College athletes on tight budget

by Bill Bender
Staff Writer

For most athletes, time is money.

Whether it's hustling on the practice field or scurrying to the classroom, an athlete's schedule is always booked. Unfortunately, athletes run into a problem when trying to make money because the NCAA does not pay athletes.

Not getting paid is a mammoth problem for an athlete with Nick Glowacki's appetite.

Glowacki, who stands 6 feet 5 and weighs 312 pounds, said he spends more than $100 a week on groceries. Nicknamed "Biggie" for obvious reasons, Glowacki spends his time playing for the Ohio football team while majoring in management information systems.

He said keeping a job is nearly impossible.

"Football is a full-time job in itself," Glowacki said. "And with classes you spend so much time studying that it's hard to keep a job."

So what does an athlete like Biggie do when his wallet is small?

Glowacki said he lives on the money that comes from either his parents or overage from scholarship checks. Despite a full-time football schedule, Glowacki worked briefly at The Greenery last year as a bouncer. During the summer, he worked for a concrete contractor.

With the tremendous amount of time and effort Glowacki puts into football, he said the NCAA should pay athletes at least some money.

"You should get some money," Glowacki said. "I spend most of my time trying to balance football and getting good grades. It would be nice if I had some money for what I do."

Despite being only 5 feet 5, Ohio jumper Foli James has confronted the same problems as Glowacki. James lives in the dorms and uses a meal plan, but she said having a job to make extra money is out of the question.

"It's almost impossible," James said. "I usually have class or practice, and the times usually vary; it's hard to keep a set job."

James does serve banquets occasionally in Nelson Hall, but she still keeps a budget of about $10 a week. With track season in full swing, James is at the most hectic juncture in the school year.

Likewise, Ohio third baseman Adam Fox is in the midst of a busy season. He has helped the Bobcats reach the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Fox, however, has found little time to earn money.

Similar to Glowacki, Fox lives on overage checks from his partial scholarship. With a budget of $20 a week combined with travel, Fox said money always is tight.

"I get some money from my parents," Fox said. "But my parents pay out-of-state tuition. I never want to spend too much in a week."

With the proposals by the Collegiate Athletics Coalition to increase stipends for college athletes, athletes like Fox tend to agree. He said he would favor paying college athletes for participation in sports.

"If they're willing to do it, I'm all for it," Fox said. "There are so many illegal people you can get money from, but I think paying us at a set rate would clear things up."

James said she is not sure if paying athletes is a good idea.

"I think it could go either way," James said. "It would be nice because I have no money right now."