Just because the athletic program makes money doesn't mean that the players in that program are professional.

I more meant that while the NCAA acts like the bedrock of their organization is Amateurism, with it's Billion Dollar TV Deals, million dollar corporate sponsorship amd 6 & 7 figures coaches, it certainly ACTS like a professional league.

It gets spent elsewhere within the department typically on programs that don't make money. It is used to provide facilities and scholarships for those other sports.

Yes, they have too. They literally HAVE to spend that money. Which is why we've seen Athletic Directors, Coaches and "Bowl Game" organizers salaries skyrocket in the past 10 years.

Without this spreading of the wealth all of that goes away. Those scholarships go away. And those student-athletes in the other programs, who face the exact same hardships as those in the profitable sports, get royally fucked as they then would cease to get a FREE EDUCATION.

I'm not arguing that. (other than the spreading of the wealth...it somehow seems to collect at the top...weird...)

BUT Then why does the NCAA give three shits about a student-athlete selling their autograph, or taking sponsorship money from OUTSIDE of the University? e.g. If I run a car dealership, and want to pay a college athlete to appear in my commercial, why should that forfeit his scholarship? I thought this was America, where I can exchange money for goods & services. Why can Chik-Fil-A give millions to sponsor the CFB Playoff game, but can't hire a player for their commercial? I mean, I went to college on an English scholarship: my University didn't give a shit what I did, as long as I maintained a B Average or better.

If the NCAA & their respective divisions, were doing all of this "For the Students", then you wouldn't have administrators getting seven figure salaries each year. Weird that their salaries skyrocketed, at the same time TV deals & sponsorship were starting to pour in...