Bracket?

[MadBird]

that is the big conflict Quinn...how do we pay kids/players their "share of the money" (your words) via NIL while restricting their ability to transfer? Players need to be able to travel where ever needed to go to work and get paid their market value. that is not the ncaa driving that approach that is our restraint of trade laws and the courts have ruled several times that restricting player transfer is restraining their ability to earn. the ncaa has tried to implement transfer rules and they are being struct down by the courts when the transfer rules are challenged

Two things come to my mind right off the top:

"Restraint of trade" - pro sports seems to get around that "effectively", free agent rules, you just can't go from team to team, right? So, why can't the NCAA come up with some kind of "contract" or something to fix it?

What happens to the "non-revenue" sports/athletes? Is NIL only for "revenue generating" sports - if you dedicate your time and effort to tennis or volleyball or baseball or what have you, you don't get paid?

I don't know what the answers are, it is one huge mess. And I have no problem with the term, or the reality, of "student/athlete". At all levels. I'm against college sports being the minor leagues, so to speak. Even right now, today. But especially if they disconnect student from paid athlete.

 

[Metamoron]

If athletes are employees, their contracts COULD have non compete clauses in them, like most employment contracts have. Would need to be NCAA (or whatever replaces them) wide and not school by school or state by state.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Two things come to my mind right off the top:

"Restraint of trade" - pro sports seems to get around that "effectively", free agent rules, you just can't go from team to team, right? So, why can't the NCAA come up with some kind of "contract" or something to fix it?

What happens to the "non-revenue" sports/athletes? Is NIL only for "revenue generating" sports - if you dedicate your time and effort to tennis or volleyball or baseball or what have you, you don't get paid?

I don't know what the answers are, it is one huge mess. And I have no problem with the term, or the reality, of "student/athlete". At all levels. I'm against college sports being the minor leagues, so to speak. Even right now, today. But especially if they disconnect student from paid athlete.

I know very little of the legalities but pro players sign individual employment contracts with individual teams for term and compensation to earn $$$$ for play/exclusivity. They get consideration for signing a term commitment. Not unlike signing an employee contract In the corporate world. That is not happening in the college ranks so far. So it seems very different to me.

In theory all college sports could be revenue sports if fans want to pay to watch live or via tv/streaming. Some sports do not draw interest hence the players in those sports get paid their value for NIL which is nothing. Btw In this day and age to me it makes absolutely zero sense why Isu has a tennis team ( your example). No branding/marketing of the university ) as it is only an expense to the university…ie students/alums and public do not watch so what is the point for ISU athletics to pay those expenses? Esp bad for Isu/collegiate tennis teams as the majority of players and coaches (maybe 80%?) are Foreign players. If the argument is that it gives kids a scholarship to get an education then why not let the UNIVERSITY side (not athletics) use the scholarships/$$$s for various departments (business, education, ENGINEERING..etc) and let them offer scholarships to underserved kids in their targeted recruiting areas vs some kid that the athletic department picks ;some from foreign countries).

there is a lot of talk around the concept of the students becoming employees of the athletic department and getting paid to play beyond their current nil earnings It seems as though there may be an argument in that case to sign an employment contract that includes a term commitment. I believe there is the Dartmouth lawsuit situation and other lawsuits that are headed down that path.

I also do not know the answer just throwing out my limited understanding of what has been happening with some the player/university/ncaa litigation as respects to the transfer/nil world. You do have it right on it being a mess!!

 

[Hamdonger]

I don't know what the answers are, it is one huge mess.

The computer in my head tilts when I try to think about it. Being a head coach or lead admin that has to compete in the NIL environment, and most importantly its ripple effect...especially from our perspective...has to be a nightmare.

The amount of fundraising that has to take place...gggggggggggross. Money Money Money Money Money and More Money.

 

[Redbird222]

If athletes are employees, their contracts COULD have non compete clauses in them, like most employment contracts have. Would need to be NCAA (or whatever replaces them) wide and not school by school or state by state.

This .... I have posted this before however the flip side is there is other hurdles like medical and workers compensation.

If there was a union the NCAA or conferences could negotiate with union and put limits, non-competes etc... however it still would not stop a player from an outside NIL deal.

Union contract could limit pay to xx per year, put it constraints on transfers, and non-competes however that worker could still have an endorsement NIL deal that would make certain universities still more lucrative financially.

One thing that could happen over time is making NIL deals with clawbacks or longer than one year deals with escalators. That could potentially help with retention but on the other hand potentially takes away power/decision making capabilities from the coaches.

It a very difficult world out there and one thing sometimes solves an issue but creates another problem. Additionally a solution that is good or favorable for a mid-major doesn't necessarily help a P6 school.

In the end money ultimately will be the biggest influence and factor no matter what is proposed. Everyone needs to go buy a Mega Million ticket and hope one of us lands the 1billion payout and is generous to share it with ISU athletics.

 

[Hamdonger]

While I agree...a non-compete would be battled in the courts all the way to Supreme.

 

[Hamdonger]

The other thing...what's keeping the IRS out of this currently?? That might end up being what blows the whole thing to smithereens.

But I'm so out of touch I don't know what I'm even talking about.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

100%. The schools should be making these kids employees. Because they are doing the work that brings in the money.

Minimum wage hikes, mandatory paid time off, increased workers comp and unemployment insurance costs based on the former…the Illinois schools are missing out on all the fun!

If schools paid players, they’d probably have to cut a lot of non-revenue sports in short order. $15+/hour to practice 20+ hours a week - and the accumulated paid time off - plus being on the clock for “business trips” (road games) would add up really fast, which is why in reality only select P5 schools could afford this.

Politicians did exempt independent third party contractor employees from all of the above, so maybe they’d also carve out a loophole by which a player can be an enrolled student at the university but a 1099 independent contractor in the athletics department. Sounds ridiculous, but I could see it…