Quite a few topics to comment on. My background was as a DII soccer player at a non-scholarship school at the time Title IX came into being. Having to prove to the administration and compete with other men's sports programs on who could survive on 50% of the previous years funding to allow the budget to accomodate the new women's programs. Seeing other men's programs cut and male athletes having to decide to stay and not play or transfer schools to have a chance at their sport, while bare bones female athletics took over with about 1/3 the amount of participants. Needless to say - our football program was not able to provide for all of the sports.
This said - the distiction should be made to the level of competition. The select 1A programs who can field top football teams and in turn can support a large stadium, coaching staff and associated media, medical, training and commerical ventures (which we also must remember provides experiences for students in associated fields) is small compared to the total number of programs in the US . WIS uses over 600 teams (I know some don't play now and there are many schools not included) and the number of these schools which can provide extensive overflow funding to other sports is probably at 10%, mostly at the D1A level. D1AA and below make enough to run their programs but can't contribute significantly to the bottom line of the general athletics budget, much less pay athletes to play. These players also are under no illusion they will see a NFL payoff after their collegiate days are done.
So the 3000 or so football athletes playing at the D1A programs play for the following reasons: 1) they played at a high level in their past and wish to continue at that level, 2) they have had the dream of playing at one of top schools (Rudy?) 3) they think that they may have the chance to be in the top 100 to 200 college players per year that can have a shot to play in the NFL and want more exposure or 4) (most likely, as if they can play D1A - they could play DIII) D1A can offer them the full ride + perks scholarship that the lower division schools cannot offer.
The players in the spotlight of this debate have also seemed to be the annointed star of each prominant sports seasons recruiting or conference who could garner attention from many schools and uses that to their advantage. These players and the alleged accomplices of alumni, coaches and parents (come on, Cam - you knew! and Reggie - didn't you wonder how Mom got that great house?) disgrace the rest of the players and places this entire debate in front of amatuer/college sports. I haven't heard in the media about the hot lacrosse prospect getting numerous tricked out Humvees to drive around town.
The NCAA has exacerbated the ruckus by not being able to recognize the pressures placed on todays 18 yo HS super-star children suddenly given the run of the toy store, especially in those top 60 schools, and have no specific moral obligation to be 'Amatuer'. It would seem that a system of accountability for any school who wishes to go above and beyond would be more logical and modern. Accurately list all financial benefits the athlete has received ($$$, cars, trips, etc) and place a cap on the total spending based on a yearly formula approved by all the schools who wish to participate, a super NCAA if you wish. Exceeding this cap would not cause moral recriminations for the program, coaches or players, but significant financial penalties. School roster size would be set, like the NFL, and, perhaps, be liable for a decrease if graduation goals are not met. Teams who don't wish to participate in this program would continue in another division and follow current rules. Other sports at that school could remain independent of this agreement if the school wishes. This may be a benefit for the future as when the day comes that financial aspects of sports indicate that being a member of the NCAA is not in the interest of the school or schools, they may decide to secede and form a league outside the NCAA and abandon all other sports. The NCAA has stated that the BCS is not part of the NCAA and they cannot control how it is arranged (but they listen to it for NC awards). An independent league is not too far away if the money is right.