College Athletes Taking a Stand
The Stanford football team has been calling themselves the ‘Tunnel Diggers Union’ – a colloquial term that might just foreshadow the future of college athletics. Players like linebacker Ernest Cooper and offensive lineman Fisher Anderson are at the forefront of a movement that could bring unionization to college sports. They’re establishing a player-led fraternity chapter to educate teammates and lay the groundwork for collective bargaining with the ACC.
The concept of unionization might seem far-fetched, but it’s not entirely new. In 2014, Northwestern football players attempted to unionize, but the effort ultimately ended due to the National Labor Relations Board’s ruling that it didn’t have jurisdiction over private institutions. However, the tide is changing, and there’s growing openness to college athlete unionization, including within the ACC.
Cooper and Anderson have been working with Jason Stahl, the founder of the College Football Players Association, for over a year. Stahl has a track record of organizing players at multiple schools, often quietly. He believes that formal unionization could happen by the end of the decade, but it would require a concerted effort from players, administrators, and the NCAA.
The Protect College Sports Act, a federal bill aimed at protecting college athletics, might not address player employment or collective bargaining. Other organizations, like athletes.org, have released collective bargaining frameworks, but progress is slow. The players are undeterred, however, and are working tirelessly to build their strength and create a union.
The journey won’t be easy, and Cooper and Anderson acknowledge that they might not be around to see the outcome. They’re laying the foundation for a future where every football team has elected representatives and players have a collective voice in setting the rules. The next generation of leaders in college athletics will inherit this movement, and it’s up to them to see it through.
As for now, the players are focused on creating a fraternity chapter on campus, engaging in an ACC football organizing drive, and signing up as many players as possible to have a chapter with leadership on their campus. It’s a long shot, but they’re convinced that this is the safest and best possible situation for college football players.
The path to unionization is uncertain, and there are many obstacles to overcome. However, the players are determined to push forward, and their efforts might just change the face of college athletics forever.
