momentum in hopes of reforming the NCAA system. The CAC's leader, former UCLA football player Ramogi Huma, appeared on the weekly ESPN program ••Outside the Lines•• to push for greater benefits for NCAA athletes, giving the student-athlete a voice in the funding process.

The four main goals of the CAC are to improve health and life insurance coverage for student-athletes, to increase their monthly stipends and to eliminate the $2,000 salary cap on earnings during the off-season.

But before the organization can actively pursue its goals, it must gain enough members to have an influence. By the beginning of next football season, Huma said he wants support from six to eight Division I football programs. He has hopes of every Division I school's eventually joining. The CAC would like to have a majority of men's and women's basketball chapters at all schools in Division I.

"We are only organizing football right now, but we will be pursuing over 5,000 Division I teams," said Huma.

Among the rumored candidates is Florida State. Earlier this year, linebacker Devaughn Darling died in practice, and his family received the standard $10,000 from the NCAA for the athlete's death.

"That's not right," said Devard Darling, Devaughn's twin brother and Florida State teammate, in an April 30 article published on ESPN.com (http://www.espn.com). "We're out there making millions for these schools, and that's all we're worth to them - $10,000?"

In addition to the increased life insurance coverage, the CAC wants existing medical benefits to include injuries resulting from voluntary summer workouts and problems that continue to plague athletes after an injury-induced retirement.

"The benefits we are requesting do not cover athletes after graduation or those leaving early for the pros," Huma said.

Insurance and health coverage are not the only issues. College athletes bring in billions in annual revenue. And some feel it is time to increase either their monthly stipends or eliminate the off-season salary cap so that they could earn additional income, possibly from endorsements or from working in university-sponsored youth camps.

"(NCAA athletes have an opportunity to earn) $2,000 a year working, which is basically so they can go out on a date without having their hands tied," said Dave Hirsch, assistant public relations director for the PAC-10. "But it's very difficult to hold a job; you have to go to class, come in, get taped, go practice, get home, do homework and eat. Where's the time for work?"

The CAC is seeking a boost in the monthly stipend, claiming that a scholarship and the stipend are not enough to cover actual college costs.

As good as the proposal sounds, Hirsch said he is not sure it is possible.

"I don't see how it could be done," Hirsch said. "(Universities) rely so heavily on football and basketball to support the other programs just to stay afloat, so I don't see how there could be enough money to pay athletes."

Hirsch also said while top programs like UCLA might be able to afford to pay athletes, they would have trouble finding money to support the mid- and low-major athletic departments that make little or no profit.

The CAC has been in contact with the United Auto Workers for support in publicity and organization, Huma said.

"Our cause parallels the UAW's labor movement, so we are using their expertise and resources to organize players," Huma said.

While Huma said the CAC is using the union as a resource, he insists the group itself is not unionizing and will not strike.

Hirsch said the CAC was mentioned at a meeting of PAC-10 athletic directors this month.

"Their issues were mentioned briefly and are not being brushed aside," Hirsch said. "The directors are aware of these potential groups."

While it is unclear whether the CAC's demands will be appeased or pushed aside, everyone involved seems to agree on one thing: The connection between money and sports is not going to go away any time soon.

"Money has certainly been an issue for as long as there's been college sports," Hirsch said. "And it's getting to be more and more of an issue every day."