People might forget that there was a time when colleges did pay players, they brought in ringers, they did all sorts of underhanded stuff to get the best players. Then the schools got together and decided that was harmful to everyone. Is it so bad that the college football system tries to maintain at least the appearance of amateurism? Problem is the biggest school (forget which, Penn State or UT or Michigan or someone like that) makes close to $1 billion off their football program (or maybe it's the whole sports program, not sure). Anyway, obviously it is big business, but everyone is hurt if some schools go to a pay basis.
About the minor leagues, I really disagree that there could never be one. There is already semi-pro football across the country, it's everywhere. What they lack is quality of players and tv. The USFL got a tv contract, so did the XFL. It can be done, but the league would have to limit itself to players under say 23 and compete in cities like Austin TX. Get a tv contract, pay the players, they will sign, the dollars will flow, and the colleges can keep their "amateur" status assuming they actually enforce their academic standards. Frankly I think I'd rather watch rugby and soccer and baseball than watch LSU or some of my other favorite teams go to paying players, but I think they could more than survive with the highest quality players leaving. If you look at college basketball the big programs have done fine with the one-and-done rule siphoning off the very best (and even some players who don't even get drafted), they are doing as well or better than ever and what's more the parity has improved with all the small schools doing so well.
That's completely insane; they have about as much to lose here as anybody, which is partially why CFB isn't going anywhere.
