UCLA Football: Chip Kelly Shares His Take On If NCAA Athletes Are Now Professionals

Chip Kelly has been in college football a long time, and it's apparent in his response to this question

UCLA was defeated by a tough Oregon State team this past Saturday by a score of 36-24. A strong Bruin rushing attack wasn't enough to topple the Beavers. Oregon State has what many consider one of the best offensive lines in college football, and they proved it yet again against one of the better defensive lines in the country. 

Chip Kelly spoke to the media on Monday and offered an interesting perspective on name, image, and likeness (NIL) money and how much of an effect it is having on college athletes. 

In a media availability session with gathered reporters, Chip Kelly had this to say about whether he thinks college athletes are pro athletes now.

“I don’t look at it that way, and I also don’t think because a pro athlete makes money that people should be allowed to criticize them, you know what I mean? You know, do people go into the workforce of some banker and just start heckling him? Saying, ‘Hey, you make $750,000 and the mortgage rates are this, inflation is at an unbelievable pace so what the heck are you guys doing? You’re absolutely out of your mind, let’s get rid of you, let’s fire this guy and cut this guy and do all that? I mean, It's the nature of sports". 

Kelly continued: 

"Everybody is allowed to have their opinion and everybody thinks they’re the manager of the New York Yankees everybody has a better way to do things, that’s what makes this country great, you are entitled to your own opinion but just because someone makes money, I don’t think we should do that, so are we going after every CEO on Wall Street? I mean, are we going after every politician now because the inflation’s through the roof? I leave that up to other people, we’re trying to get some first downs here.”

UCLA, despite a 1-2 conference record, remains in the top 25 in the latest associated press poll. They play a sneaky good Stanford Cardinal this coming Saturday, October 21st in Palo Alto. Stanford is coming off a huge 46-43 comeback win against Colorado. 

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