Kentucky baseball players won a super regional but unlike athletes in other sports, they are not on full scholarships. (Vicky Graff Photo)
When Kentucky plays Georgia in the College World Series Saturday, remember that most of UK’s players are paying to play at Kentucky just like players on every team in the World Series.
“Most of the players have maybe a 40 percent scholarship or maybe 50 or 60 percent if they are really good,” said former UK baseball coach Keith Madison, who is now an analyst for the UK Radio Network. “Players have to pay out of their pocket to play at Kentucky or bigger schools. That is just unfair.
“Look at other sports. They have full scholarships even for players on the bench. In baseball you have 10 starters and a pitching staff and you are trying to keep a roster of 30 to 35 players with 11.7 scholarships.
“College presidents need to get behind the sport and fund baseball like other sports.”
Madison noted that the College World Series makes more money than any NCAA event other than bowl games and the men’s basketball tournament.
“We need to get out of the 20th century and make it right,” Madison, who is in Omaha with the UK team, said. “I know people will say what about NIL. Well, most of the NIL money goes to football and basketball. There is some for baseball but not enough to cover the cost of education. With the money in college sports and budgets now, this is just ridiculous and it is way past time to make it right.”
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