I was really interested in the discussion we had in class on Wednesday, but I think some compelling arguments were made for both sides. I think that big schools that get recognition pay their athletes in the way of large publicity, so that those athletes may be able to have a career out of college. Don't give them any more money, put the extra money (if you have it) towards charity or education programs, but those top-level athletes probably don't need it.
I'm also still stuck on the fact that if high-performing student-athletes got paid, so should high-performing students in academics. That would provide more incentive for students to do well and it would take away some of that separation between student-athletes and just regular students.
Furthermore, I think the opportunity for paid sports in college opens lots more doors for possible discrimination, whether it be gender-based, class-based, sport-based, etc.