Last week as the UCONN Huskies were getting ready to play in the NCAA Championship game against Kentucky, Shabazz Napier shocked the country when he said sometimes he goes to bed “starving” because he can’t afford food. UCONN ended up defeating UK 60-54 and Napier was awarded the MOP. This did nothing but further the outrage people felt toward the NCAA about how they treat their student athletes and the NCAA heard it loud and clear.
Today an NCAA council approved unlimited meal plans for all student athletes according to their website.
Division I student-athletes can receive unlimited meals and snacks in conjunction with their athletics participation, the Legislative Council decided Tuesday. The rule, which applies to walk-ons as well as scholarship student-athletes, is an effort to meet the nutritional needs of all student-athletes.
The provision of meals approved today is in addition to the meal plan provided as part of a full scholarship. Prior to this change, scholarship student-athletes received three meals a day or a food stipend.
“Today we took action to provide meals to student-athletes incidental to participation,” Mulvenna said. “I think the end result is right where it needs to be.”
This is a huge win for student athletes and over the years I expect the NCAA to make more compromises until they eventually have to compensate the athletes.