As college athletes, we are a diverse community and we share deep respect for the responsibilities of leadership and public service. Every AO member salutes the flag prior to competition, and many of us have had the honor of representing the United States in competition.
Tomorrow, the President of the United States and industry experts will gather in Washington, D.C. to discuss the future of college sports, yet not a single current college athlete will be in the room. When the very people whose talent, labor and livelihoods power this entire ecosystem are absent from the conversation, it raises a fundamental question: how can decisions about the future of college athletics be made without the voices of the athletes themselves?
We, the athletes, fill the stadiums. We drive the television deals. We power this industry that brings in more revenue than the NBA and MLB annually. What we do in our respective sports helps fuel economies and creates the wages for thousands of employees on our campuses and beyond.
Yet decisions that have an immense impact on our futures are still being made without us.
We deserve more than decisions handed down to us without our input, a precedent that has defined the history of college athletics and athlete participation. This precedent has historically suppressed our rights as collegiate athletes and continues to keep athletes from reaching their full potential.
Discussing the future of college sports without representation of college athletes only supports a system that is fundamentally broken. This system is one that athletes did not create, but one that we, the athletes, are willing to play our part to fix alongside the leaders of this business.
If there is a real conversation about fixing college sports, it will start with us at the table and it will end with one thing: a fully negotiated collectively bargained agreement, where we, the athletes, negotiate the terms of our participation.
We are ready to work together to fix this system and find the long term solution, but stop making decisions about us, without us and expecting us to play by your rules.
QUOTES FROM MEMBER ATHLETES:
“Honestly, how can they make decisions like this without including any athletes or asking for our input? These choices directly impact our careers, education, and health, so our voices should be part of the conversation.”
– Jaden Mangham, Purdue Football
“I just think no matter what, players have to be involved. We are the ones putting it all on the field every Saturday, so there’s no reason we should have no say.”
– Tyrell Henry, Wisconsin Football
“We deserve a seat at the table. We as athletes are the reason the stands are filled, logos are worn and the game thrives the way it does. Ever since I was a little kid I dreamed about making it to the Division I level to play the sport I love. It is unfair and unfaithful to hold a discussion without the main attraction in mind. We deserve a say, just like the executives and leaders, in sports and in our futures. I believe that we, as athletes at every level, deserve to be at the table and fight for our best interest. We want college sports to thrive just like everyone else in the room. So let’s bond together to generate the best outcome for all.”
– Khalil Poteat, Temple Football
“You cannot plan for our future without our input. If a decision affects our bodies, our scholarships, our eligibility, or our livelihoods, athletes should have a voice in the room from the start, not after the fact.”
– Angelina Vasquez, UNLV Track & Field, AO Executive Committee
Athletes.org, “The Players Association for College Athletes,” is a voluntary membership organization whose membership includes more than 5,200 current and former college athletes. AO exists to educate, organize, and represent college athletes as their chosen players association in an attempt to ensure their seat at the table in the ever-changing landscape of college sports.
