<p>The NCAA through its Special Assistance Fund gave member schools over $53 million last year to distribute to mostly needy student-athletes for emergency type expenses in addition to regular scholarship money and which can exceed the COA. The money can be given to needy student-athletes for needs like basic clothes, emergency travel like a parent’s death to get home, emergency dental work etc. There are no set in stone ways schools must use the money; for example, a school might give each of its Pell student-athletes a $250 Macy’s gift card each semester for clothes and ask that receipts be turned into athletic dept to try to reduce any abuse spending the money.</p>
<p>*Quote:
BUT that does beg Mom2’s question…can these students take out a Stafford loan to cover these costs. Another poster upstream seemed to imply that they could not do this either. </p>
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<p>Sure they can. I’m still waiting for the “proof” that they can’t take out loans… *</p>
<p>That’s what I keep wondering.</p>
<p>When I listen to people talk about the situation that poor athletes not having any pocket money…and therefore they are tempted to do “illegal things” like sell text books…no one ever mentions that they would get Pell Grants or that they can take out student loans up to the cost of COA.</p>
<p>And…for those who don’t get “full head” scholarships, it would seem that it would totally make sense to let them take out student loans.</p>
<p>I am working with an athlete who is getting a partial scholarship next year. He is getting Pell and is eligible for Stafford loans. If he can’t take one out, he can’t go.</p>
<p>*The Pell Grant is an entitlement. If you are eligible for the Pell based on your FAFSA EFC, you GET the Pell. *</p>
<p>Oh I agree…I was just wondering if - say a full head football scholarship - would get reduced by Pell Amount…so the student would never see the “cash”. </p>
<p>In the big picture, VERY FEW get full-ride scholarships for athletics. They are in a minority contrary to popular belief…</p>
<p>Very true… certain sports are “full head” types…like mens football and basketball…and womens basketball, gymnastics, tennis, and volleyball…and others are equivalency (split scholarships). </p>
<p>This can be surprising to all those parents of soccer players who thought their star child was going to get a full ride somewhere.</p>
<p>Football only at the Football Bowl Series and men’s basketball. Women’s basketball is another one that is typically full-rides. That’s it. Most of your sports are split scholarships and football below FBS are also split up normally.</p>
<p>I expect that the young man I am helping will never get a full scholarship. However, we hope that he does well enough this year to see an increase in the amount that will cover the loan he has to take out. He is playing D II football. I expect that the Pell will always be figured in.</p>
<p>He may always need a small loan to cover expenses.</p>
<p>Pell grants provide ~ $1200 pocket money…above the schollie.</p>
<p>Did you know there is a taxable income statement submitted for scholarships?</p>
<p>Under the 1098-Scholarship/Financial Aid for Tuition, books, and fees are not considered taxable income.</p>
<p>However, Scholarship/Financial Aid for Room and Board is considered taxable income.</p>
<p>That is, for regular students.</p>
<p>For Scholarship Athletes, Room and Board is considered a mandatory condition for employment, therefore not taxable.
NCAA enforces treating the student/athletes as amateurs.</p>
<p>Except it seems re: agreeing with the tax code when it comes to the tax treatment for room and board, where the players suddenly became employees.</p>
<p>Did you see where Coach Spurrier said he would pay $300 a player per game from his salary?</p>
<p>With the NCAA ruling on Cecil Newton, why not just pay the parents ;)</p>