Roommates, the conversation regarding the role that student athletes play in brining in funding for their institutions has caused a lot of tension between the #NCAA and it’s players. Many people. including the athletes, feel it is unfair that schools make a huge profit of them.
Now, students in every state will be able to make money off of their names. According to ESPN, the NCAA has just unanimously voted in favor of allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness, on one condition.
Student athletes looking to make money while playing a sport must do so “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.” The NCAA board is reportedly looking to shake things up to ensure that student-athletes have the same opportunities to make money as all other students.
“We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes,” board chair Michel Drake said. “Additional flexibility in this area can and must continue to support college sports as a part of higher education.”
The new rules are set to go into effect in January 2021, but this unanimous ruling is not the first of it’s kind. Back in September, California Governor, Gavin Newsome, signed the “Fair Play to Pay Act”, which will allow NCAA athletes to earn profit from their likeness, and hire their own agents.
Governor Newsome expressed his thoughts on how the law will change the lives of student-athletes.
“I don’t want to say this is checkmate, but this is a major problem for the NCAA. It’s going to initiate dozens of other states to introduce similar legislation, and it’s going to change college sports for the better by having the interest of the athletes finally on par with the interests of the institutions,” Newsome said. “Now we’re re-balancing the power arrangement.”
What are your thoughts, Roomies? Let us know in the comments!
