Admittedly, the word and its use, especially in the context it was dropped, have become so accepted and common that it slipped past me.
Thanks to my friend Terri, though, a little discussion about what college student-athletes “deserve” based on a messaging from a recent podcast guest helped me revisit the topic.
So, what do Penn State student-athletes deserve in terms of support? How much do they deserve?
After all, they receive scholarships, room and board, books and fees, training tables, medical treatments, and, in the high-profile sports, pay-for-play deals — which are conveniently referred to as name, image and likeness opportunities. Someday the world of college athletics and the media will become more forthcoming, point out the pay and maybe even share salary numbers. (OK, that’s my unlikely dream.)
Anyway, Penn State officials will tell you those in uniform representing the university deserve more — any revenue they can generate — because it costs millions to build and maintain rosters these days. There’s also the ever-growing cost of infrastructure and support staff for an athletic department.
Broadening it a bit — especially after the first full week of college football season and the 2026 debut of Beaver Stadium — it seems there are some other deserving audiences as well.
Specifically broadcast partners and fans. Especially fans.
What do they deserve?
Broadcast partners help fund the entire endeavor with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual rights fees. They deserve better access and cooperation, as evidenced by last week’s Western Michigan-Michigan game when the Big Ten Conference apparently had its own game clock that was not synchronized with the one used for the NBC broadcast.
If that’s how the Big Ten treats a partner, then it’d be interesting to find out how they treat a competitor. All the broadcast partners, across conferences (not just the Big Ten, it’s just the most recent offender), deserve better access and cooperation.
The broadcast money makes things happen and while some people fairly believe the networks have too much power, they should be getting a little more for their money. At a minimum they should have access to conference rules officials during football games to better serve viewers.
Ultimately, it’s the fans — at home and in person — who really deserve more. A broadcast tweak like that mentioned above would help those at home.
Those blue-and-white faithful in person at Beaver Stadium deserve a different kind of respect. Specifically financial respect.
While football players and other student-athletes “deserve” support — more money — does it have to come at the cost of a $5.50 bottle of water, a $6.50 hot dog or a $17.25 chicken basket for fans on a Saturday? Do fans have to become real-life giving trees?
Because at some point there’s a limit.
Sure, the Penn State fan base, like almost all of them these days, is turning over a bit. Some older fans are stepping aside and many, thousands perhaps (it’s a big alumni base), are happy to take their place. They may tap a card and not worry about what something costs.
Because of that, those Penn State Athletics “experiences” that went on sale a few weeks ago will attract buyers — just as there will be ample interest in the upcoming club seating options at Beaver Stadium. Because there are thousands of fans for whom the stadium is a field of dreams, people will most definitely come.
At the same time, does that make it right to squeeze every possible dollar out of them?
Fans deserve more — and just a little more would be great. In this case, a little more would mean less. As in less costly.
What if a bottle of water were only $3 (not $5.50). Or a hot dog $5 (not $6.50)?
It’s not about lowering the cost of everything at the stadium. That would be irresponsible and silly. Let people pay for alcohol, for sure.
But it would be better, and more-fan-friendly, if there were just a couple of things that were reasonably priced.
Heck, there’s a linebacker (Caleb Bacon) with a PA Pork deal. There must be some way to further activate his deal by promoting hot dogs in the stadium and getting fans a little something they deserve.
Sure, you can make the case that student-athletes deserve support. That’s clearly a big part of the message and mindset for Penn State Athletics.
Those athletes should also do all that’s possible when they’re competing or representing the blue and white to earn support.
And fans deserve support as well — just a little something so you’re not always asking them for more. Then, in turn, they might feel a little more comfortable reciprocating and buying some other overpriced item and the relationship might not feel so one-sided.
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