Graduating Northwestern QB Kain Colter is starting an unprecedented movement in college athletics. Today will see the formation of the first college sports union in history. Kain Colter has the backing of many of his Northwestern Wildcats players, as well as some heavy hitters in the political and labor rights world. This morning, National College Players Association leader Ramogi Huma, CAPA’s new president; Kain Colter; and, United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo W. Gerard; and Tim Waters, USW Political Director made their plans public and their case to the court of public opinion.
Kain Colter said this isn’t about pay for play, it’s about having rights.
“It’s almost like a dictatorship,” Kain Colter said of the NCAA. “We want someone who is going to be looking out for us.”
Evidence was offered as to why the new union is necessary to challenge the treatment of players under the current pay-for-play system for college athletes, and a statement was made by Northwestern football players explaining why they are supporting the CAPA petition.
Here’s the statement:
“We Northwestern football players are grateful for our opportunity to play football for a prestigious university and athletic program. However, just as other athletes who compete in multi-billion dollar industries have done, we must secure and maintain comprehensive protections by asserting the rights afforded to us under labor laws. We are not taking these measures out of any mistreatment from Northwestern. However, we recognize the need to eliminate unjust NCAA rules that create physical, academic, and financial hardships for college athletes across the nation.
“To remain silent while players are denied justice is to be complicit in inflicting injustice on future generations of college athletes.”
Here’s video of Kain Colter at the presser in Chicago this morning
Huma filed a petition in Chicago on behalf of football players at Northwestern University, submitting the form at the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board., a former UCLA linebacker, who created the NCPA as an advocacy group in 2001. “Athletes deserve an equal voice when it comes to their physical, academic and financial protections.” Kain Colter of course made waves back in late September for showing his public support of APU, the All Players United movement during a college football game. Colter also appeared on ESPN2 “Outside the Lines” this afternoon to promote the mission of CAPA.
Learn more about CAPA at collegeathletespa.org and on Twitter @CAPAssociation
Here’s more reaction to today’s ground-breaking events:
Northwestern responds with a statement from A.D. Dr. Jim Phillips
NCAA responds via the head of their legal team
Learn more about CAPA here and follow them on Twitter
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar in media studies, he’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on ESPN, NBC, CBS and Fox Sports Radio. A former writer for NBCChicago.com and WashingtonTimes.com, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)