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Big news broke Wednesday afternoon in the continual fight between student athletes and the NCAA: the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of a group of former Northwestern football players, considering players employees and allowing the formation of a union.
Former Missouri wide receiver T.J. Moe brought his unique point-of-view to the Internet, taking to Twitter to let the world know how a player might feel about such changes.
It all started with Doug Gottlieb saying something with questionable veracity.
Wrong RT @GottliebShow: There are exactly zero College football players who spend 60 hours a week on football, unless you count video games
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Moe was quick to provide his own schedule, which sounds absolutely exhausting.
Saturday itself covers a ton of hours- meetings, film, walk through, warm ups, 3-4 hour game. Day starts at 9am ends at 11pm if night gm
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Add in travel and thats another 4-8 hours if away game. Sunday is a lift, meetings for hours, then practice. Sat. & Sun cover a ton of hrs
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Correct RT @THunt35:whats funny you are just talking hrs to get by not the extra hours you put in to perfect your craft for pt at this level
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
It wasn't just Gottlieb that Moe took issue with, as the former Tiger touched on unwanted potential financial (and academic) fall-out from a union.
Still not sure a union is the way to handle it. If you want to be treated like an employee, must be prepared to be terminated at any time
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Must also be prepared to strike if it comes to it. Can 18 year olds strike and not get a scholarship? Many can't afford college tuition w/o
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
The other side is a lockout. Can we lockout college kids and withhold their scholarships so they then cannot attend class for the year?
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
How about taxes? If you start paying any type of salary, the government is now allowed to tax students. W-2's sent to every athlete
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Could smaller football programs end up shutting down? Moe thinks so.
Many colleges can't afford all of these benefits and money it would require to meet union standards, so would football programs shut down?
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Or if they do comply with the union standards, schools will be forced to shut down other non revenue sports.
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
You're then taking away education opportunities from a large number of high school athletes just because their sport isn't as popular.
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
If students want to be treated like employees, fine. However, be ready for consequences. If you're late to work, that's grounds termination.
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Moe was quick to say that while he does not support the idea of the union, the NCAA is still in the wrong.
I think we're digging a hole that could really damage college athletics. I hate the NCAA bullying, but don't think union is answer
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
What the student athletes need is someone to go to bat for them. Not sure what that look like, but making themselves employees isn't smart
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Another good point- if being paid a salary, no need for scholarships anymore. Gov't gets involved with taxes and would cost everyone more $$
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
And how about Title IX? major lawsuits would follow if football and mens basketball (The only real revenue sports) began getting paid
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Do I think there's a way for college athletes to receive more money? Yes, absolutely. How about allowing kids to get what they can?
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Autographs, card deals, jersey deals, shoe deals... allow them to get endorsements. Why limit a kid just because he's in college?
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
I know this, there would be far less complains from student athletes about the NCAA if allowed to promote themselves and make $$ from that
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Tell me Nike wouldn't love to sponsor a ton of college athletes and use them for profit? Of course they would. Both sides win
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
Instead of stopping NCAA video games and not promoting jersey sales for individuals, why not cut a deal with the players for compensation?
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) March 26, 2014
As great as it sounds, Moe's suggestion won't ever happen without something disruptive happening -- like, say, a union or a big lawsuit (and there are more than a few). It is also worth noting that the proposal is one of the College Athletes Players Association's (the group working with the players) listed goals.