Stanford Cardinal coach David Shaw was pretty direct when asked about his thoughts regarding player stipends, a topic that has gained a lot of momentum these past few months. Among the supporters of the let’s-pay-players idea is Larry Scott, Pac-12 commissioner, but the Stanford coach is a vocal proponent of the opposing side.

Here’s Shaw, speaking at the Pac-12’s media days event on Friday:

If the NCAA does pass this rule, we will comply, but my big comment is we’re also giving these guys a $58,000 per year education and unbelievable contacts and summer jobs and great opportunities as well, and it’s our job to make sure that these guys take advantage of these opportunities. I like to say that our job is to teach these guys how to make a living and not have them make a living in college (CBS Sports).

Shaw continued:

If the rule changes, great, but I was a college student-athlete once. These kids aren’t starving. They’re already getting room, books, board. We always have to remember that they are still amateurs. Give someone a fish and you can feed him for a day, teach them how to catch a fish and you can feed him for a lifetime. Throwing money at a problem isn’t solving a problem.

Shaw concluded by saying that the NCAA should focus on raising graduation rates as opposed to butting heads over whether players should be paid.

[Source: CBS Sports]