Pay for play is the phrase that’s thrown around pretty often these days. But this week, it’s taking on a new meaning for scholarship football players at Louisiana.

It’s pay to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns and head coach Billy Napier. That’s right, Napier is requiring all of his scholarship athletes to make a $50 donation to the school’s Ragin’ Cajun Athletic Fund. It’s a move he deems as a gratuitous gesture.

Walk-on players will have the option to make a payment or not.

“It’s all about gratitude,” Napier said, according to a report from The Advocate.

Napier agrees that his request is a little unorthodox, but he believes the athletic department could benefit from the funds.

“That’s probably a little bit unheard of and a little bit unique, but I think this is a place where that would be appreciated,” Napier said. “I think it’s art of the type of program that we want to have. We want our players to be educated and understand the benefits that come with being a student-athlete and that is not something that should be taken lightly.  The effort and time and investment that the people that support athletes at UL have put in into this program.”

In a world where many are debating whether or not student-athletes should be paid as employees, this kind of request is certain to catch some attention. And already, Napier’s comment’s have been walked back by the university.

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Louisiana Director of Athletics Bryan Maggard said that Napier’s comments were “well intended,” but that players will not be required to donate. They do have the option to contribute, should they be interested.

It was smart for the university to walk back Napier’s statements so quickly. Still, the head coach will probably catch some grief for a while about that.