Gino Pazzaglini: Use NCAA money to aid students

Although Yankee transplants rooted here five years, we have absolutely caught basketball fever and have cheered ACC teams on the NCAA national stage.

Luke DeCock’s April 2 column “ACC’s Final Four success a windfall for every team in league” about the millions of dollars coming from the ACC’s successful expansion may offer a “call to action” opportunity for these exciting and talented student-athletes.

DeCock estimated a $1.6 million payout for each ACC school in June 2017, over $400,000 more than expected. UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham suggested that these “new” monies might be used to provide financial support for “non-revenue” sports and for “cost-of-attendance” offsets, both of which benefit students.

Wise budget management decisions, but I wonder what input our student-athletes have in deciding how some of the extra money earned in championship victories could be used for their fellow students. Academic scholarships for disadvantaged? Special mentoring programs?

We hear negative things about “one and dones.” Here’s a chance to band together with one voice and give back in a real way.

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Gino Pazzaglini: Use NCAA money to aid students."