How can this end well? USA Today reports,
Unless altered on appeal, the arrangement will allow — though not require — schools to directly pay their athletes for the use of their name, image and likeness [NIL] (don’t call it pay for play), subject to an annual cap based on a percentage of a defined set of Power Five athletics department revenues. These payments could begin July 1.
Amateurism has been a sham since “NIL” got underway. I get that schools and coaches made tons of money from “college” sports at the expense of players. That seems unfair.
In my opinion, college fans don’t want a watered-down pro-sprots experience.
Much of the appeal for college fans is based on personal connections (attendance at the college (in my case, six years), attendance by close family members) or geographic proximity to the local U. (Consider those Dr. Pepper “Fansville” commercials featuring fans of “State,” “Tech,” and “Coastal.”)
The Big 10/SEC may have a short-lived windfall from forming a superleague for football and basketball.
College sports will continue on for the “non-revenue” sports as a form of advanced intramural effort. But the major sports will not survive the embrace of full professionalism.
I would note that minor league football, basketball, or hockey isn’t very lucrative for players or popular with fans.
The extensive baseball minor leagues exist for historic reasons.
When colleges just become a lower-level minor league system, how long will stadiums fill up with 110,000 on a Saturday afternoon?
