Let's make one thing abundantly clear: Student-athletes—college football players, specifically, as it pertains to this discussion—are not employees. Now, whether you think they should be is a discussion for another day. But, as it stands in August 2015, they are amateurs, not professionals.
In light of the Ed O'Bannon class-action lawsuit and Northwestern unionization push, the NCAA has dug its heels in regarding this philosophy. So why are some coaches acting like their players are employees with regards to the full cost-of-attendance stipend?
It started Wednesday when Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster made a bold statement that the coaching staff was looking into "fining" players from their cost-of-attendance money for disciplinary issues.