PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) — The Associated Press reports there is a proposal on the table to pay student athletes $2,000 a year.

NCAA president Mark Emmert said Monday he supports the proposal, as many factors go into student athletes needing and deserving extra funding. Emmert said the funding would “more closely approach” the expenses of student athletes outside of what they already receive in scholarships.

Per the Associated Press report:

Emmert told the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics that the proposal will be finalized this week and he’ll ask the NCAA Division I Board of Directors to support it. He noted that student athletes have limited opportunities to work outside the classroom and playing fields, and that the current model of athletic scholarship hasn’t changed for 40 years.

If this were to pass it would set a brand new standard in college athletics. Paying student athletes has been discussed at length by fans and the media over the last few years amidst high-profile scandals of players accepting illegal benefits — most recently at Ohio State and Miami.

A $2,000 payment, along with the necessities that Emmert has stated, likely would also be an effort to help prevent illegal actions by student athletes for the long term.

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Chris Gates | Area 4-1-Zoo Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gatres@cbsradio.com