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Grothe Thinks Players Deserve A Cut Of Sales

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2008

TAMPA - University of South Florida QB Matt Grothe would like to get paid. Actually, he thinks all college athletes should be compensated for the amount of money each school makes from selling replica jerseys with a player's number on it.

"I definitely think so," Grothe said. "All the great college players that have had thousands of their jerseys sold. The schools are making a ton of profits off it; even the places that sell them are making money. I don't understand why players shouldn't get a small percentage."

Grothe's No. 8 jersey, DE George Selvie's No. 95 and RB Mike Ford's No. 26 are available. Other replica jerseys that can be purchased include: Florida's No. 15 (Tim Tebow) and No. 1 (Percy Harvin), West Virginia's No. 5 (Pat White) and Kansas' No. 5 (Todd Reesing).

"They are making money off us, but I never thought about it that way," Selvie said. "It would be great to have some money in my pocket from people buying my jersey. But I ain't really worried about it."

For years the NCAA has allowed Nike, Under Armour and adidas to sell specific jersey numbers, matching up with the school's best players. The reason is because Grothe's No. 8 USF jersey will sell much better than a generic No. 1 USF jersey.

"Under Armour makes money, USF makes money, I make money," said Jeff Fox, owner of It's Bucs and Bulls Heaven, USF's official retailer.

The NCAA forbids a licensed dealer from selling a replica jersey with the player's name on it. But there's nothing to stop an individual from going to another business and having a name put on the jersey, Fox said.

Last year, Fox's business sold 800 No. 8 USF jerseys, he said. Only two weeks into this season, it has already sold 350 No. 8 jerseys and 200 No. 95 jerseys. They cost between $49.99 and $65.99 each.

CNBC's Darren Rovell suggests taking the 8 percent royalty off the gross jersey price and giving four percent to the school and four percent to the player.

Based on Rovell's example, Grothe would be "owed" more than $1,500. Rovell estimates if 15,000 Tebow jerseys are sold, he would be "owed" $18,000.

"We're doing it now playing, so I don't understand why we wouldn't get it now," Grothe said. "But I don't see the college rules changing anytime soon, so I don't think I should expect to get any percentage of the money made off my jersey anytime soon."

MINUS DIES: Former USF LB Mike Minus died Monday night. He was 27.

An all-state selection at Hialeah American High who played at USF from 1999-2001, Minus was killed when the semi-trailer truck he was driving overturned on Alligator Alley shortly before midnight Monday, the Florida Highway Patrol told the Sun Sentinel.

Minus was recruited by former USF safety Joe Morgan, who was two years ahead of Minus at American.

"I was his No. 1 supporter to get him here to USF," said Morgan, who played at South Florida from 1998-2001. "He was a great guy, a quiet guy.

"He wouldn't harm a fly. But on the field, he was a different animal."

FORMER PLAYERS MEETING: The USF Gridiron Alumni Association will hold its inaugural event Friday for former USF players only at the Bullioneers House, 3417 LeRoy Street from 4 p.m. until kickoff.

For information, contact Shawn Hay at board@usfgridiron.com

ODDS AND ENDS: The women's soccer team (2-1-1) hosts Stetson on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the newly renovated USF soccer stadium. ... Dan Hipsher has been promoted from assistant men's basketball coach to assistant head coach. ... The first Big East-Big Ten Baseball Challenge will be held Feb. 20-22, 2009 at spring training parks in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. USF will play Michigan, Purdue and Indiana. ... The first 20 fans to yell "Go Bulls" at today's tailgate from 3 to 6 p.m. at Alltel Wireless, 17515 Preserve Walk Lane, will receive two free club tickets for Friday's game against Kansas.

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