

Most important, say some former college players with local ties, is that they now will truly have a voice.

"The time's come to re-evaluate the amateur status of (college) football and basketball players. I hope this changes the conversation," said Andre Powell, a William Penn and Penn State graduate who played linebacker for the Nittany Lions in the late 1980s and early '90s.

"Universities are making so much money and they own you," said Aaron Brady, a South Western grad and former Rutgers linebacker. "Once you go to college, they own you. Unless your parents give you money, how do you have money? You don't have time to work.

"To me, this is another step toward having no NCAA."




Pro-union activists cheered as they learned of the ruling.



"It's a complicated situation ... but l think too much money is being made by so many people not putting their bodies on the line," said former Penn State linebacker and Minnesota Viking Mike Mauti. "This has been a long time coming. ... The future of college football is uncertain. The NCAA was established to help keep the money out of intercollegiate sports and, obviously, they've failed pretty miserably at that. Too much money is being made on the athletes' backs."

Northwestern University officials, meanwhile, argue that college athletes, as students, do not fit in the same category as factory workers, truck drivers and other unionized workers. The school announced plans to appeal to labor authorities in Washington, D.C.













Said Mauti: "I'm proud of Colter for what he did and for standing up for his guys like that. The guy's a leader. I give him all the support."










