Dgriz94 said:
Bobby doesn't strike me as the kind of coach who would say, "Come to Montana for all that extra chedda." I think it's an awesome bill if it passes, however I just can't see our current coaching staff using this as a recruiting tool.
All my links to recruited HS athletes have been second or third hand, usually through a bragging parent. Thus, I don't know how a recruiting visit and/or follow-up plays out. However, I
assume that potential recruits get some sort of packet with information about the school, including its academic and sports programs. It would be a simple thing to include, "Under current NCAA rules, student-athletes are permitted to market their name, image, and likeness, as long as they follow specific guidelines. For further information, contact the UM Compliance Office."
Not sure how long it will take or what it will look like, but I'm convinced that this NIL thing is going to happen. Still, "control" is the name of the game for the NCAA, and the schools. If they don't assert control thru the Compliance Office, they'll most likely create a "Student-Athlete Marketing Office," or some such. And yes, they'll be wanting a cut, just as with all the fan gear sold already. Still, I see no reason why whatever new comes along can't be folded into the schools' existing marketing efforts.
BTW, it's not accurate to say that student-athletes "don't make a dime" from what's being sold now. They do "profit," even if it doesn't put money directly in their pockets. Start with their
subsidized education.The scholarship may not cover full "cost of attendance," but it's more than the average student gets. Now add in a fully-equipped training facility (at most decent programs anyway), and a bevy of personal trainers ... all at no cost to the athlete. Who do you think pays for all that? At least part of it comes from TV deals and gear sales.
Independent athletes -- think most Olympic sports -- have to pay for those amenities out of their own pockets. Of course, the "pockets" could be parents or some sponsoring organization, but you get my drift. Back when I had a day job, a coworker had an ambition to compete in Olympic archery. She spent a small fortune on gear, professional training, fees for a top-level shooting range (located then in Salt Lake), and travel to meets. That's another freebie for college student-athlete, BTW: travel costs, which add up in a hurry. I don't recall her name, so I don't know if she ever achieved her ambition.
I think our recruiting will suffer against other schools that DO offer, because I think they will infer that more money will be available with their school vs. us.
