Alabama Crimson Tide leading small pack of schools after NCAA v. Alston

It appears the Alabama Crimson Tide are one of the premier schools leading the way in the handling of college athletes after the landmark Supreme Court case last June. It has been nearly a year since the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of college athletes in the monumental case of the NCAA v. Alston. The victory for college athletes, in this case, came with plenty of positives for them going forward.

One of the most significant rulings was athletes could be paid up to $5,980, by their school each year as a reward for academic performance. But just because they could be paid does not mean they will be, unless they attend Alabama. According to a recent report by ESPN, the Crimson Tide are just one of 22 FBS-level institutions which either have a plan in place or are already actively providing academic bonuses for their athletes.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel spoke to Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne, who confirmed that not only is the school doing it, but they’ve been doing it for quite some time.

“Just spoke to Alabama AD Greg Byrne. Alabama is one of the schools doing this Alston payment to athletes and has been doing it from when it was first available,” Thamel wrote via Twitter.

Alabama is one of the wealthiest schools in one of the most dominant conferences, the SEC. Their goal when it comes to sports has always been crystal clear, to win and be the best at it. So it should come as no surprise that the Crimson Tide is eager and willing to reward their athletes for a job well done.

Alabama, Southeastern Conference make decision on Alston ruling

Following unanimous approval by the SEC athletic directors this summer, each of its 14 member institutions were permitted to provide specific education-related benefits and academic-based rewards to its student-athletes, after it was voted into effect by presidents and chancellors.

As the release noted, SEC presidents and and chancellors decided not to place any additional constraints on member institutions in determining how to provide the financial support for its student-athletes.

“The presidents, chancellors and athletics directors of our 14 universities have determined it is appropriate for SEC athletics programs to have discretion and flexibility to provide support for student-athletes in their academic and athletic endeavors,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “While the Alston decision invited individual conferences to impose limits on education-related benefits and academic awards, the SEC believes it is in the best interests of our student-athletes for these decisions to be made at the campus level rather than through Conference policy.”