Amazing what the fear of getting left behind in college athletics will do to members of the U.S. Congress who often seem determined to do nothing.
I write the above words after a bipartisan bill – and, yes, I assumed everything bipartisan had gone the way of cassette players – was reintroduced on Monday that would give college athletes the right to earn money through endorsements and sponsorship deals.
Co-sponsored by Representative Anthony Gonzalez – an Ohio Republican and former Ohio State football player – and Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, it’s labeled the Student Athlete Level Playing Field Act and seeks to give student-athletes the right to be paid for their name, image and likeness, which is often referred to as NIL.
Somewhat remarkably, given how the NCAA had previously attempted to stall this issue into the 22nd century, college athletics’ governing body actually released a statement supporting the bill.
Said the NCAA: “Their House bill will strengthen the college athlete experience and support the NCAA and its members to modernize name, image and likeness rules but not pay student-athletes or turn them into employees of their college or university.”