NCAA President Mark Emmert said that athletes would hurt traditions . National ##ly , sports as we know them will end , he testified . Emmert said officials at several member schools have told him that if athletes were to start getting paid beyond the cost of attendance , institutions would ditch Division I sports and opt for Division II or III , in which coach 's salaries , stadiums , hype and scholarships are much smaller . ` ` people come to watch ... because it 's just sports , '' he said in federal court . Ex - UCLA player Ed Reed sued to allow athletes to be paid for images , however .
NCAA President Mark Emmert said that athletes would hurt traditions . National ##ly , sports as we know them will end , he testified . ` ` people come to watch ... because it 's just sports , '' he said in federal court . Ex - UCLA player Ed Reed sued to allow athletes to be paid for images , however .