NCAA President Mark Emmert said paying athletes would hurt traditions . National championships , camaraderie as we know them would end , he testified . Emmert said he believes the customs that most college sports fans hold most dear -- the camaraderie of game day , the tailgating , the atmosphere of a stadium packed with nearly 100,000 fans and the pride of cheering for a university team -- are at stake . The NCAA is the only major college sports organization that does not have a television deal with ESPN or Fox Sports 1 and has no plans to do so in the near future. because it 's college sports , '' he said in federal court . Ex-UCLA player Ed O'Bannon sued to allow athletes to be paid for images , likenesses .
NCAA President Mark Emmert said paying athletes would hurt traditions . National championships , camaraderie as we know them would end , he testified . The NCAA is the only major college sports organization that does not have a television deal with ESPN or Fox Sports 1 and has no plans to do so in the near future. because it 's college sports , '' he said in federal court . Ex-UCLA player Ed O'Bannon sued to allow athletes to be paid for images , likenesses .