NIL Compensation For College Athletes

[Spanky2]

NIL compensation for college athletes will change all college sports from what has been amateur in practice to some college athletes offering their services to the highest bidders. Will NIL only be a factor with schools like Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State or will it also become prevalent at the level of Montana and North Dakota State? I wonder as a former President of an athletic association just how much NIL will impact life choices of high school athletes knowing they may soon become wealthy as a NCAA athlete.

 

[IdaGriz01]

I don't see how it can not change athletics in many sports. When rating services now dip deep into high school to rate athletes (admittedly mostly in football and basketball) and some even get offers years before they will graduate, how could it not have a major impact?

But who knows exactly how it will all play out? That's the rub.

Here's an odd notion: It might actually strengthen the collegiate level for the so-call "Olympic" sports. Right now, a just-below-elite skier (as an example) might go pro to eke out a career as they develop. Now that NIL sponsorships are okay, more of them might join college teams while they improve their skills and gain experience. Just a thought.

 

[AZDoc]

To even the playing field they just need to limit compensation. That puts all schools at the same level. 25k a year max or something like that. Then, for example, a kid with last name Ford could make 25 k in Tuscaloosa or Missoula being a dealership spokesperson…

 

[fanofzoo]

How will NIL affect team chemistry ? I can't imagine that it would promote unity.

 

[MikeyGriz]

To even the playing field they just need to limit compensation. That puts all schools at the same level. 25k a year max or something like that. Then, for example, a kid with last name Ford could make 25 k in Tuscaloosa or Missoula being a dealership spokesperson…

And continue this after they get out of school also, correct? Ditch diggers and brain surgeons make the same? 25k a year max or something like that.............

 

[AZDoc]

To even the playing field they just need to limit compensation. That puts all schools at the same level. 25k a year max or something like that. Then, for example, a kid with last name Ford could make 25 k in Tuscaloosa or Missoula being a dealership spokesperson…

And continue this after they get out of school also, correct? Ditch diggers and brain surgeons make the same? 25k a year max or something like that.............

It was just an example there, genius, to make a point. Point being set a limit on the amounts, whatever that may be, to even the playing field and avoid the possibility of the rich just getting richer, per the point of the thread.
I played football in college. I am a physician. I didn't make 25k a year in addition to having my education paid for that led to me going to medical school. So if they WANT to be a ditch digger and make 25k afterward...so be it. It is up to them what they do with their education. No reason to be an ass about the comment.

 

[Boscoe]

With the size and dedication of our fan base, doesn’t the emergence of NIL opportunities offer us a chance to get a leg up on other FCS programs? I believe University of Texas boosters have created a 501c3 called the Pancake Factory where offensive linemen can earn up to 50k in NIL money. The have a similar program for tight ends called “burnt ends”. Couldn’t our fans and boosters do something similar for our o linemen? Call it the DOLA dollar club or something? Give them up to 10k? How many other FCS programs could pull something like that off? I feel like this presents us with an opportunity should we use it.

 

[AZGrizFan]

With the size and dedication of our fan base, doesn’t the emergence of NIL opportunities offer us a chance to get a leg up on other FCS programs? I believe University of Texas boosters have created a 501c3 called the Pancake Factory where offensive linemen can earn up to 50k in NIL money. The have a similar program for tight ends called “burnt ends”. Couldn’t our fans and boosters do something similar for our o linemen? Call it the DOLA dollar club or something? Give them up to 10k? How many other FCS programs could pull something like that off? I feel like this presents us with an opportunity should we use it.

Agreed. And if it’s a 501c3 I’d donate in a heartbeat.

 

[grizfnz]

With the size and dedication of our fan base, doesn’t the emergence of NIL opportunities offer us a chance to get a leg up on other FCS programs? I believe University of Texas boosters have created a 501c3 called the Pancake Factory where offensive linemen can earn up to 50k in NIL money. The have a similar program for tight ends called “burnt ends”. Couldn’t our fans and boosters do something similar for our o linemen? Call it the DOLA dollar club or something? Give them up to 10k? How many other FCS programs could pull something like that off? I feel like this presents us with an opportunity should we use it.

I think the issue is that many schools have taken the hands on approach and working with boosters to create NIL packages for players. During the signing day press conference Bobby and Justin said they don’t have any involvement with NIL deals and it’s up to the student athletes to pursue.

DOLA dollar bills, y’all

 

[grizpack]

With the size and dedication of our fan base, doesn’t the emergence of NIL opportunities offer us a chance to get a leg up on other FCS programs? I believe University of Texas boosters have created a 501c3 called the Pancake Factory where offensive linemen can earn up to 50k in NIL money. The have a similar program for tight ends called “burnt ends”. Couldn’t our fans and boosters do something similar for our o linemen? Call it the DOLA dollar club or something? Give them up to 10k? How many other FCS programs could pull something like that off? I feel like this presents us with an opportunity should we use it.

I think the issue is that many schools have taken the hands on approach and working with boosters to create NIL packages for players. During the signing day press conference Bobby and Justin said they don’t have any involvement with NIL deals and it’s up to the student athletes to pursue.

DOLA dollar bills, y’all

My understanding is that the school cannot be directly involved in the solicitation or procurement of NIL deals. I am sure most are "helping" somehow, but probably not with a paper trail.

 

[IdaGriz01]

...
My understanding is that the school cannot be directly involved in the solicitation or procurement of NIL deals. I am sure most are "helping" somehow, but probably not with a paper trail.

That's not the way I read it. The NCAA "Interim" rule is pretty broad, with a proviso that student-athletes must comply with all applicable state and federal laws/regulations. Montana is one of over thirty states that have issued an applicable law. Here's what I found:

Senate Bill (SB) 248, Montana’s NIL bill, was signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte on April 30, 2021 and is set to take effect on June 1, 2023.

Public and private colleges and universities in the state of Montana are prohibited from:
Preventing or restricting a student athlete from exercising the student athlete's right to earn compensation for the use of the student athlete’s name, image and likeness and to contract with and retain professional representation of an athlete agent
Penalizing or retaliating against a student athlete for exercising the student athlete's rights
Prohibiting a student athlete from participating in an intercollegiate sport for exercising the student athlete's rights
Imposing an eligibility requirement on a scholarship or grant that requires a student athlete to refrain from exercising the student athlete's rights
Providing a prospective or current student athlete compensation for use of the student athlete's NIL

The institution may:
Include provisions in scholarship agreements allowing the school to use the athlete's NIL
Prohibit the use of an athlete's NIL on school property, at school functions, or in any advertising material distributed or placed on school property
Serve as an agent for the athlete to manage any contract using an athlete's NIL. [My emphasis]

The bill does not prohibit an institution from establishing or enforcing a conduct code that is applicable to all students enrolled at the unit.

Student athletes may not enter into a contract that provides NIL-related compensation if terms of the contract conflict with the student athlete’s team rules or with terms of a contract between the student athlete’s institution and a third party. The team rules or a contract entered into between the institution and a third party may not prevent a student athlete from earning NIL-related compensation when not engaged in official team activities.

Student athletes must disclose NIL contracts to an official of the institution if the student athlete is a team member, or if the student athlete is not a team member, at the time the student athlete seeks to become a team member.

There may be other rules at UM that take them out of the picture, but the state law does allow them to "serve as an agent" for the athlete. As I've said in earlier discussions, I believe this will be the way things finally go.