re: Controlling improper benefits?

it's a Pandora's Box that you can never open. First off, there are legal Title IX issues that would prevent you for just offering it to football players. But even if you can get around that, you'll get into cost of living adjustments for rural towns like Starkville compared to Nashville or Los Angeles. Then you'll later get into annual cost of living increases for inflation. You'll have to have a payroll system because you can deal w/ cash, and you'll have to issue W-2 or 1099 each year... no matter what the NCAA or SEC decides, the IRS has very enforceable laws and regulation of paying people. So w/ Uncle Sam taking his bite, the money shrinks and becomes more of a hassle that it's worth.

Spurrier and the co-signers knew such a deal was DOA, but they've earned a lot of goodwill w/ the players and recruits that they understand the situation isn't fair, but they tried and there is nothing more they can do.