Cost of Attendance and Accountability – From the Bird’s Nest

Ever since the Power Five conferences passed the Cost of Attendance measure, fans and administrators alike have been trying to figure out exactly what "cost of attendance" is.

I have never believed it's been about taking care of the poor student athlete who doesn't have enough money to do his/her laundry or go see a movie.  I have believed from the beginning it's been about deepening the chasm between the haves and have nots of college athletics.

My guess is when that was passed, the Power Boys never thought the rest of Division I, specifically the Group of Five FBS members would be able to follow suit.

But, in more cases than not, they are.

I'm not a fan of COA.  When you look at the number of student-athletes that get subsidies thorugh Pell grants, some of these folks, thanks to COA, are actually making quite a living while they are in school.  That's in addition to a free education.

But now that COA is a part of our college sports vocabulary, Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville has a novel approach for the student-athlete that will benefit from as much as 7,000 annually.

It's something called accountability.

Tuberville says the University shouldn't be writing checks to student-athletes who don't do the right thing.  Doesn't matter if it's on the field or off the field.  Run afoul of the law?  You don't get your money.  Violate team rules?  You don't get your money.  Don't attend class?  You don't get your money.  Not perform your classwork according to your abilities?  You don't get your money.

What a novel concept.

It's very possible that other coaches have already addressed this in a more low-key manner.  And, if they have, good for them.  If they haven't, perhaps it's time for them to take a long look at what Tuberville has to say.

Accountability.

There's another way to put it.  Student-athletes wouldn't be just given something.

They'd have to earn it.  Through hard work.