IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum Features Debate On Amateur Model

A panel today at the '14 IMG Intercollegiate Athletics Forum turned into a lively debate on the amateur athlete model of college sports. Campus Insider VP Bonnie Bernstein, a former All-American gymnast at Maryland, talked about how student-athletes are different today. She said, “Student-athletes have a better understanding that you’re not only there to go to school and to participate in a sport, but you’re starting to build your own brand and being able to leverage the platform that you have.”

Former Florida State CB Myron Rolle, who is now a neurosurgery student, said, “Players are more aware now. They are astute and understand the amount of money that’s coming into the sport. They’re walking into the school bookstore and seeing their jersey being sold and realizing that they had three touchdowns this past Saturday and say, ‘OK, that jersey’s probably for me.’ They’re not naive to those facts.”