Stipends and travel subsidies make sense. I think players should get about $5k a year above their scholarships to pay for normal expenses to offset how impossible it is to work a summer job. And I think travel for parents to games should be comped (i.e. they can book the airfare and get it reimbursed by the school). I see no evil or harm in that.
I agree that it's impossible for these kids to make any money due to football being a year round obligation now. So there are only two viable options IMO.
1). Pay players "X" amount over their scholarship. This figure should be based upon what an average student would make having summer job. Somewhere between 5-8k would suffice, and this would be distributed some how by the NCAA, NOT the schools.
2). A football dead period from mid May-end of July. Football players are completely removed from any football relate obligations.. If they want to workout it's on their own accord but they have no communication what so ever with any football staff, not even Equipment Managers. This would allow them to get a job and (gasp) be kids. Holy hell what a novel idea. Unfortunately this would never even be an option due to the impact it would cause to the product on the field. (sigh)
Side note-sorry I think it's the sole responsibility of the parent to the finance the trip to see their child play, no one else's. I know I'm a heartless a$$ hole.