Tommy Tuberville Speaks Out Against Payment For Student-Athletes

Former Auburn football coach and current U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville isn't big on the idea of college athletes being paid beyond the usual full tuition.

"Players are already getting paid," Tuberville told TMZ Sports. "You've got to remember that. They’re getting their scholarship."

Tuberville added that college sports aren't supposed to serve as minor leagues for pro sports. After all, there are already actual minor leagues for that.

"Plus, most (student-athletes) are getting $600, $700, $800 cash a month for what we call cost of attendance," Tuberville added. "And, so, nobody’s going hungry as a college athlete. Men and women."

Mostly, Tuberville implied that athletes who don't want to be students have options other than college.

"It should always be about education. If we get away from that, we're going to lose it," he said. "This is not a minor league farm system. It is education ... at the end of the day, it should be about education."

Tuberville compiled a 159-99 overall record as the head coach at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati from 1995-2016.