When it comes to college sports, the student-athlete has long been tied down from capitalizing on their likeness. This old-fashioned line of thinking is slowly evolving in recent years though, and it may not be much longer until a player may be able to sign an endorsement deal without jeopardizing their amateur status.
Speaking in an interview with Maggie Gray for Sports Illustrated, Big East commissioner Val Ackerman suggested the NCAA is reviewing its stance on the issue and could be stepping toward amending its stance on the idea of banning endorsement deals.
“That’s one that’s actually under consideration I believe by the NCAA,” Ackerman said. “It’s actually a time right now where student athlete interests are being closely examined. I don’t have an answer for you on that one today but I will say that and a number of other topics are under review, and I think rightly by the NCAA and it’s very possible that over the course of the next year or two as these these ideas work their way through the legislative system you could see changes.”
A simple dropping of the ban on endorsement opportunities would easily wipe away a number of NCAA violations that are potential today with players signing autographs in exchange for cash behind closed doors. Eliminating the ban on endorsement opportunities would make these kinds of deals perfectly legal within the NCAA structure. College football players like Johnny Manziel have previously run into these types of violations, whether obvious and proven or just violating the principle of the rule.
It should be important to realize though that simply dropping or changing a rule to avoid an onslaught of potential violations is not always the best course of action. In this particular case, however, it seems more than reasonable and fair considering how much money is generated off the backs of the student-athletes without those players getting a slice of the pie afterward. Recent legal battles have led to players getting compensated for their likeness being used in video games, and this was potentially the first giant step toward changing the decades-old prohibition of endorsements.
It is also worth noting the amendment to this rule could potentially be beneficial to all student-athletes, but it goes without saying some students would profit more than others with this new revenue-making opportunity presented. Would there be a cap on types of endorsements or number of endorsements a player may take, or will college athletes enter a free market to sign as many lucrative deals they desire?
The times are certainly changing, but will there be any oversight capable of keeping endorsements under control? Should there be? You can share your opinions in the comment section below.
