Two-time national champion head coach Urban Meyer retired from coaching college football before the NCAA changed its name, image, and likeness policy. But he still has some thoughts about how NIL is changing college football.
During a press conference this week, Urban Meyer revealed that he is a fan of “the purest of NIL.”
“You’d have to adapt. I think the purest of NIL is outstanding,” Meyer said according to Eleven Warriors. “Like when I saw who I think is the best player last year and this year, Marvin (Harrison Jr.) – he was the best player in football last year. When I see him sign a big money deal, I think that’s fantastic. He’s earned that.”
But Meyer isn’t a fan of all NIL. More specifically, he is not a fan of pay-for-play using money to induce commitments. And he had some harsh words for teams doing that, saying “that’s cheating.”
“When I see the word collective, I kind of (shudder),” Meyer said. “And they’re giving it to recruits? That’s cheating, that’s not what you’re supposed to do. Let the player come here and earn what you got to earn, but when I started seeing about all that other stuff, (I get uneasy). I think it’s fantastic, players should get name and likeness. That’s what it is, name and likeness. Not inducement.”
It’s safe to say college football is quite a bit different than when Meyer was coaching.
