prior to the “NIL” stuff. Of those who were/are worth getting paid — these were always those who are eventually going pro anyway or those who brand was so strong that they would be taken care of after graduating.

The begging and pleading to make sure that the 2nd-4th string guys were “getting theirs” was always a dumb argument. There was always just a few players per school that fans ever cared to watch and knew their name — pretending that 3rd string defensive tackle Mike was being ripped off with his scholarship, food, clothing and other perks was always dead wrong.