NCAA Backpedals And Will Now Allow Athletes To Earn Money From Their Name, Image, And Likeness: Reactions

In a major reversal of course, the NCAA announced that it will now allow college athletes to earn money from the licensing of their name, image and likeness.

“We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes,” NCAA Board of Governors chairman Michael V. Drake said in a statement. “Additional flexibility in this area can and must continue to support college sports as a part of higher education. This modernization for the future is a natural extension of the numerous steps NCAA members have taken in recent years to improve support for student-athletes, including full cost of attendance and guaranteed scholarships.”

Specifically, the board said modernization should occur within the following principles and guidelines:

• Assure student-athletes are treated similarly to non-athlete students unless a compelling reason exists to differentiate.
• Maintain the priorities of education and the collegiate experience to provide opportunities for student-athlete success.
• Ensure rules are transparent, focused and enforceable and facilitate fair and balanced competition.
• Make clear the distinction between collegiate and professional opportunities.
• Make clear that compensation for athletics performance or participation is impermissible.
• Reaffirm that student-athletes are students first and not employees of the university.
• Enhance principles of diversity, inclusion and gender equity.
• Protect the recruiting environment and prohibit inducements to select, remain at, or transfer to a specific institution.

This is huge.

Also, does this mean Electronic Arts will now be able to revive its NCAA Football video game?!

Reactions to this news was very much what one would expect.

https://twitter.com/KingTathan/status/1189242723280314371

Buzzkills.