Were Reggie Bush and Chris Webber ahead of their time?

Reggie Bush and Chris Webber were found by the NCAA to have accepted gifts in violation of NCAA rules. Their schools, USC and Michigan, were severely punished. (And a good man, Michigan basketball coach Steve Fisher, was unfairly fired.) A recent National Labor Relations Board decision (see - College athletes union could put billions at stake) may lead to paying college players during their college careers. College coaches already earn millions. Is the NCAA entirely blameless here?