Money makes the world go around or at least we are made to believe so. It can be acquired through many means: inheritance, born into it, earned through hard work or just hitting the PowerBall for millions. In any case it drives our motivation for bigger and better things. As we jump at all opportunities to advance ourselves we don’t often think about anything but the money that will come with it.
The NCAA opened a can of worms that has oozed stench since they carelessly enabled players to use their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) to reap the financial rewards that has caused college free agency to blossom and the portal to become a free for all. It’s not just the big universities that are buying up the talent either. Small schools get to “cash in” with the talent, who shall we say, can’t make the cut just yet to one of the Power Four Conferences but need that year of seasoning. Those smaller schools have now become breeding grounds for guys on the cusp of bigger and better things. It’s the former JUCO mentality that the better you perform the more people come knocking at your door except rather than offering just a scholarship to play your chosen sport, they come with dollars and oftentimes the highest bidder wins.
Throw open the portal! No please, don’t have restrictions! Please, let my guys leave the team in the midst of the season before a big game, heck, let them walk out on their team in the middle of a game. What’s the difference? The money piece of NIL is far from the only problem that is destroying the NCAA currently. An open portal for athletes to change schools without hesitation, without parameters, and to follow the money trail is exactly what is happening. Quinn Ewers, Texas star quarterback apparently has deliberated, has moved to the NFL but not so fast. Apparently, it is being reported that if he enters the portal another “university” is willing to shell out 6 million dollars for his services. Where there is smoke, there is fire and this situation seems to be up for further investigation. 11.7 million NIL has been tied up in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter and the money comes rolling in because of their presence on social media and the “influence” they have over millions. Those two made the jump together to Colorado once Coach “Prime” made the move and with a successful season life's looking up for these two young athletes. After all the key benefits include but are not limited to: Financial opportunities, Brand building, personal entrepreneurial promotion as well as getting ready for a career path outside of professional athletics and community engagement (see social media). Our final example of NIL millionaire money goes to Livvy Dunne, the Louisiana State University gymnast who opted to return to school for the money and she has 4.2 million reasons that it was the correct decision.
The portal has in some way, shape or form added to these big dollar deals for college athletes and the trickle down is clearly heading to the high school level. Don’t believe me see California High School athletes NIL deals. Before this gets much further, a swift and responsible couple of decisions need to be made. Cap the money or make it a performance based contract and set reasonable timetables for entering the portal and closing it off. Not sure if those are reasonable answers, that’s not what I get paid to do but at least I am trying to figure out how to get this right before it trickles down to the youth sports. Can you imagine the 12 year old with a 6 figure deal because he can dunk a basketball at such a young age?
