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The big-wigs of the NCAA, which is just a bunch of college admins and old athletic directors who wish they were fishing but have to actually deal with stuff now, are talking this week about how they’re gonna get ahead of N.I.L. and really rein in college sports boosters. I can’t wait. I love a good comedy.
The time to do that was ten years ago, but they didn’t want to deal with it. Now… they think they’ve got a problem. They problem is that they seem to not understand States have legalized N.I.L. and they have no standing. Even if the NCAA came back and said we’re gonna pay athletes wages and gonna let them unionize, it wouldn’t stop N.I.L.
No more than the NFL can tell Patrick Mahomes how much he can make in endorsements, the NCAA can’t tell any athlete how much they can make repping chicken and car lots. It’s legal.
So, what will the NCAA do?
They’ll try and shutdown things like the Matador Club which works to fund N.I.L. deals for Texas Tech. It’s an umbrella organization that facilitates deals for Texas Tech players with willing sponsors. And it’s 100% legal and right. It’s a defacto sports agency and that’s OK.
This week, Sports Illustrated has a great article you need to read about how the NCAA is trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. It’s a desperate attempt to maintain control of the financials that have made coaches right, built schools opulent facilities and rewarded a bloat of administrators with huge contracts in the six-figures each year. Make no mistake. This is why many colleges hate N.I.L.
It’s gonna make them work in the real world.
I get it that some folks don’t like N.I.L. and the Transfer Portal. I do think schools can get a handle on the transfer portal and limit it from a when you can and when you can’t and focus that period of time down that will help programs and even players.
But when it comes to N.I.L. they’ve already given that away. As for going after organizations like the Matador Club at Texas Tech. Much like in Tombstone, I think Cody Campbell and friends would tell the NCAA, ”I don’t think we’ll let you arrest us today”.
The lawsuits would be epic and the NCAA would lose.
The NCAA would lose because they’re on the losing end of an argument that they saw coming for years and refused to deal with in a constructive manner. And I love it.
I’ve seen what it’s been like for Texas Tech for nearly 100 years of The Good Ole Days of college sports. I’m ready to see what Texas Tech can do when their new-generation of boosters and donors are allowed to go toe-to-toe with the ”Blue-Bloods” of college sports. That’s who hates this. The schools that have dominated for decades in the shadows and under-the-table. Well. Now. Let’s all play the same game. …
N.I.L. is good for athletes and if schools like Texas Tech will embrace it, it can be great for them too. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to embrace the future of what college sports is and can be. And it’s not bad.
Last time I checked, I was told, ”From Here, It’s Possible”; regarding Texas Tech. I think that’s true and from here, Texas Tech can achieve great things in sports while being morally honest and properly rewarding the people who generate the largess, the fun and the money for those who rep the Double T.
Hyatt
Most of the brand names/blue bloods are going to do very well with the new rules. Saying they won’t do well with limited rules regarding paying athletes is unintelligent. The new rules might give schools like Tech a chance to get some players that might not otherwise consider Tech, but that remains to be seen and proven. I think there are more negatives than positives – at this point, regarding the NIL rules. Many athletes will get paid, some athletes a lot, most athletes less, but not all athletes will get paid and that will cause issues. Before long, someone will challenge this as a Title IX issue because it will discriminate against certain athletes. There’s already been an athlete that was unhappy with his NIL contract and renegotiated publicly. Athletes are being recruited by a different school than the athlete currently attends with the promise of larger NIL deals. All that being said, it’s here and every school must deal with it. I’m very glad that Tech has jumped into the deep end of the pool and is doing everything they can within the ‘rules’ to make Tech a very desirable destination for every athlete.
This will help Texas Tech. It will improve college sports and ensure it survives.
Hyatt