U$C

Over the past three years two of the biggest athletes ever to attend USC have been accused of taking thousands of dollars under the table. Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo both lived the high life. Taking in about 250 and 30 thousand dollars respectively from agents and runners in the forms of cars, clothes, and in Bush's case; a house. With all of the gifts and money going around it's hard to imagine that these guys are amateur athletes, but they are. While Bush is in more trouble, Mayo's case brings up an important argument; What the hell is the student-athlete? They don't exist anymore. The students are the ones who go to class and earn a degree while most of the big time collegiate athletes are just that: athletes. Most means the division one superstars like Mayo, Michael Beasley, and Derek Rose who are one and done. They don't have to pass the spring grade check; after Christmas they can in essence become a professional athlete without the money. If the NCAA wants to bring back the "student-athlete" they have to change their rules about amateurism. But how?