Slavery in America in the 21st Century

Here's how the NCAA describes its basic function:

Founded more than one hundred years ago as a way to protect student-athletes, the NCAA continues to implement that principle with increased emphasis on both athletics and academic excellence.

We all know that they really are not interested in "academic excellence".  And it also seems evident that they have little interest in "protect(ing) student-athletes".  One has only to look at their transfer policy to see that.

Should an athlete decide to transfer, he must follow the rules of the NCAA, the conference in which the school competes and the letter of intent he signed when he was still in high school.  The letter of intent was originally intended to stop the pursuit of high school players; now it is used as a way to stop the athlete from transferring.  Fundamentally, it comes down to the coach deciding to which school the athlete transfers. If the coach does not grant a release, the player must forfeit any scholarship opportunity, pay his own way to the new university and sit out the next season. The player really is on the short end of the stick. In the case described in the NY Times article, the coach refused forty requests by the player.  Once the student signs the letter of intent, he really becomes an indentured servant.

On the other hand, the coach, the student's master, can easily move to another college, usually for as healthy increase in his compensation.

Note: I found it ironic that a state university, Oklahoma State, pays its football coach over $3,000,000 a year.