The players are paid, sir! They are paid with four or five years of an education very very few people can afford!
They are paid with four or five years of free room and board.
They are paid by exposure to NFL scouts that would never have heard of them had they not played college football.
They are paid by the opportunity to become qualified for a fantastic salary most people can only dream of.
They are paid with a life time of networking only a select few will ever be privileged to experience.
An on and on and on!!
Did they work their buns off for that pay? Sure. But they also had a lot of fun and were rewarded with opportunities only a very few will ever receive.
Now before anyone tires to say my statements reveal personal envy .... forget it. I don't envy anyone who has worked for what they have or have accomplished, All I have done is to point out some facts that seem to be getting overlooked. Specifically, the players are paid and paid well.