The Myth of the Amateur: A History of College Athletic Scholarships

The Myth of the Amateur explores the paradoxes and hypocrisies of paying college athletes, revealing that they have always been paid, one way or another. It explores how the regulation of male and female student-athletes has shifted, how class, race, and gender played a role in these transitions, and how the case for amateurism evolved from a moral argument to one concerned with financially and legally protecting college sports and the NCAA.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2021
Publisher: University of Texas Press

In this comprehensive exploration of the contentious debates surrounding college athlete compensation, Ronald A. Smith takes us on a journey that begins with the inaugural intercollegiate athletics competition in 1852, where Harvard and Yale teams were granted an all-expenses-paid vacation by a railroad magnate. This intriguing opening sets the stage for a narrative brimming with paradoxes and hypocrisies, unfolding on the fields, in meeting rooms, and in courtrooms. Smith's narrative reveals that any insistence on amateurism is invalid, as these athletes have always been paid, one way or another.

From that first contest to athletes' attempts to unionize and California's 2019 Fair Pay to Play Act, Smith meticulously documents how undercover payments, hiring professional coaches, and violating NCAA rules on athletic scholarships have been integral aspects of the college sports landscape throughout the decades. He delves into how the regulation of male and female student-athletes has evolved, exploring the interplay of class, race, and gender in these transitions. Moreover, Smith examines how the case for amateurism has transitioned from a moral argument to one focused on financially and legally safeguarding college sports and the NCAA.

The Myth of the Amateur is a timely and thought-provoking work that is essential reading for college sports enthusiasts and scholars alike. It sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape the world of college athletics and challenges us to reevaluate our understanding of the role of student-athletes in the collegiate ecosystem.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781477322864