Name Image Likeness

[Stephen Gray]

But nil money doesn't come from the Universities does it? I was under the impression that Universities could not fund nil deals? I could be wrong. I certainly stand to be corrected on this. As I don't think nil money cost the University anything.

It does not. It comes from whoever wants to make deals with the athletes. Basically now they have the same possibility of any other student to make money off their names, images, and likenesses if someone is interested in sponsoring them. Typically this is gonna be some business that wants to use them in their marketing.

When I put it like that it sounds like we are just making it fair for the athlete by allowing them the same right as any other kid. The university is not at least directly involved in paying them, though one wonders how involved they might be in finding the deals. I really am not sure.

I’m ok with this myself but my argument for leveling the field is also a little misleading because your typical student is not likely to have a name, image, or likeness that many will be interested in using, while elite athletes will. Now is that the athletes fault that most other students might not be interesting from s marketing point of view? I mean they did all the work to get themselves to prominence.

Like I said, I’m ok with it but I think it’s important to point out the nuances. Like plenty want to imply athletes are now paid employees of the university. This is not true.

They are certainly paid, and now it’s not violating any policy whereas before it was not allowed by the NCAA. To be an employee though they would have to be paid by the university, which this whole thing seems designed to avoid intentionally.

Now I don’t know how kids are getting these deals on a practical level or who is reaching out to who to make them aware of opportunities. So even though they might not be employees if university people are working to secure the opportunities some mig my have an issue with that. On the other hand is it that different from the UT career center helping to line up interviews?

I am no expert, have barely looked into it and need to know a lot more before I could decide how I fully feel but the idea of athletes benefiting more from the work they do on a monetary level is not problematic to me in and of itself.

 

[Boone&Crockett]

But nil money doesn't come from the Universities does it? I was under the impression that Universities could not fund nil deals? I could be wrong. I certainly stand to be corrected on this. As I don't think nil money cost the University anything.

I am unsure of this as well, the University used to could sell jerseys with players names, memorabilia, they made money from video games etc etc. if that is still the case wouldn't the University have to compensate those players?

 

[Stephen Gray]

I am unsure of this as well, the University used to could sell jerseys with players names, memorabilia, they made money from video games etc etc. if that is still the case wouldn't the University have to compensate those players?

That’s a good question. I was thinking more like the French’s deal Hooker got and didn’t even think of that.

 

[GVol1966]

But nil money doesn't come from the Universities does it? I was under the impression that Universities could not fund nil deals? I could be wrong. I certainly stand to be corrected on this. As I don't think nil money cost the University anything.

You are correct

 

[WBO]

I get the argument, and as football fans we tend to care less about the whole student athlete thing, but this is not looking at the big picture.

We have guys who want to play pro ball but the truth is the vast majority of NCAA athletes never will be professionals in their sport and the education they get is still very much important.

It looks less so if you are looking at football starters but plenty of students I knew who were in something like cross country or some other sport and also had excellent academics. Even most of the football guys will not play pro.

Football may be why they are mainly here but it’s a mistake to not take advantage of the educational opportunity they get. I think as fans we should want them to be successful even if they do not make it in sports at the next level.

Now college is not the only way someone can be successful. Plenty of people I’ve worked with are self taught and do not have degrees. Skills matter most in a lot of fields, but that doesn’t mean formal degrees can’t be helpful.

Actually I should say I was just throwing that out there. In reality a lot of the young men are using college to get ahead and your point is totally valid. Even a couple of years can get an athlete a leg up on state and local government positions, not to mention getting the full degree. Think of all those kids playing on scholarship at a UTSA or Montana State. They may deep down still have a dream of pro success but they know what the future is, hopefully have a good academic support program and get that degree.

To that extent college athletics has been a huge success. But the excesses have delivered a tough bill to pay now.

 

[Stephen Gray]

Actually I should say I was just throwing that out there. In reality a lot of the young men are using college to get ahead and your point is totally valid. Even a couple of years can get an athlete a leg up on state and local government positions, not to mention getting the full degree. Think of all those kids playing on scholarship at a UTSA or Montana State. They may deep down still have a dream of pro success but they know what the future is, hopefully have a good academic support program and get that degree.

To that extent college athletics has been a huge success. But the excesses have delivered a tough bill to pay now.

Agree completely. There are big advantages with how big some sports have gotten but also it has costs.