Sorry, but you seem to be arguing that players are "employees" and subject to Federal and state labor laws. Just because you commit to participating in mandated practice and losing your grant because you don't show up does not make you an employee. An employee is one who exchanges labor for wages or salary and a grant is neither. Moreso, if players are "employees", you now must qualify for American for Disabilities Act, Non-Discrimination, and a host of other regulations. In short …
Student Athletes are NOT employees. Nor do they have employee rights.
I think what some have alluded to is an interesting angle … let professional or sports unions provide the grants rather than the AA. If a player wants to play for a D1 school, let the NFL provide a stipend and guarantee that the player would be evaluated after his service. The NFL could even make them an "employee" under such rules much like ROTC works. A cadet is an employee and received service credit while in school and can be eligible for service benefits.
There appears, once again, to be no strategy and we will get a patchwork of solutions.