College administrators threatening pay-for-play sanctions with NIL

On3 imageby:Jack Pilgrim05/03/22

A name, image and likeness task force made up of university administrators are set to crack down on pay-for-play in collegiate athletics.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger, college leaders are set to finalize additional guidelines expected to clarify that boosters and booster-led collectives are not allowed to use NIL opportunities for recruiting purposes.

“The guidelines will provide more guidance to member schools on what many administrators say are NIL-disguised “pay for play” deals orchestrated by donors to induce prospects, recruit players off other college teams and retain their own athletes,” Sports Illustrated reported. “The new directives will highlight existing NCAA bylaws that outlaw boosters from participating in recruiting, reminding member schools of guardrails that, while in place for years, have been bent and broken during the first 10 months of the NIL era, officials say.”

NCAA rules state that boosters are representatives of athletics departments and therefore prohibited from recruiting prospects.

These guidelines are set to prohibit boosters and booster-backed collectives from associating with recruits and transfers. Should they ignore the updated guidelines, NCAA sanctions will be on the table. Smaller inquiries have already been made, with more coming as pay-for-play ramps up.

“We let things get out of hand,” one official told Sports Illustrated. “We have to get [the boosters] out of contacting recruits and bartering with them.”

Updated guidelines could be approved in the next week, says Dellenger.

A potential hold-up? State laws allowing protection to those around universities around the country. Should the NCAA challenge laws, lawsuits could follow.

“Either you let everyone do it or you enforce the rule,” Florida sports attorney Darren Heitner tells Sports Illustrated. “In essence, what’s happening or will happen is those who are willing to violate the rule will be rewarded if nothing is done about it. Don’t have a rule if you’re not willing to enforce it. This isn’t a matter of them not being able to do something. But will it further open itself up to more litigation, litigation it will probably lose?”

Dellenger says NCAA leaders feel they have “lost control” and are “at a boiling point,” with these guidelines set to emphasize that boosters cannot induce prospects.

The guidelines come after Kentucky head coach John Calipari publicly declared he would not recruit athletes looking for NIL guarantees moving forward.

“The problem is the name, image and likeness should not be a part of it and it’s become a part of it,” Calipari said yesterday. “And if anybody is talking to me about name, image, and likeness as part of the transfer, I’m not really interested.”

“You come here because of the culture. To be developed, the environment, the fans, trying to compete for national titles, having other really good players to play with. That’s why you come here. ‘Coach, how can you develop me? What can you add? What can you do?’ Not, ‘How much is the NIL?’

“I think the idea behind it is good, but now it’s become more than that.”

He doubled down Tuesday, adding that Kentucky players continue to make more money with NIL than anyone else in college basketball, and they’re doing it the right way.

“I’ve pushed for NIL for 10 years publicly and no one is more supportive, which is why our players are making more money than anyone, the right way,” Calipari said via Kentucky’s Director of Player Development TJ Beisner this morning. “NIL won’t hurt us and hasn’t for any kid we’ve REALLY wanted. If NCAA or federal government make changes, we’ll adapt and continue to lead.”

Does Calipari see the writing on the wall with potential sanctions coming for money-happy programs? The timing adds up.

You can find Sports Illustrated’s complete report here.

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2024-03-28