NCAA approves proposal to allow athletes to receive endorsements

By Joshua Broom

Maligned by government officials championing economically exploited student-athletes, Wednesday the NCAA approved recommendations that would allow its players to earn income through third-party endorsement deals.

If finalized by the world's largest collegiate governing body at next Jan.'s annual convention, NCAA athletes will be able to accept income for their name, image and likeness. The proposal rough draft also grants the same students an ability to retain agents.

This groundbreaking decision follows years of federal and state political pressure against the amateur sports titan. While gaining an estimated $1 billion annually from athletic events, the NCAA is among the richest and most influential worldwide enterprises.

And while Mark Emmert and his power-broker cabinet ensure their profitable athletes will be equitably treated, some concerned lawmakers express doubt.

Per USA Today, Florida State representative Chip LaMarca had these skeptical remarks toward the proposal:

"While we wait optimistically for changes, we’ve been down this road before. It is my hope that this is not another hidden ball trick allowing the NCAA to punt this issue down the field. With this global pandemic challenging our economy, now more than ever we must give flexibility to all students to both continue their education and provide for themselves and their families.”

For years, disillusioned former student-athletes banded with legal activists to chip away at the NCAA's system. In 2019 a major win for the 'little guy' occurred when Cali. Governor Gavin Newsome signed paperwork to allow the state's college athletes to earn endorsements. Gov. Newsome's law takes effect in 2023.

With the ball swaying in their favor, current and future NCAA athletes, who spend 20 hours per week practicing, and countless more studying, traveling and competing likely won't endure the financial stressors of their predecessors. Some of these nameless former competitors left their schools to support family, or meet basic ends when scholarships didn't cover full university expenses. Further, many promising recruits, some of which greatly influenced NCAA earnings, suffered abrupt injuries, lost full-rides and trekked home penniless.

Their stories helped bring this change.

In an official press release, the NCAA stated athletes can profit from name, image and likeness while identifying their sport and school. However, no profit can be made using school and conference logos as they remain sole NCAA intellectual property.

Facing a new reality, NCAA group co-chair Gene Smith stated: "The NCAA’s work to modernize name, image and likeness continues, and we plan to make these important changes on the original timeline, no later than January 2021. The board’s decision today provides further guidance to each division as they create and adopt appropriate rules changes.”

(some info from NBC News)