How do universities plan to directly compensate their student athletes?
Sep 20, 2024, 7:25 PM
FILE - Signage at the headquarters of the NCAA is viewed in Indianapolis, March 12, 2020. A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia has ruled that some college athletes may qualify as employees under federal wage-and-hour laws. The court says a test should be developed to differentiate students who play college sports for fun from those whose effort “crosses the legal line into work” that benefits the school. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
SALT LAKE CITY — Universities across the country are looking for ways to help pay their student athletes directly.
This comes after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an order on Sept. 17 prohibiting the NCAA from punishing Georgia universities for directly compensating their student athletes.
College sports have been around for over a century, and for a while they have been benefitting the NCAA and universities more than the athletes themselves. After recent policy changes to the NIL, however, student athletes can now profit off of their own “name, image, and likeness.”
Take Caitlin Clark, for example. Before the policy changes, the popular basketball player would have only received scholarship money. But in 2023, she made over $3 million in NIL deals.
But what about the players who aren’t making that much money? How will they get paid? One university’s solution is to receive help from the fans coming to watch the games.
The University of Tennessee came up with the idea of adding a 10% “talent fee” to tickets starting in 2025. The fee will go directly to the talent, according to Tennessee athletic director Danny White.
The school also plans to raise ticket prices by 4.5%.
Could this method turn out to be effective? Or will it overcomplicate the system for everyone?
