In the interesting article in the latest PAW, the demon of money being paid to college athletes raised its ugly head, this time in the Ivy League.
Caden Pierce ’26, one of Princeton’s best basketball players in decades, has been caught in the crosshairs. Caden was freshman of the year and then Ivy League Player of the Year as a sophomore. An ankle injury limited his effectiveness as a junior, and I hope that was not part of his decision to sit out his senior year.
During my basketball years at Princeton (1955-58), I believe two of my teammates would have been vulnerable. Carl Belz ’59 and Jim Brangan ’60 were both first team All-Ivy for several years. It’s hard to imagine the impact their leaving would have been, but the Ivy League championships they experienced as seniors would never have happened.
How long would Bill Bradley ’65 have stayed at Princeton? The two-time All-American and eventual college player of the year would certainly have been tempted with gigantic offers.
Yes, I am old school and think the whole pay-for-play thing puts loyalty to your school in dire jeopardy. Maybe that’s because no one ever offered me “the big bucks.” But the toothpaste is out of the tube and can never go back in. What a shame!
In the interesting article in the latest PAW, the demon of money being paid to college athletes raised its ugly head, this time in the Ivy League.
Caden Pierce ’26, one of Princeton’s best basketball players in decades, has been caught in the crosshairs. Caden was freshman of the year and then Ivy League Player of the Year as a sophomore. An ankle injury limited his effectiveness as a junior, and I hope that was not part of his decision to sit out his senior year.
During my basketball years at Princeton (1955-58), I believe two of my teammates would have been vulnerable. Carl Belz ’59 and Jim Brangan ’60 were both first team All-Ivy for several years. It’s hard to imagine the impact their leaving would have been, but the Ivy League championships they experienced as seniors would never have happened.
How long would Bill Bradley ’65 have stayed at Princeton? The two-time All-American and eventual college player of the year would certainly have been tempted with gigantic offers.
Yes, I am old school and think the whole pay-for-play thing puts loyalty to your school in dire jeopardy. Maybe that’s because no one ever offered me “the big bucks.” But the toothpaste is out of the tube and can never go back in. What a shame!