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By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Sports Blogger
Nick Saban is so bent out of shape about current situation of the seemingly uncontrollable Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) situation in college athletics that he told a group of boosters that Texas A&M “bought all those players” in what was supposed to be a private setting.
Of course, there’s no such thing these days as a private setting and when word got out, it set Jimbo Fisher on a tirade that doubled as a character assassination of his former boss.
The point Saban was attempting to make is the same one everyone has about the NIL. It has few guidelines, what few it has is not enforceable and it is spreading like a California wildfire. I can’t help but think of what all those SMU boosters back in the 8os when they got the Mustangs the dreaded “Death Penalty” would be saying about it. Why didn’t we have this in place back then!?
Well it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a very simple way to get a handle on things before it’s too late. And by too late, I mean within the next few months. My plan would also save the NCAA in the process by giving it back control like it had with SMU and other schools which were placed on probation.
The Current Regulation For NIL
The only real regulation regarding the NIL is that the schools cannot be directly involved in it. However, this can be loosely interpreted and in its current situation, the NCAA does not have the ability to monitor it, let alone hand out punishments for offenders.
PubClub.com’s Proposed Fix For The NIL
• The NCAA works with college athletic directors to set up guidelines for NIL.
• In those guidelines, it is made clear that the teams and universities themselves are to have no direct involvement with setting up and securing NIL deals for the athletes. Any school that breaks this rule is subject to NCAA penalties, which would include loss of scholarships, TV and bowl revenue, suspension of a coach and/or players and being placed on NCAA probation.
• The ADs and NCAA conducts meetings and clinics for boosters and organizations who are offering, or are interested in offering, athletes NIL deals. The boosters and organizations must be made aware that they must operate separate of the schools and athletic departments.
• The NCAA’s Compliance Committee monitors all NIL transactions to ensure that no state or government laws are broken and that NCAA rules are followed by each booster or organization.
• Each university sets up an NIL department that advices current players and provides a list of current opportunities.
• Recruits have access to that list but they must set up their own deals separate from the school. They are free to consult with each school’s NIL department before committing to a deal.
• Recruits are not permitted any NIL deals until after they have signed with a university. They are able to learn about NIL opportunities at various universities during the recruiting process but are not allowed to sign any deals or meet with any boosters or organizations until after they have signed to play for a school. A violation of this policy could result in the athlete becoming ineligible to participate at any university for one year.
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