FSU Football: Willie Taggart right in wanting college athletes to be paid

FSU football fans should be happy that their leaders wants those suiting up for the Seminoles and all other programs to get what they deserve.

If the past few weeks, the debate about athletes in college sports getting paid for the use of their likeness has been amplified due to the state of California approving a bill into law that will require such a practice in 2023 – a move that those in the FSU football family should pay attention to because our state could be next.

The move has been at the center of a fire storm over whether college athletes – who at this point receive their school paid for as well as perks like money for housing and meals during the week – should receive extra cash for the use of their name, image or uniforms to be sold to the general public through items such as video games.

You can add the leader of the FSU football team to the list of those who support the move – and those who root for the Seminoles should stand behind Willie Taggart as the man who wants what is best for the players.

Florida State Seminoles Football

Before California officially based the bill and signed it into law, Willie Taggart expressed his support for the idea of allowing players to get money off the use of their name.

"Whatever we can do to better and help our student-athletes is always a good thing,” he told the Orlando Sentinel. “If they can profit from their likeness, I think that’s fair. I mean, it’s a new time. We don’t live where we used to live. We don’t live there anymore. Times are different.”"

It’s something that has sparked controversy from those both old school and new school who think college athletes should either fight for more or be happy with what they are getting at this point – and while no one is saying players should be paid millions of dollars, the argument is there that they are being exploited by the programs they are playing for.

Each week, thousands of FSU football fans rock jerseys with the numbers of Cam Akers, James Blackman and more – but neither one of those names gets a dime of the money despite the fact that they are the ones who have made the jerseys worth being purchased in the first place.

At this point, I am on the side of giving athletes some kind of bonus – whether it’s paying them minimum wage salaries while at practices and games like it’s a part time job to allow them to get some spending money, for example, or even setting them aside with money should they get their degree.

It’s a debate that is going to rage no matter what the future holds – but it’s a good thing the Seminoles have a leader on the right side of this issue.