Wisconsin basketball player Nigel Hayes used the Ohio State-Wisconsin football game tonight as a platform to send a strong message to the NCAA.
Attending “College GameDay” Saturday morning in Madison, Wisconsin, he held a sign that is sure to get some national attention.
Wisconsin basketball player @NIGEL_HAYES making big statement at College Gameday today with sign (H/T @BadgerBeat) pic.twitter.com/esPl6HQNTi
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 15, 2016
In addition to the message “broke college athlete,” Hayes made it clear he’ll accept donations via Venmo.
The basketball player preempted his maneuver Friday night with a pointed observation about how much money the Big Ten rakes in compared to his total scholarship.
The @bigten made nearly $450 million.
My scholarship is about $160,00.
If only there was enough money to pay us.. pic.twitter.com/EPV1d0I16X
— Nigel Hayes-Davis (@NIGEL_HAYES) October 14, 2016
While many will say he is getting more than his fair share by receiving his scholarship, it must be pointed out that basketball players and other major sports figures in college bring in millions upon millions to their schools.
Student athletes don’t have time to work a side job in between classes, practices and games. With that in mind, some extra money for food, clothes and transportation isn’t too much to ask.